Ahead of the 2014 FIFA world cup draws on December 6 in the Brazilian City of Bahia, Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi said he is not bothered about the country Nigeria will be paired against as the team is going to the world cup to also prove a point even as top countries are praying to avoid the Super Eagles in their group.
The defeat to South Africa by Spain and Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Italy in an international friendly has already send signal to some countries that the Nigeria side would be a nut to crack at the world cup.
Keshi said Nigeria like the other 31 finalists to next year’s World Cup have equal chances of progressing as far as possible at the Mundial.
“First it is good we have qualified for the World Cup which is the main aim at the start of the qualifiers. For me, I am open to facing any team at the World Cup as we cannot determine who and who we want to play against.
“All the 32 countries have equal opportunities of doing well because they are the best from the different continents of the world at the moment. Same goes for Nigeria. I believe we have a team that can do well and go as far as the final.
“Our concern right now is to do well at the World Cup next year. The World Cup is always a big stage to show what you’re capable of doing as a player and as a team. But right now we will concern ourselves with preparing for the World Cup rather than bother about who our opponents will be. By next month we will know that and from there we will know what to do.”
Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Belgium, Switzerland and Uruguay are the seeded teams in Pot One and Nigeria’s Super Eagles could be drawn alongside one of them for the group stage.
“We welcome any team we are drawn against and we will be prepared to give our best,” Keshi reacted when told about the seeded teams.
The African champions are likely to be seeded in Pot Three alongside the continent’s four other representatives, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria and Cameroon.
The delegation of Nigeria for the 2014 FIFA World Cup draws is expected to leave the country on December 3 for Bahia in Brazil where the event will take place.
The FIFA World Cup draws will hold on December 6 while the finals will run from June 12 to July 13, 2014.