Global soccer governing body, FIFA’s former president, Sepp Blatter has tagged Nigeria potential ‘troublemakers’ at this year’s World Cup, as he believes the Super Eagles can be spoilers to the aspirations of some of the big countries at Russia 2018.
Though Blatter noted that Brazil, Germany, France and Spain are favourites for the trophy, the Swiss soccer technocrat named Nigeria and Uruguay as two teams that could cause and upset or two once the competition begins next Thursday in Moscow.
Blatter opined in his preview to the World Cup kick-start that the Eagles will be one of two surprise candidates in Russia, with a view that the team could cause a whole lot of trouble for the highly-rated nations.
Nigeria, who are in Group D alongside Argentina, Croatia, and Iceland, play their first game on June 16th against the Croats.
The Eagles will then take on debutants Iceland on the 22nd and completing their group stage clash with regular rivals, Argentina on the 26th in St. Petersburg, Russia; ahead of all which Blatter says he expects the Nigerians to shock everyone.
Blatter, who led the football world for 17 years, believes the Eagles’ young and energetic squad, coupled with a mixture of experience, could see them make a big impression, but still tipped Brazil, France, Germany and Spain to make the final four.
“8 days to the World Cup kick-off. My top 4: Brazil, France, Germany, and Spain. I believe in attacking the football. Troublemakers: Nigeria and Uruguay,” Blatter tweeted.
