Argentine-Based Nigerian Midfielder Felix Orode : Nigerians Are Afraid Of Messi

Argentine-based Nigerian attacking midfielder Felix Orode has commented on Friday's World Cup draw that pitted Nigeria, Argentina, Iceland and Croatia in the so-called Group of Death.

On November 14, Nigeria came from behind to thrash the two-time world champions, who were without the services of the current best player on the planet Lionel Messi, and Orode feels the Barcelona striker can make all the difference when both teams clash again at the Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018 at the World Cup.

''The friendlies serve to have football minutes. In the World Cup it will be different, Argentina will have Messi . We respect and we are afraid of Lionel,'' said Felix Orode to Jogo Bonito (FM 93.1).

The Defensores de Pronunciamiento (Entre Ríos) star hopes to represent the Super Eagles at the World Cup, stating : ''When I was in (Sportivo) Barracas (between 2016 and 2017), people from Nigeria were watching me, it would be a dream to play a World Cup.

''My wife is Argentine. I always want them to win. Now when I play with Nigeria, it will be difficult.''

Messi scored twice as Argentina claimed a 3-2 win over Nigeria when both countries faced off at the Estádio José Pinheiro Borda in the 2014 World Cup.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : twitter.com/Pee4Pius