Amkar Perm Defender Idowu Names Three Key Super Eagles Players, Says Messi Is An Alien

Amkar Perm defender Brian Idowu believes Nigeria are in a very tough group at the 2018 World Cup, but has tipped the Super Eagles to progress to the next round as they have some outstanding players on the team.

Apart from Idowu, two other Amkar Perm stars in Fegor Ogude and Aaron Samuel could make Nigeria's 23-man roster for the World Cup which will be held in familiar surroundings, Russia.

Idowu omitted the official Nigeria Player of the Year, Victor Moses, when he named the key players for the Super Eagles, bearing it in mind that the Chelsea wing-back was absent when he made his debut in Krasnodar vs Argentina in November.

''We got a hard group. The standout team is Argentina. Lionel Messi is an alien! But with Croats and Icelanders, we have a chance,'' said Idowu to Soviet Sport.

''Our team is powerful. Obi Mikel won all that is possible when he played for Chelsea. Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi are doing well at Leicester City.''

Asked if deadline day signing Aaron Samuel has acclimatized at Amkar Perm, Idowu answered : ''He was well acquainted with one of our main players, Fegor Ogude, so he joined the team quickly.

''At the training camp, Aaron impressed quite well. Against Avangard Kursk he did not always manage to link up with Brown Forbes, but this business is done.

''In addition, on Tuesday, Olanare froze. During the penalty shootout, he told me that he does not feel his legs at all.''

Russian-born Brian Idowu netted on his debut for Nigeria against Argentina, eight minutes after coming off the bench.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel