Semitoje To Eagles : Ignore World Cup Mind Games By Opponents

Former Super Eagles defender Isaac Semitoje has expressed optimism that Nigeria can shock the football world at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and hopes the players and coaches ignore mind games by their group rivals in Russia.

Gernot Rohr's team will also play three more friendlies against DR Congo, England and Czech Republic after their meetings with Poland and Serbia in March and Semitoje bared his mind to allnigeriasoccer.com on Nigeria's chances of qualifying from Group D of Russia 2018.

"It is good that the Eagles are playing friendly games before the World Cup. It will help the team a lot. What they need now is focus.

"Focus now means working to improve on their skill sets and ignoring mind games that may be played by their group opponents.

"Despite being grouped along some with big countries, we (Nigeria) have good players but I hope they will not be awed by the prospect of playing against world class players from Argentina, Croatia and even Iceland.

''The players also need to be lucky with injuries," Semitoje asserted.

Isaac Semitoje was a member of the Super Eagles squad to the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations where Nigeria won the trophy for a second time in their history.

Izuchukwu Okosi