Super Eagles First Choice RB Not Under Pressure Ahead Of Duel With Lionel Messi

Published: June 26, 2018

Super Eagles first choice right-back Abdullahi Shehu says he is not feeling the pressure ahead of a potential individual duel with Argentina superstar Lionel Messi.

The Bursaspor defender noted that he was part of the Super Eagles team that humiliated the two-time world champions in a friendly last November in Krasnodar, albeit in a non-competitive match in which the Argentina number ten did not feature.

''I don't think so, it's not long ago we faced Argentina. Aguero, Di Maria, a lot of players were there, it's the same, so we have to go on the pitch with confidence to make sure we do the job,'' Shehu told Kwese Sports Mimi Fawaz.

''Even if Argentina are not doing so well, we have to know that they are Argentina. We have to respect them, they have a lot of good, experienced players, we know what is at stake for Nigeria, we really need it more than they do.''

Abdullahi Shehu might be omitted from the starting lineup to face the South Americans again if Gernot Rohr decides to setup in a 3-5-2 formation just as he did against Iceland.

''The coach will decide on that, Argentina is a team that likes to attack, the coach will decide whether we play the same formation or maybe he'll change. We are ready to play all, we have the players that can do the job.

''We feel very happy about the win over Iceland, but at the same time we have to know we still have a lot to do, so we have to focus on Argentina to make sure we do the job,'' he concluded.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel