Eagles Skipper Mikel: To Advance From Group Of Death Would Be Massive

Published: June 26, 2018

Tianjin Teda midfielder John Obi Mikel says it would be 'massive' if the Super Eagles qualify for the last sixteen of the 2018 World Cup.

Nigeria will take on Argentina on Tuesday evening in St. Petersburg but it is not a straightforward match as their South American opponents as well as Iceland are still in with a shout to seal their progression to the next round.

The standings in Group D heading into the final round of matches sees Croatia lead the way with maximum six points, Nigeria have three points while Iceland and Argentina have one point each.

The Super Eagles can still top the group if they win and Croatia suffer a heavy loss to Iceland and they will finish second if they beat Argentina and the Nordic country are held to a draw.

''To advance from this so-called 'group of death' would be massive for us as a team and for the younger players – for their development and for their next World Cup,'' Mikel told fifa.com.

''They can get a good taste of how a World Cup works. They gain a lot of expierence and can build on that in the next four years."

Africa's most successful team in World Cup history, in terms of points accumulated, qualified for the last sixteen in 1994, 1998 and 2014.

Igho Kingsley