World Cup: Mikel wary of Iran, Bosnia

 

Mikel Obi

Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Obi has warned that World Cup new team, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Iran, rather than Argentina, could be the tough teams of Group F at the tournament in Brazil next year.

Nigeria are facing the South Americans for the fourth time at this level and have never picked a point against them in the competition. But Bosnia-Herzegovina will also be facing the Eagles for the first time.

While Nigeria have met Iran once in 1998 in a friendly in Hong Kong, the Chelsea player believes the several encounters between Nigeria and Argentina in the past could make the Albicelestes more predictable than the others.

“It was a good draw but not an easy one. All the teams at the World Cup have same dream and that is to win. We will take all the games as they come with all seriousness. We will go for victory in the opening game against Iran; the first game is always very important in such a competition. Then, we do so for the other games. I am sure we will progress from the group,” Mikel was quoted as saying on MTNfootball.com.

“Argentina are favourites but Iran and Bosnia may be tougher. We will face all of them with seriousness and the zeal to win.”

The Brazil 2014 World Cup would be Mikel’s first appearance at the competition after missing out on the 2010 edition due to injury.

“I’m looking forward to Brazil with great expectation. It will be a great and fruitful tournament for us, looking at our team right now we are good enough to do well in Brazil,” he said.

“I want my nation to do well as a team and I also want to do well as a player.

“We did our best at the FIFA Confederations Cup (in spite of the poor results), but the World Cup is a different tournament. We want to go back there and finish the business in Brazil.”

Mikel did not rule Nigeria out of winning the World Cup but admitted setting a target at the tournament could put the team under unnecessary pressure.

“Why not?” he answered when asked if Nigeria could win the World Cup. “All the 32 teams could win the World Cup. We will take it one game after the other.”