African champions, Nigeria, yesterday during FIFA World Cup draws were drawn in Group F and will face two- time World champions, Argentina in the group stages of the 2014 Mundial in Brazil.
Nigeria was in pot two alongside Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Chile and Ecuador and fans of the Super Eagles breathe a sigh of relief after the African champions were joined by Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
It will be the fourth time Nigeria and Argentina will be clashing in the group stages of the World Cup finals. The two countries first clashed in 1994 when Claudio Canniggia scored a brace to cancel out Samson Siasia’s first half goal for the Super Eagles.
In 2002, Gabriel Batistuta scored a brace to sink the Coach Adegboye Onigbinde led Nigerian side, while Gabriel Heinze scored a solitary effort as Argentina won again at the expense of Nigeria in 2010.
Legends of the game were on hand to pick the draws and they include, Uruguay’s 1950 World Cup winner, Alcides Ghiggia, England’s 1966 hero, Geoff Hurst, former Brazil captain, Cafu, Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro, Argentina’s Mario Kempes, Spain’s Fernando Hierro, France’s Zinedine Zidane and German great Lothar Matthaus.
Host nation Brazil will kick off next year’s soccer World Cup against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12, while holders Spain and 2010 runners-up Netherlands will meet again in the group stages.
Brazil were grouped with Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon while Spain and the Dutch have a tough Group B which also contains Chile and Australia.
Meanwhile Ghana’s Kevin-Prince Boateng was understandably excited after learning who his national side would face in Brazil. The Black Stars were drawn in Group G alongside international heavyweights Germany and Portugal, with the USA taking up the final spot in the group.
But Boateng has no fear ahead of the tough match-ups.“You can see that wishes do come true,” he told Sport Bild. “It’s the draw of my dreams. I can’t wait to face my brother, Jerome, who represents Germany at the World Cup. It will also be great to face my Schalke team-mate Jermaine Jones of USA.”
GROUP A
Brazil
Croatia
Mexico
Cameroon
Brazil
Croatia
Mexico
Cameroon
GROUP B
Spain
Netherlands
Chile
Australia
Spain
Netherlands
Chile
Australia
GROUP C
Colombia
Greece
Cote d’Ivoire
Japan
Colombia
Greece
Cote d’Ivoire
Japan
GROUP D
Uruguay
Costa Rica
England
Italy
Uruguay
Costa Rica
England
Italy
GROUP E
Switzerland
Ecuador
France
Honduras
Switzerland
Ecuador
France
Honduras
GROUP F
Argentina
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Iran
Nigeria
Argentina
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Iran
Nigeria
GROUP G
Germany
Portugal
Ghana
USA
Germany
Portugal
Ghana
USA
GROUP H
Belgium
Algeria
Russia
Korea Republic
Belgium
Algeria
Russia
Korea Republic
