2014 World Cup: Nigeria Draw Argentina Again

By: Salifu Usman on December 7, 2013 - 5:53am

Super Eagles of Nigeria dream to shock the world in the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup has been given additional boost as the final draw conducted yesterday at the luxurious Costa do Sauípe in Salvador, Brazil, handed Coach Stephen Keshi-led squad a fairly easy group.

Argentina and Nigeria are drawn in group F of the competition, as they were in Korea/Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010. The two perennial rivals are draw alongside newcomers, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran.

Nigeria, who was the first African side to qualify for the finals of the global soccer showpiece in Brazil, will play their opening match against Iran in Curitiba on June 16, 2014 before taking on the newcomers, Herzegovina in the second match and Argentiana in the final group match.

Host, Brazil were pitched in Group A against Croatia, Mexico and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Ghana’s Black Stars were landed in a ‘Group of Death’ where they will be facing Germany, Portugal, and the United States of America in Group G.

Defending champions Spain were handed a tricky pool in the draw, having been bracketed with 2010 runners up, Netherlands, Chile and Australia in group B. Colombia, Greece, Côte d’Ivoire and Japan are in group C, while France were zoned in wide-open group along with Switzerland, Ecuador, and Honduras.

Uruguay, who finished fourth at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, will feature in an intriguing pool alongside England, Italy and Costa Rica. Belgium will fight for a place in the next round alongside, Algeria, Russia and Korea Republic.

Brazil and Croatia will play in the opening match at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo on 12 June 2014

Source: Leadership newspaper