Stephen Keshi

Abuja – Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, on Sunday said that the players would take their matches at the 2014 World Cup one at a time.

A statement from Assistant Director (Media) of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Ademola Olajire in Abuja, reported Keshi as saying that the team would focus on one match at a time.

“Today as I speak, I know we are going to play Iran on June 16.

“And there are two other matches in the group phase, against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina, but our focus for now is what we must achieve against Iran in Curitiba,’’ Keshi said.

He added that his team had serious ambition to do Nigeria and Africa proud in the 2014 edition of the World Cup finals in Brazil

“There would have been no reason to take part in the qualifying series if we did not believe we would make it to the finals.

“And there would have been no reason to prepare so hard for the finals if we knew we were only coming to Brazil to make up the number.

“I have a group of players who believe in themselves. And they want to go as far as they can in Brazil.

“The formula we will employ is to look at what is immediately in front of us and focus and plan on how to tackle it,” Keshi said.

Meanwhile, former Super Eagles’ Coach, Amodu Shuaibu, has said that the Eagles’ clash with Iran on Monday would be a great determinant of their campaign in Brazil.

‘In a way, the match against Iran is very important; as our first match, it will give a good idea of our readiness to do well in the tournament.

“It will also present us opportunity to quickly pocket three points and look to add to that in our second match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

“I have not had opportunity of being very close to the team recently but I know Keshi has been working very hard.

“And he knows the boys very well and knows the combination that will give him victory; so, I am optimistic,” Amodu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles will face Iran in their first group match at the Arena Da Baixada, Curitiba on Monday from 8 p.m. Nigerian time.

They will square up against debutants, Bosnia-Herzegovina in the second Group F match on June 21 before facing Argentina in the last group match on June 25.

The 2014 edition of the World cup finals holding in Brazil, started on June 12 and will end on July 13. (NAN)