It’s been sixteen years since both teams last won their opening game at a world cup final and for the reigning African Champions, a win is more than due.
The Iranians certainly know that they are the dark horses in Group F but like Costa Rica, they will like to fancy their chances against their African opponents. Coached by former Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz, Iran opened the preliminary competition brightly, scoring five unanswered goals past Maldives to progress. Team Melli were met with little challenge in the next phase, maintaining their undefeated run as they finished log winners with three victories and three draws.
As reigning African champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will want to follow on the successes of 2013. Despite being in a group where they should have qualified from during the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, the team ranked third in the Group that had Spain and Uruguay much to the dismay of Nigerian fans.
Despite their presence within Asia, Iran have so far been unable to progress beyond the group phase at the FIFA World Cup. They finished their debut campaign with a point, courtesy of a 1-1 draw against Scotland. But their first win came in the second appearance when a golden generation, boasting the likes of Ali Daei, Karim Bagheri and Mehdi Mahdavikia, came up with a memorable 2-1 defeat of USA. Their last participation at Germany 2006 saw them head home with a point after a 1-1 draw against debutants Angola.
Unlike Iran, Nigeria has had a slightly better performance at the FIFA finals boasting of second round finishes at both USA ‘94 and France ’98. Korea/Japan ’02 and South Africa ’10 saw the Africans bundled out in the group stages- a painful detail that Coach Stephen Keshi will want to rewrite starting from Monday.
Nigeria boasts of incredible talents scattered across Europe. The attack should be spear-headed by Fenerbahce’s Emmanuel Emenike whose form since his 2011 international debut has been very prolific. The return of Stoke City’s Peter Odemwingie is a relief for Nigeria also, as he is one of three players in the squad with previous World Cup experience. In between the sticks will be Lille’s shot-stopper, Vincent Enyeama. John Obi Mikel doesn’t venture forward for Chelsea but he does for Nigeria and much will rely on him to make the team tick.
In bolstering Iran’s attack, Queiroz did well to convince Reza Ghoochannejhad and Ashkan Dejagah to represent the country of their birth. Ghoochannejhad is a speedy forward who has been prolific for Iran, scoring ten goals in fourteen appearances since Queiroz convinced him in 2012 to opt for “Team Melli” rather than Holland, whom he had represented at youth level. And Dejagah has similarly impressed since he opted for Iran instead of Germany, which saw him net twice on his international debut.
Iran will be led by Javad Nekounam in what is probably going to be his final World Cup. The thirty-three year old is the team’s talisman and now plays in a deeper position.
Team News:
Nigeria: Ejike Uzoenyi, the Rangers International winger who was named by Super Eagles coach Steven Keshi as replacement for injured left back; Elderson Uwa. Echejile has arrived from Nigeria. Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, said all logistics to receive and reintegrate him into the team quickly have been made. But Rueben Gabriel is a major doubt for Monday’s game after suffering a knock in training.
Iran: Hundreds of Iranian football fans cheered the team Saturday as it arrived in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba on Saturday for its first game of the World Cup. They had training on Sunday and Carlos Queiroz will be buoyed by no incident of any serious injury concerns within his squad.
Head-to-Head:
The two teams have met in one previous match, in a friendly in 1998, where Nigeria won 1–0 as Ahmed Garba Lawal's goal was enough to seal the victory.
Match Facts:
Nigeria are winless in their last eight World Cup matches. Since beating Bulgaria 1-0 in 1998, the Super Eagles have racked up just two draws and six defeats. Iran are themselves without a win in four World Cup games, having followed up a 2-1 victory over USA in 1998 with three losses and a draw.
Probable Lineups:
Nigeria: Enyeama, Oboabona, Omerou, Oshaniwa, Ambrose, Obi Mikel, Onazi, Azeez, Emenike, Moses, Odemwingie.
Iran: Dejagah, Ghoochannejhad, Haghighi, Hajsafi, Heydari, Hosseini, Montazeri, Nekounam, Pooladi, Sadeghi, Teymourian.
