With pitch problems at the Estadio Nacional preventing either squad from training before today’s game, the local fire service football pitch is being utilised instead, with the Nacional’s condition being described by match officials as “Playable, but slightly cut up”. In Nigeria team news today we learn that Chelsea forward Victor Moses needs a fitness test after showing positive signs of recovery from a muscular injury, while winger Michael Babatunde is likely to miss the next few games if not the rest of the tournament with a fractured wrist. In the French camp, Mathieu Valbuena returns for selection, with Mamadou Sakho still a doubt with a thigh injury. Yohan Cabaye also returns from suspension, giving coach Didier Deschamps almost a full squad to choose from.
Special Offer: BET LIVE on France vs Nigeria + a $200 FREE BET
The attitude in the French dressing room at the moment is extremely buoyant, with newspapers back home going as far as to say that france can go all the way and win the tournament. A voice of caution has spoken out however in the form of midfielder Yohan Cabaye who said: “Confidence shouldn’t become arrogance, as that’s when you have problems.” France’s record at this stage though is a positive one, having reached the semis after having qualified from the group stages on no less than five occasions. France kicked off their tournament in rampant form, but this was brought to a stuttering halt when they were unable to break a goalless deadlock with Ecuador.
Karim Benzema is now back, and in fine form and this along with a rejuvenated front line will mean that they will take some stopping, even with a defiant Nigeria on the front foot after having reached this stage for the first time since 1998. Nigeria however have had a turbulent run up to this point, being embroiled in a row with the country’s FA over appearance bonuses, a row which required the intervention of and reassurance from the country’s president, Mr Goodluck Jonathan. A man to watch in today’s performance will be Ahmed Musa, whose pace and trickery has seen him emerge as one of the tournament’s rising stars, the proof of which could be seen by those lucky enough to watch him in the Argentina game where he terrorised the wing, scoring two goals and in doing so, becoming the first Nigerian in history to score twice in a World Cup game.
Speaking of this electrifying performance, Argentine right-back Pablo Zabaleta said: “We are lucky to have Messi, Nigeria is lucky to have Musa.” This sentiment was backed in full by coach Stephen Keshi who enthused: “I said Messi is from Jupiter, but Musa is from another planet with pace like that.” However, Musa is not the only effective weapon in the Nigerian arsenal; they also have Vincent Enyeama, who is something of renowned player in France, known for his ability to repel French strikers. This fact couldn’t have been better highlighted than in 2013-14 where the keeper went close to breaking a world record after keeping a clean sheet for a staggering 1,062 minutes in the French premier league. This will be a tight game, a fixture which has been played only once before in 2009, with Nigeria running out eventual 1-0 winners.
