Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho has predicted that the Super Eagles will not qualify for the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
It would be recalled that the Portuguese gaffer had earlier tipped Nigeria to finish second in Group D behind Argentina and face off with France in the second round, a repeat of their 2014 World Cup fixture at Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília.
In that game on June 30, 2014, the 1998 world champions needed two late goals, the first coming in the 79th minute before seeing off Nigeria, and that was only after the then influential midfielder Eddy Onazi was substituted due to injury.
”France vs. Nigeria … I would say that the French will be stronger,” said the head coach of Manchester United to RT.
Nigeria beat France 1-0 in a friendly staged at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-ètienne) in June 2009, with Joseph Akpala netting the winner in the 32nd minute.
The Super Eagles qualified for the last sixteen at USA 1994, France 1998 and Brazil 2014, but lost to European opposition on each occasion.
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