Super Eagles manager, Stephen Keshi, has declared that the national team will go for an outright win over their French counterparts in Brasilia on Monday.
The former Eagles of Mali manager stated this on the arrival of the team in Brasilia on Saturday.
Keshi said: “I said before the tournament that our mentality must be strong.
“Our approach to every match has always been the same: to win.
“Whether we are playing against Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup or playing against Liberia in a friendly match, I always tell the boys that victory is non-negotiable.
“For us, we will go into Monday’s match aiming to win.
“But as I also said before the competition, we take it one match at a time.
“We don’t even want to think of who might be lurking in the quarter finals if we win.
“We are not bothered.
“All we know is that we must win on Monday.”
Reward for the winner in Monday’s clash that starts at 5pm Nigeria time (1pm Rio de Janeiro) is a visit to the elegant Estadio Maracana, venue for the final on July 12, and which also hosted the final when Brazil lost 1-2 to Uruguay in 1950).
The winner will play the victor of the tie between three-time champions, Germany, and African flag bearers, Algeria, who have reached the Round of 16 for the first time ever.
The African champions, Nigeria, are the apparent underdogs in Monday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 battle with France in Brasilia.
There is only one recorded clash between Nigeria and France at the senior level.
That was an international friendly in Paris, France on June 2, 2009, which the Super Eagles won by a lone goal.
The goal was scored by Joseph Akpala.
Six of Nigeria’s leading names play in the English Premiership alongside nine of France’s best, making this a potentially-explosive session in all ramifications.
Nigeria’s Captain, Joseph Yobo, who will reach the historic 100th cap mark if featured against the French, features for Norwich City, with Osaze Odemwingie (Stoke City), John Mikel Obi and Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea), Victor Moses (Liverpool) and Shola Ameobi (Newcastle) also involved.
They are quite familiar with Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Mathieu Debuchy, Loic Remy, Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle), Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) and Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool).
Debuchy, Remy and Sissoko are Ameobi’s teammates at Newcastle, while Moses and Liverpool mate, Mamadou Sakho, will embrace before hostilities commence.
Nigeria goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, rated one of the best at the tournament so far, comes up against Lille OSC of France teammate Rio Mavuba.
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