Former Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Dutchman Simon Kalika says the Super Eagles could pull one of the major surprises at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia. About the Super Eagles’chances in Russia, Kalika said, “The Super Eagles have a young team. The players are quite young but their physical strength will be an advantage. I must say the coach (Gernot Rohr) made a good selection in his final 23-man team. There is experience which Mikel (Obi), (Victor) Moses, (Odion) Ighalo will provide and I think, yes, the Super Eagles can do something great in Russia”.
Kalika was a fan favourite after assisting Coach Samson Siasia to lead the 2005 Flying Eagles to the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in his native Netherlands. He was also Siasia’s right hand man during the U-23 Olympic Team’s run to the 2008 Olympic Games Football event final in Beijing. The teams lost on both occasion to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentinaby a lone goal. Nigeria plays Argentina in her last group game but Kalika believes, “Super Eagles will qualify (from the group stage). If they manage their knock out games well, they can become the surprise team of the World Cup because Nigeria has plenty talents”.