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Cape Town - Nigerian vice captain Vincent Enyeama is attempting to downplay the personal duel between himself and Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
The Super Eagles take on Argentina in a decisive Group F match on Wednesday evening, knowing that if they can keep the South Americans off the score-sheet, or at the very least secure a draw, they will be guaranteed a place in the last 16.
The two countries also met at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where an early goal from Gabriel Heinze secured a 1-0 win, although Enyeama had been able to keep Messi off the score-sheet on that occasion.
Heading into their upcoming clash in Porto Alegre, Enyeama moved to take the focus off the personal rivalry, saying: “Messi is a great player, a legend in his own right and by world standards, but I don’t want people to say because he could not score against me last time in South Africa.
“He is going to come out and do it differently because he is more matured. It’s a World Cup game between Nigeria and Argentina. Messi and myself are just two of the players out of 22 on the pitch."
A victory for Nigeria would see them top Group F while a draw would be enough to ensure the West Africans finish above Iran and thereby move into the knockout phase in Brazil.
The Super Eagles take on Argentina in a decisive Group F match on Wednesday evening, knowing that if they can keep the South Americans off the score-sheet, or at the very least secure a draw, they will be guaranteed a place in the last 16.
The two countries also met at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where an early goal from Gabriel Heinze secured a 1-0 win, although Enyeama had been able to keep Messi off the score-sheet on that occasion.
Heading into their upcoming clash in Porto Alegre, Enyeama moved to take the focus off the personal rivalry, saying: “Messi is a great player, a legend in his own right and by world standards, but I don’t want people to say because he could not score against me last time in South Africa.
“He is going to come out and do it differently because he is more matured. It’s a World Cup game between Nigeria and Argentina. Messi and myself are just two of the players out of 22 on the pitch."
A victory for Nigeria would see them top Group F while a draw would be enough to ensure the West Africans finish above Iran and thereby move into the knockout phase in Brazil.
