Etebo beats Messi, Neymar & Hazard with highest Rate of Successful Take -Ons

Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo is the player with the highest percentage of take-ons so far at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

This was confirmed by football facts and statistics website on their verified Twitter handle on Wednesday.

According to Statistics, Etebo’s 88.89% successful take-ons rate is higher than any player to attempt 10+ so far. Etebo failed just two take-ons at the 2018 World Cup, with 18 attempted and 16 completed.
Etebo has therefore been more successful at dribbles than superstars Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo. He was in action in all the Super Eagles’ group games.

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Super Eagles Line Up Vs Argentina Leaked

Head coach of the super eagles, is set to stick with the same team that defeated Iceland 2-0 in their last game, for tuesday's make or break clash on Tuesday barring any last minutes changes according to sources in the camp.

The trip of kelechi iheanacho, Tyronne Ebuehi, and Ahmed musa, returned to the starting line-up for that match, while odion ighalo, Alex iwobi and shehu abdullahi were dropped.

Rohr's shake up paid off ,as musa better twice to boost Nigerian chances of progressing to the next round.

The 3-5-2 formation is the same system deployed by the german, when his team defeated Argentina 4-2 in international friendly last November.
A draw or straight win will be enough to take the super eagles to the knockout stages.

Kick-off is 7pm Nigerian time.

Starting XI vs Argentina:Uzoho, balogun, Ekong, ebuehi,omeruo, Ndidi, Etebo,Mikel, Moses, Musa, iheanacho

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'YES WE KAN' – Nwankwo Kanu confident Nigeria can shock Argentina

The football icon is positive that the Super Eagles can upstage misfiring La Albiceleste to cruise to the World Cup knock out phase.

Nwankwo Kanu believes Nigeria have what it takes to spring a surprise against Argentina in Tuesday’s Group D clash.
Gernot Rohr’s men gave their World Cup aspiration a major boost by defeating Iceland 2-0 – thanks to a brace from Ahmed Musa, and they must avoid defeat at Krestovsky Stadium, to seal a Round of 16 berth.
Jorge Sampaoli’s team are on the brink of elimination after just two games and must beat the Super Eagles to progress to the knockout stages.

However, the former national team skipper is bullish about Nigeria’s chances of teaching the South Americas a bitter lesson.

“Nigeria vs Argentina. Kan you believe? Yes we kan and kan we do it? Yes we kan,” Kanu tweeted.

Prior to this game, Rohr’s side defeated Argentina 4-2 in an international friendly played in Krasnodar, and when they face off in Saint Petersburg, they would be hoping to break the Argentine jinx.
Nigeria have never defeated La Albiceleste in the history of the Fifa World Cup – losing in all previous meetings.

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Mikel Backs Young Uzoho To Have 'Amazing' World Cup

The 19-year-old is relied upon to remain between the sticks when the Super Eagles commence their World Cup battle at the Kaliningrad Stadium today.

Nigeria skipper John Obi Mikel has upheld young goalkeeper Francis Uzoho to have an extraordinary involvement with the 2018 Fifa World Cup.

Uzoho who made his international debut against Argentina in November 2017, has uprooted Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi to wind up the Super Eagles' first-choice goalkeeper.

The younsgter showed up with Deportivo La Coruna in LaLiga yet highlighted significantly in the third level of the Spanish League with their B side, making 26 appearances..

In spite of question concerning the 19-year-old's understanding, Mikel is satisfied with the shot stopper's calmness and said that the team will keep on lending some assistance to put him off pressure during games.

"He's an exceptionally youthful goalkeeper. I contemplate him is that he's constantly extremely quiet. It's beneficial for us, it's beneficial for him. He knows how to manage pressure, he has a great deal of obligation, yet we attempt to help him as much as we can," Mikel told the media.

"I endeavor to talk with him during the game, however it's vital for us to give him a chance to carry out his work, he knows precisely what he's doing. I attempt to talk with him to keep him quiet. We trust he will have an awesome competition."

In front of Saturday's World Cup opener against Croatia, Gernot Rohr's men recorded three defeats and a win in their last five warm - up  games.

Be that as it may, the Tianjin Teda star stays hopeful of their odds to daze the world in Russia.

"Preparation with the friendlies turned out poorly . We needed to try new things, new players, new formations ," he proceeded.

"We recognize what we did during the friendlies, yet right now is an ideal opportunity for the competition. We need to center, we need to switch back in transit we played going to the World cup.

"On the off chance that we can play the way we know, control the control, be forceful, we have an extraordinary shot. The youthful players need to demonstrate the world what they can do."

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HE IS ALWAYS DIVING - PIQUE BLAST PORTUGAL STAR

The defender was miserable with the Real Madrid star after Spain's World Cup draw against Portugal

Spain defender Gerard Pique scrutinized Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the hat trick hero had a propensity for tossing himself to the ground.

Ronaldo nestled into shocking 88th-minute free-kick in the wake of being fouled by Pique in an exciting 3-3 draw between the countries at the World Cup on Friday.

The Real Madrid star's goal was his third – his first coming after he won a penalty – as he drove Portugal to a hard-battled point in the Group B match in Sochi.

In any case, Pique was troubled with the fouls, saying Ronaldo routinely misrepresented contact.

"We have had more shots. They had three shots and scored three goals," the Barcelona defender said.

"Games go one way and you need to confront it.

"Finding yourself in the opening session of a World Cup with a penalty against you in the second minutes, you need to leave with nice sentiments after how the match went.

"Cristiano is inclined to diving."

Spain overwhelmed most of the contest, taking a 3-2 lead because of a Diego Costa brace and Nacho Fernandez's fine strike, before Ronaldo's late heroics.

Be that as it may, Fernando Hierro's men were left to lament a mix-up by goalkeeper David de Gea, who mishandled in a clear Ronaldo strike late in the first half.

In any case, Pique defended his teamate, saying: "He has been doing this for a long time and we as a whole face it, I'm certain that in critical minutes he will be the way he has dependably been.

"An absence of certainty? Not in any way, it's what you need to propose. In the changing area unmistakably David is our goalkeeper, he's indicated it for a considerable length of time."

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SPAIN SACK LOPETEGUI ON THE EVE OF THE WORLD CUP

The move debilitates to destabilize one  the most highly rated team in the competition, with La Roja set to play Portugal on Friday

Julen Lopetegui has been sacked as coach of Spain, in the wake of taking the Real Madrid job on Tuesday.

Lopetegui was declared as Zinedine Zidane's successor not long ago in a move that shocked many.

The declaration at first asserted that the 51-year-old would steer at Santiago Bernabeu after the finish of the competition, yet La Roja have acted now.

"We need to chose to sack the national coach," Spanish Football Federation president, Luis Rubiales, said. "What we have accomplished in arriving is expected in awesome part to him, and we should express gratitude toward him and wish him good fortune."

Rubiales demands he doesn't feel undermined, yet has proposed that Real acted in a way unbecoming of their status.

"I don't feel deceived. Lopetegui has done perfect work. How the sum total of what this has been done is something different.

"I have talked with the players and I can ensure they will do everything, alongside the new coach to take the team beyond what many would consider possible.

"Genuine Madrid search for the best coach, that is fine by me. I have no conclusion about how Real Madrid act. Be that as it may, the league have a commitment, to speak to all Spaniards.

"To win is essential, to have the best coach imperative, yet above everything is acting in the correct way. Possibly this is extreme now, however at last it will make us more grounded."

Lopetegui was unbeaten in his time in the Spain dugout , managing his team to 14 wins and six draws from 20 matches.

The staggering advancement undermines to destabilize a team viewed as one of the top picks to win the competition in Russia.

Spain confront Portugal on Friday, and will likewise confront Iran and Morocco in Group B.

Rubiales has not uncovered will's identity in control for La Roja's opening session of the competition, yet demands that a declaration will be made at the appointed time.

"We will contact as meager as could be expected under the circumstances," he said. "We are taking a shot at it. When we know we will let you know."

It has been accounted for that few Spain players were sharp for Lopetegui to remain on all through the competition, however that Rubiales was quick to act in the wake of discovering of the administrator's concurrence with Real Madrid unimportant minutes formerly the declaration was made.

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Pele Is Having Rest At Home,Not In Hospital--- Spokesperson

Brazil legend Pele is resting at home as per his representative, who expelled reports he had been taken to hospital with weariness.

The 77-year-old was because of movement to London this end of the week for a supper held in his respect by the Football Writers Association (FWA).

Pele - the main player to win three World Cups - pulled back and the FWA said he was being observed by specialists.

Be that as it may, his representative called reports of his hospitalization "counterfeit news".

"He simply would not like to make a long and unpleasant excursion to London, all through who knows what number of planes and air terminals," said Jose Fornos Rodrigues. "That's it in a nutshell."

Pele has been taken to doctor's facility for kidney and prostate issues lately.

Generally viewed as the best player ever , he scored 1,281 objectives in 1,363 appearances amid his 21-year profession, incorporating 77 goals in 91 appearances for Brazil.

He helped his nation win the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups and was named Fifa's Player of the Century.

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100 FACTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT WORLD CUP

1. 2018 will be the 21st FIFA World Cup, 88 years after the initial tournament in Uruguay (1930) and for the first time in Russia.
2. 32 countries will compete in the 2018 World Cup, with Iceland and Panama making their debuts in the competition. Slovakia were the last team to make it past the group stage on their debut in 2010.
3. The tournament will take place in 12 stadiums across 11 cities. Moscow is the only city with two arenas (Luzhniki and Spartak).
4. Since 1986 (included), the world champion came first in the group stage.
5. Other than South Africa (2010), all hosts have reached the second round. In 30% of cases (6/20), they have been champions (the last was France in 1998).
6. All World Cups have been won by European (11) or South American (9) sides.
7. Brazil has won the World Cup more than any other side, with 25% of the titles (5/20). It is also the only country to have competed in every competition.
8. There have only been four times when a team has won all of their games at a World Cup (Uruguay, 4/4 in 1930), Italy (4/4 in 1938) and Brazil (6/6 in 1970, 7/7 in 2002).
9. Germany will hope to be the first national team to win back to back World Cups since Brazil in 1962. Only Brazil (5) have more titles than Germany (4).
10. The last two reigning champions were knocked out in the group stages: Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014.
11. Portugal are aiming to be the fourth team to win the European Championships and the World Cup consecutively, like West Germany (Euros 72, World Cup 74), France (World Cup 98, Euros 00) and Spain (Euros 08, World Cup 10, Euros 12).
12. Italy failed to qualify for the first time since 1958, being the only one of eight teams to have won the competition who won’t compete in Russia.
13. Mexico has qualified without winning the trophy more than any other country (16 times).
14. Switzerland are the only country to avoid conceding in a World Cup campaign, with no goals conceded in 4 games in 2006.
15. 11 of the 62 games England have played in World Cups have ended 0-0, more than any other team.
16. Brazil has had the most red cards in the history of the competition (11), with Argentina (10) and Uruguay (9) not far behind.
17. Peru, who competed in the first World Cup, will play in the competition for the first time since 1982, the longest absence of any side that will be in Russia.
18. The record for most goals in the competition
stands at 171 (in 1998 and 2014), while that with least goals from 64 games is 145 (in 2010).
19. Germany has scored the most goals in the last three World Cups (14 in 2006, 16 in 2010, 18 in 2014).
20. The most goals in a single World Cup match occurred on June 26, 1954: Austria beat Switzerland 7-5.
21. Frenchman Just Fontaine still holds the record for the most goals scored in a World Cup (13, in 1958), while Russian forward Oleg Salenko has bagged more than any other in a single World Cup match: five goals against Cameroon, on 28 June 1994.
22. Among the current players, Thomas Muller has the most World Cup goals, with 10 (5 in each of the last two tournaments); He is six goals shy of all-time top scorer Miroslav Klose (16).
23. Thomas Müller also holds the record for assists in World Cups amongst current players (6); only Diego Maradona ( , Grzegorz Lato and Pierre Littbarski (7) can boast more assists than him since 1966.
24. The last player to reach ten goals in a single World Cup was Gerd Müller, in 1970; since then, the best has been Ronaldo in 2002 ( .
25. Miroslav Klose, Pelé and Uwe Seeler have all scored in four World Cups; the only players who could reach this landmark in Russia are: Tim Cahill, Rafael Marquez, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Villa.
26. The Mexican Antonio Carbajal and the German Lothar Matthäus have played in more World Cups (5) than any other footballer; only Rafael Marquez could reach this tally in Russia.
27. Every World Cup has been won by a coach who is the same nationality as his team.
28. Uruguay's Oscar Washington Tabárez will be at his fourth World Cup; more than any other coach at Russia 2018 (he has six wins, three draws and six defeats in the competition).
29. Helmut Schön is the coach with the most matches in the history of World Cups, 25 and all with Germany.
30. Playing as Russia (not the USSR), the hosts have never managed to overcome the group stage in a World Cup (1994, 2002, 2014), finishing in third position on each occasion.
31. Germany were the only UEFA team to win all their qualifiers, and had the best goal difference (+39).
32. England will play their 15th World Cup, this being their sixth straight qualification, matching their best streak in the competition (between 1950 and 1970).
33. France have qualified for their 15th tournament and a sixth participation in a row, their best ever streak.
34. Spain conceded the joint fewest goals in the UEFA Qualifiers (three goals in 10 matches, just like England), and were one of the four undefeated sides (9W 1D), along with Belgium, Germany and England.
35. It will be the first World Cup for Roberto Martínez. He's the first foreign coach to lead Belgium at a major competition since Doug Livingstone in Switzerland 1954.
36. Counting the records of Yugoslavia as well as Serbia and Montenegro, this will be the 12th World Cup for Serbia, but it is only their second participation as an independent country (as of 2010).
37. Sweden have kept a clean sheet in just three of their last 24 World Cup matches.
38. Switzerland reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup for the last time in 1954, when they were the hosts; since then, they have never passed the second round.
39. Poland have lost six of their last eight World Cup matches without scoring in any of those defeats; they have also let in at least one goal in each of those eight games (their last clean sheet coming in 1986).
40. Cristiano Ronaldo was the player who participated directly in the most goals (18) in the UEFA Qualifiers: 15 goals and three assists.
41. Croatia have lost the first game in their last three World Cups, the two most recent both against Brazil (2006 and 2014).
42. All of Denmark’s 27 goals at World Cups have come from inside the box.
43. Iceland are the country with the smallest population to ever compete at a World Cup, with 334,000 residents.
44. Brazil are the only side to have competed in every World Cup (21), have the most titles, 25% of tournaments, and the last to win back to back titles (1958 and 1962).
45. Only Bolivia (18) scored less goals than Argentina (19) in CONMEBOL qualifying.
46. Edinson Cavani was the top scorer in CONMEBOL qualifying with 10 goals for Uruguay.
47. James Rodriguez was the top scorer for Colombia in the 2014 World Cup and the 2018 qualifiers, being involved in eight of his country’s last 10 games in World Cup competitions, scoring six and assisting two.
48. Teofilo Cubillas has scored 10 and assisted two of Peru’s 19 World Cup goals (63%).
49. Mexico have been knocked out in the last-16 of the last six World Cups. They have only lost two of their last 17 group games (eight wins, seven draws).
50. Excluding penalties, Costa Rica were one of three unbeaten teams in the 2014 World Cup (alongside Germany and Holland).
51. Panama have qualified for their first World Cup. Slovakia were the last debutant to go beyond the group stages (2010).
52. No African country has qualified as often as Nigeria since their debut in 1994. 2018 will be their sixth World Cup.
53. Tunisia won their first World Cup game (3-1 vs Mexico June 2 1978) and has not won in any of their 11 games since (four draws, seven defeats). Bulgaria hold the record of 17 games without a win between 1962 and 1994.
54. Morocco wree the only country not to concede in the third round of CAF qualifiers for Russia 2018 (6 games).
55. Mohamed Salah was the top scorer in the third round of CAF qualifiers, scoring five of Egypt’s eight goals.
56. It will be the second major tournament for Aliou Cisse as a coach, after he reached the quarter final of the African Cup of Nations in 2017. As a player, he captained Senegal in their only World Cup (2002).
57. Five of the last eight goals scored by South Korea in the World Cup have come from outside the area. 12 of the last 13 have come in the second half.
58. Japan have only topped their group once: as hosts in 2002.
59. Tim Cahill has scored five of Australia’s 11 World Cup goals (45%). He’s one of nine players to have scored in the last three World Cups.
60. Iran have qualified for back to back World Cups for the first time in their history. They’ve never got beyond the group stage, winning just one of their 12 games, drawing three and losing eight. Their win was a 2-1 victory against USA in 1998.
61. Since qualifying for the World Cup, Saudi Arabia have fired two coaches: Bert van Marwijk and Edgardo Bauza.
62. Russia's coach, Stanislav Cherchesov, played in the USA 1994 6-1 victory against Cameroon. In that match, Oleg Salenko scored five goals, a record in a World Cup game.
63. Only Brazil (21) have played more World Cups than Germany (19), this being their 17th consecutive.
64. Since winning the title in 1966, England have reached the semi-finals on only one occasion (1990), and have been the first in their group in only one of their last five tournaments (2006).
65. Scotland haven't qualified for the World Cup.
66. None of the last 14 Spain matches in the World Cup ended in a draw (10W 4L).
67. Belgium have qualified for the 13th time in the World Cup, being the European country with the most participations outside the top 5 (Germany, Italy, Spain, England, France).
68. Serbia haven't passed the group stage in their last two World Cups (2006, 2010), losing five of their last six games in that phase; with only one victory, against Germany in 2010 (1-0).
69. Since reaching the final in 1958 as the home team, Sweden have beaten the second round on only one occasion: in the USA, 1994, when they finished third.
70. It will be the second big competition for Vladimir Petković as coach of Switzerland, after having remained undefeated at EURO 2016 (1W 3D, eliminated by penalties).
71. Poland has qualified for their eighth World Cup, their first since 2006.
72. Portugal have lost one of their last nine group stage games (0-4 vs Germany in 2014), winning five and drawing three since.
73. There have been five red cards in Croatia’s last four World Cup games (three for Croatia, two for their opposition).
74. Denmark have qualified from the group stage in three of their last four World Cups, but have never gone beyond the quarter finals, which they only reached once in 1998.
75. Gylfi Sigurdsson was the top scorer (4) and played most games (10, equal to Birkir Saevarsson and Ragnar Sigurdsson) for Iceland in qualifying.
76. It will be Tite’s first World Cup since he took charge of Brazil in June 2016. In qualifying he racked up 41 points (12 wins, five draws, one loss), the best tally in CONMEBOL qualifying since Argentina’s 43 points to qualifying for 2002.
77. Since 1978, only Germany (5) have reached the final more than Argentina (4).
78. Uruguay were the first World Cup champions in 1930 and won it again in the second running of the tournament in 1950. However, they’ve only got beyond the last 16 once in their last six attempts (4th place in 2010).
79. None of the last 18 matches Colombia have played in a World Cup ended goalless. Only the USA (33) and Austria (29) have played more games without a 0-0.
80. Peru have qualified for their fifth World Cup after beating New Zealand in the play-off.
81. Mexico have qualified for their 16th World Cup; only Brazil, Germany, Italy and Argentina have qualified for more.
82. Costa Rica have qualified for their fifth World Cup, getting out of the group on two of their four attempts (1990 and 2014).
83. It will be Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez’s third World Cup, after coaching his native Colombia in 1998 and Ecuador in 2002 (knocked out of the group stage both times).
84. Nigeria have won only one of their last 12 games in the World Cup (three draws, eight defeats), beating Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 in 2014.
85. Tunisia have kept just one clean sheet from 12 games (0-0 vs West Germany in 1978).
86. None of Morocco’s 12 World Cup goals have come from a set piece.
87. It will be Hector Cuper’s first World Cup as a coach, he was also coach of Egypt for the African Cup of Nations in 2017, losing the final 2-1 to Cameroon.
88. Senegal have qualified for their second World Cup, reaching the quarter final in 2002.
89. South Korea have qualified for their 10th World Cup, more than any other Asian country. They haven’t failed to qualify since 1986.
90. Japan have won just two of their last 11 World Cup games (three draws, six defeats): against Cameroon and Denmark in 2010.
91. Australia have only qualified from the group once, in 2006, when they were beaten in the last 16 by champions Italy.
92. It will be Carlos Queiroz’s third consecutive World Cup as a coach, the second in a row with Iran. His best campaign was with Portugal in 2010, when they were knocked out in the last 16 by future champions Spain.
93. Saudi Arabia have qualified for their firth World Cup, their first since 2006, finishing last in their group in all of their last three attempts.
94. It will be Julen Lopetegui’s first major competition as a coach, his only experience was as third choice goalkeeper with Spain at USA 1994 where he didn’t play.
95. France have only topped their group in two of the last nine times they have competed (1998 and 2014), and have won just three of their last 12 group stage games (five draws, four draws), against Togo, Honduras and Switzerland.
96. It will be Gareth Southgate’s first major competition as a coach. In 1998 he played two games for England at the World Cup.
97. 2018 is Joachim Low’s sixth major competition as Germany boss, reaching the semi-finals every time (2nd in Euro 2008, 3rd at South Africa 2010, semi-finalist at Euro 2012, champions in Brazil 2014, semi-finalist at Euro 2016).
98. The last eight Belgium goals at World Cups came after the 70th minute.
99. Henrik Larsson was the last Swede to score in the competition (vs England, June 20 2006) and is the country’s top scorer in the competition with five goals.
100. David Villa has scored nine of the last 20 Spain World Cup goals and is one of the nine players to have scored in the last three competitions.

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2018 WORLD CUP DRAW

England have been paired with Belgium in Group G for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The groupings for one year from now's opposition were at long last uncovered on Friday amid a service in Moscow.

What's more, the huge news for the Three Lions is their meeting with any semblance of Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois in the first round.

Defending champions Germany were drawn with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea in Group F. Brazil, in the mean time, get themselves set against Switzerland, Serbia and Costa Rica in Group E.

European title champs Portugal have been given an intense gathering that incorporates top seeds Spain, Morocco and Iran.

Here is the full table: 

*Group A* Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay

*Group B* Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran

*Group C* France, Australia, Peru, Denmark

*Group D* Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

*Group E* Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia

*Group F* Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea

*Group G* Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

*Group H* Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

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England win U17 World Cup

England produced  breathtaking comeback to win the Under-17 World Cup final with a 5-2 win over Spain in Kolkata.

Steve Cooper's side had lost on penalties to the same opponents in this summer's European Championship final but despite falling two goals behind during the first half in India, they gained revenge in sensational style through goals from Rhian Brewster, Morgan Gibbs-White, Marc Guehi and a Phil Foden double.
The triumph caps a remarkable year for England's youth sides, which has seen the U19s win the European Championships and the U20s win the World Cup and Toulon Tournament.
England started strongly, with Gibbs-White testing Alvaro Fernandez inside a minute from close range. But it was Spain who opened the scoring on 10 minutes, when Sergio Gomez pounced on a loose ball and slotted in after England failed to deal with a Juan Miranda cross.

Spain should have been two clear on 21 minutes, when a counter-attack saw Moha clean through on goal, but a heavy touch from the surging midfielder allowed goalkeeper Curtis Anderson to dive at his feet.
Moments later England's Steven Sessegnon lashed a shot across goal before Gomez doubled Spain's advantage on 31 minutes, capitalising on neat work in the box from Cesar Gelabert to fire a left-footed shot into the corner.

England responded immediately, though, with Callum Hudson-Odoi lashing a right-footed shot against the far post before Brewster pulled one back, heading in unmarked from Sessegnon's perfectly-placed cross for his eighth of the competition on 44 minutes.
England took that momentum into the second half and were back level on 58 minutes when Gibbs-White found space in the box and thundered Sessegnon's cutback into the net.

Incredibly, 11 minutes later, they completed the comeback, with Foden tucking in at the back post after a burst of pace sent Hudson-Odoi clear down the left flank.
Sessegnon - so impressive going forwards - was then alert to clear off the line from a Victor Chust header before England pulled clear, with Marc Guehi converting from close range from a free-kick on 84 minutes and Foden grabbing his second with an 88th-minute counter-attack.

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ARGENTINA'S MESSI-AH: MAGNIFICENT LEO SEND ALBICELESTE TO WORLD CUP

The attacker's incomparable talents came to the rescue in Quito as a 3-1 victory meant Argentina sealed their place in Russia

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. An entire nation sat in front of their televisions on Tuesday, biting their nails and waiting for inspiration to come from a single diminutive individual with the No. 10 on his back. And Lionel Messi, the Messiah and the Albiceleste's hat-trick hero, did not disappoint.

Argentina's 3-1 win over Ecuador that sealed qualification was tense, scrappy, and more than a bit fortunate. But ultimately their magnificent captain put in the display 43 million people were waiting for to drag them kicking and screaming into the 2018 World Cup. With another result it may even have proved Leo's final game with the national team – it would at least have been difficult to imagine him soldiering on for another five years for another crack at the apple in Qatar

The result itself was anything but a foregone conclusion. Aficionados of ominous statistics oft repeated in the build-up to the game that Argentina had won just once in the heights of Quito, the altitude of the Ecuadorian capital proving a daunting barrier to success over the years. And only a win would guarantee the Albiceleste at least a spot in the play-off, with automatic qualification out of their hands and depending on results elsewhere on a frenetic night of South American action.
Another less than encouraging statistic also weighed heavy on Argentine minds. Not since November 2016 had one of their players manage to score from open play, a fact almost incomputable when set against the rich attacking talent the nation is capable of fielding. Messi himself had netted the last goal from someone in an Argentina shirt way back in March, a rather soft penalty against Chile. But the Barcelona magician cocked his thumb at those heavy omens and instead put in a match-winning performance to down chaotic yet brave Ecuador.
At first, it appeared that disaster was set to strike. Just 39 seconds into the encounter the hosts took advantage of some atrocious defending to go ahead through Romario Ibarra. It was precisely the start Jorge Sampaoli must have wished to avoid, forcing Argentina to push even further forward in Quito's paper-thin atmosphere to seek parity and then superiority.

Luckily Messi was on the field to put things right – and this time, in a welcome change, he was not alone. So often left a forlorn, frustrated figure shorn of company in international colours, the neat pass received from Angel Di Maria 12 minutes into the clash must have felt like manna from heaven. He made no mistake, sliding home past Maximo Banguera to level the score and keep the World Cup dream alive.
The second was testament to his perseverance and commitment to the Argentina cause. Chasing up a loose ball, he powered past his marker and powered the ball into the net from an uncomfortable angle for 2-1. And the third of the evening, to mark the 44th perhaps the most important hat-trick of his entire career, was pure unadulterated inspiration. Banguera was left stranded by a lob that came out of nowhere, the mark of a true genius coming through when it really counted.

No wonder that even the home fans were reduced to applauding their executioner, a scene of graciousness in defeat seldom-seen in hyper-competitive South America and a mark of the effect Messi has on his rivals.
It was not quite Messi against the world in Quito. Di Maria veered in and out of the game as is his wont, but came up with that neat one-two to grab a vital equaliser. Enzo Perez formed the link between midfield and attack so sorely lacking in recent outings, while wide out on the right Eduardo Salvio put in a workmanlike performance to keep an adventurous Ecuador at bay and push his team forward on the counter. Nor will it escape an immensely relieved Sampaoli that their opponents on Tuesday, having nothing to lose after early elimination, attacked and left spaces in a way that few other adversaries will come Russia 2018.
When it counted the captain shouted loudest, however, and dragged his team into a World Cup after 18 games of under-achieving, sub-standard performances and bedlam behind the scenes. Sampaoli will certainly be under no illusions as to the task ahead of him in whipping this team into shape, after so many years of mis-management. But at least he can do so knowing that catastrophe has been averted and his nation are on their way to Russia and for that he has one man to thank above all others.
Argentina's messiah arrived to save the day, and when he is at his incomparable best the Albiceleste should never be written off.

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Alex Iwobi Send Nigeria To World Cup

Arsenal's Alex Iwobi scored as Nigeria beat a stubborn Zambia 1-0 to become the first African side to seal a place at next year's World Cup in Russia.

The win put them on an unassailable 13 points at the top of Group B.

Chances were missed at both ends by the time Shehu Abdullahi provided the cut-back for Iwobi to finish from inside the box in the 73rd minute.

Odion Ighalo, John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Moses Simon went close for the Super Eagles but failed to score.

Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mwenne produced an acrobatic save to deny Wilfred Ndidi in the second half in a pulsating end-to-end encounter.

African WC Qualifying Group B:	Played	Points
1. Nigeria - Qualified	5	13
2. Zambia	5	7
3. Cameroon	5	6
4. Algeria	5	1

Augustine Mulenga thought he had put Zambia ahead in the 22nd minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Fashion Sakala, Alex Ng'onga and Enock Mwepu had chances for the Chipolopolo but the 2012 African Champions failed to punish a perplexed Super Eagles defence.

But substitute Iwobi, who had scored in the reverse fixture in Ndola last October, finished off a decent attack to send Nigeria to a third straight World Cup appearance.

Moses had a great opportunity to add a second towards the end, but the Chelsea wing-back slipped inside the box.

Nigeria stay top in Group B and advance with one game to spare from a pool that was dubbed the "Group of Death" and expected to go down to the wire.

Russia will be Nigeria's sixth appearance at the World Cup.

They reached the second round in 1994, 1998 and 2014, but exited the tournament in the group stage in 2002 and 2010.

In the other group game, Cameroon beat Algeria 2-0 at home with goals from Clinton Njie and Franck Tchidjui Pangop.

Reigning African champions Cameroon and Algeria‚ who got to the second round of the last World Cup finals in Brazil‚ have already been eliminated after disappointing campaigns.

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LIST OF SUPER EAGLES PLAYERS TO FACE CAMEROON HAPOEL BE'ER SHEVA’S NWAKAEME HANDED FIRST NIGERIA CALL-UP

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The 28-year-old forward is one of the 23 players called up by Gernot Rohr for September's double-header of qualifiers against Cameroon

Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s Anthony Nwakaeme has earned a first senior call-up in Nigeria’s 23 man squad for their 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Cameroon next month.

Nwakaeme has been in hot form for the Camels and will be relied upon to tame the Indomitable Lions in Uyo and Yaounde. Hull City's Ola Aina wwas also handed his first Nigeria invite.

Also, seven players have been placed on standby – and any of them would be contacted in case there is any issue with any of the invited squad.

Captain John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses are among the regular players available for the cracker, while Ogenyi Onazi was left out.

The Super Eagles host the first leg on September 1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, with the return leg holding three days later in Yaounde.

The three-time African champion lead Group B with six points from two games.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dele Alampasu (Cesarense FC, Portugal) 

Defenders: William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Elderson Echiejile (Sivasspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Ola Aina (Hull City, England) 

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Mikel Agu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey) 

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Odion Ighalo (Chang Chun-Yatai, China); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Anthony Nwakaeme (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

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