HEAD TO HEAD: France Wins 0 Nigeria Wins 1 Draws 0 Referee: () France have probably been the best side along with Colombia in terms of their showing in the group stages. One must bear in mind the relative quality of their opposition which included a rather shabby Honduran side more intent on kicking their way to success and a Swiss side who are very vulnerable at the back and who lacked any midfield leadership when they were pummelled. At present there are no weaknesses in the team. They are unified have a nice blend of youth and experience and great fluidity in midfield and out wide. Benzema has actually picked up his form for once in a major tournament while at the back Sakho and Varane have been at ease handling the opposition with a combination of physical prowess and pace. However should one of these get injured the unreliable Koscielny is prone to errors. However no team they have met has put them under sustained pressure and Ecuador showed they still retain weaknesses down their flanks having had the boldness to use them unlike Switzerland and Honduras. Nigeria beat the French the sole time they have met back in St.Etienne in 2009 and their showing against Argentina shows that they can pose a threat to anyone if they choose to express themselves. The three O's who are no more than kids at the back, Omeruo, Oboabona and Oshaniwa have been relatively comfortable using their pace and physical attributes to cover positional errors. However they struggled to contain as most teams would Argentina through the middle and down the flanks and their set piece defending despite the presence of Yobo has been poor. They will have to be far more resolute against the French fullbacks and hope that Omeruo and Oshaniwa can take Sagna and Evra the other way and isolate Benzema and Valbuena. Oboabona is still a doubt after going off against Iran which leaves the rather slow Yobo to take the strain of coping with a very mobile French attack and who may prove to be their undoing. The keeper Enyeama is in fine form however and a performance akin to that in 2010 against Messi could help the Super Eagles triumph. Onazi has been excellent as expected in mopping up defensive lapses. Mikel on the other hand has lacked the ability to create but is likely to be retained over Azeez. The real promise lies in both Musa and Emenike pulling out wide and using their pace to get in behind the French defence. If they can they can cause all sorts of issues as Ecuador did from time to time. Babatunde has undergone surgery for his wrist fracture after being shot by Onazi in the last match against Argentina and is ruled out of the rest of the tournament.
