By Yemi Babalola Lagos
The World Cup finals is 7 months away from now. The 32 teams that have picked up there ticket to the football penultimate competition already know themselves. The official Mascot for Russia 2018 is Zabivaka.
Taking a quick look at the teams that would be taking on each other come June 2018, the national teams are that of Russia, the host nation. Others are Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France, Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia, Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco, Iran, Serbia, Australia, Japan, Panama, Korea Republic, and Saudi Arabia.
The draw for the football showpiece would be held on Friday, December 1 2017 at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow. This is when these national teams would know who their foes would be in the group stages.
However, Pot seeding was released on FIFA’s official website today Thursday. It was based on the October FIFA world ranking and below are the teams and the pots they are:
POT 1- Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France
POT 2- Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia
POT 3- Demark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran
POT 4- Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia.
Nigeria from these allocations would draw a team each from POT 1-3, which due to ranking are stronger sides due to their Pot Placements.
With the confidence the Super Eagles garnered from their recent victory over Argentina few days ago, the team would be praying for luck and no injuries come June 2018 as they prepare to take on the world flying the flag of Nigeria.
