Russia 2018: We're a big nation, We'll prepare sufficently and beat Algeria - Alex Iwobi boasts

Arsenal and Nigeria star Alex Iwobi has boasted that coach Gernot Rohr's tutored side will beat Algeria when the two sides battle for three points in the 2018 World Cup qualifier to take place in Uyo next month.

The striker who has been a beaming light for Arsenal and the Super Eagles since rejecting a chance to represent the Three Lions of England opened the scoring in Nigeria's 2-1 win over Zambia last Sunday in Ndola and says Nigeria have nothing to fear against an Algerian side boasting stars like Slimani and PFA player of the year Riyad Mahrez.

'Nigeria is a big football nation and we are mindful that we carry the expectations of the Nation on our shoulders. As individuals and as a team, we will always perform to the best of our abilities and will leave no stone unturned to ensure we qualify for the World Cup' Iwobi told SportingLife. The Algerians play a free flow and technical style of football but i am confident we shall prepare sufficiently and will beat them' 

'We all struggled in the heat (in Ndola) , we trained in the sun in Nigria to acclimatize to the very hot conditions in Ngola. I had to track back to help the defense on a few occasions and this may have led to me slowing down in the second half. I am glad we held on and achieved a very good result which which we can build on.'