Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel says the Super Eagles are in Brazil
to erase their dismal performance at the last two editions of the World
Cup.
It would be recalled that the Super Eagles standout player pulled out of the last tournament staged in South Africa after failing to recover from injury.
''This is my first World Cup. I want to make sure we achieve something coming here. We don't just want to come and make up the numbers, we want to do well.
"I have to make sure I lead by example. We are all driving in the same direction. We all know what we want and hopefully we will have a good tournament,'' he told AFP.
After the Super Eagles won the African Cup of Nations for a third time last year, they must meet expectations of majority of the fans, who expect them to qualify for the knock out round for a start.
Mikel said: ''We know we're the African champions and people expect us to do well, to represent the African continent.
''That's a bit more extra pressure but it's pressure that we love. We love to be African champions."
"We're doing well; we're doing everything we can. We're preparing well. Today the result in Spain against the Netherlands shows anything is possible so we have to make sure we approach games seriously and play well.''
In their first match of the tournament on June 16, Nigeria will trade tackles with Iran in Curitiba.
It would be recalled that the Super Eagles standout player pulled out of the last tournament staged in South Africa after failing to recover from injury.
''This is my first World Cup. I want to make sure we achieve something coming here. We don't just want to come and make up the numbers, we want to do well.
"I have to make sure I lead by example. We are all driving in the same direction. We all know what we want and hopefully we will have a good tournament,'' he told AFP.
After the Super Eagles won the African Cup of Nations for a third time last year, they must meet expectations of majority of the fans, who expect them to qualify for the knock out round for a start.
Mikel said: ''We know we're the African champions and people expect us to do well, to represent the African continent.
''That's a bit more extra pressure but it's pressure that we love. We love to be African champions."
"We're doing well; we're doing everything we can. We're preparing well. Today the result in Spain against the Netherlands shows anything is possible so we have to make sure we approach games seriously and play well.''
In their first match of the tournament on June 16, Nigeria will trade tackles with Iran in Curitiba.
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