Why Super Eagles cannot stop Messi — Taribo West reveals

Former Nigeria defender, Taribo West, has revealed why the Super Eagles of Nigeria

would not be able to stop Lionel Messi at the 2018 World Cup. According to the

former defender, the Super Eagles don’t have what it takes to stop Lionel Messi,

when they take on Argentina in their third Group D match of the 2018 World Cup on

June 26.

West said Gernot Rohr’s defenders need special tactics, to be able to stop the

Barcelona superstar.

“We have good defenders, but from what I have seen, they don’t have what it takes to stop Messi

at the World Cup. Stopping Messi requires special tactics which they don’t have.

 “We don’t have the kind of defenders that can mark out Messi for 90 minutes and that will make it
difficult for the Super Eagles.
“My advice is that they should not concentrate too much on him. During my playing days, you
need just one player that will mark him out and throughout 90 minutes, there won’t be breathing
space for him,” West told CompleteSports.

West also expressed satisfaction with Rohr’s preparations for the tournament which
kicks off June 14.
“If you see the way they are preparing for the World Cup and the way they played during the
qualifying series, I will say they did incredibly well and if they can continue like that, definitely
they will excel in Russia.

 “I believe this team will do well because they are strong and young and that is some of the things
you need in a team.
”A team like this present Super Eagles can create surprises and also go far in the World Cup,” he
added.