Nigeria vice-captain William Troost-Ekong has claimed that a Brazilian trio including Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino causes his side no threat.
The Africans line up against Brazil in Singapore on Sunday, and Troost-Ekong believes his side has players that have the same ability as the South American front three of Firmino, Neymar Jr, and Gabriel Jesus.
Troost-Ekong exclaimed that his side are eager to test themselves against Brazil and that the £180,000-a-week Liverpool man [Spotrac], would not make a difference in the game.
“We have players who are as good as Neymar, Firmino, Jesus and Firminho in the Super Eagles,” he said to Soccernet.
“They will definitely pose no threat to us.”
Firmino has been involved in six goals this season already in the Premier League, scoring three goals and adding the same amount of assists.
OPINION
Well, it seems either brave or stupid to come out and claim that the Brazilian attacking trio won’t cause your side any problems. Each player on their own are good enough to come out and cause any defence problems, so to claim that all three of them on the same pitch at the same time won’t, seems like the Africans are already clutching at straws to try and gain an advantage in the game before it has even started. Firmino has been outstanding this season, and continues to get better for both club and country, and will be eager to continue his run of being involved in goals. The 28-year-old has been the Reds’ standout performer so far in this campaign, averaging the highest WhoScored match rating so far with 7.66. On top of that, he has also completed the most dribbles per game in the entire Liverpool squad (2.5) and will be looking to have a similar effect for his national side – something that should worry the Nigerians.
