Mikel Obi Reveals How Super Eagles Planned to Stop Messi and others

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As Nigeria prepared for a decisive Group D clash against Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, all attention was on one man — Lionel Messi.

Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi knew the challenge ahead wouldn’t be easy. But instead of fear, he spoke with confidence about how Nigeria intended to deal with the Argentine superstar and his teammates.

Ahead of the crucial encounter, Mikel made it clear that preparation and discipline would be key.

He emphasized that the team had to stay organized and approach the match with a clear plan:

Nigeria would “set up very well” to get a result against Argentina.

He also stressed that the team had moved on from their previous win and were fully focused on the task ahead, knowing how important the match was for qualification.

Mikel openly admitted that facing Messi is one of the toughest challenges in football.

  • Messi had already proven his quality on the world stage

  • He was the focal point of Argentina’s attack

  • One moment of brilliance could change the game

Mikel noted that other teams like Iceland and Croatia had shown it was possible to limit Messi’s influence — but it required discipline and teamwork.

Interestingly, Mikel warned against focusing only on Messi.

He explained that:

  • Argentina have multiple dangerous players

  • Concentrating on one player could create space for others

  • Nigeria needed balance in their approach

The strategy was clear:
Defend as a unit, not just against one man

He also highlighted the importance of playing Nigeria’s own game — creating chances and staying confident going forward. 

The match was a do-or-die fixture for both teams:

  • Nigeria needed at least a draw (or win) to qualify

  • Argentina were under pressure after a poor start

  • The game carried massive expectations from fans

Mikel described the situation as one where the team had to give everything on the pitch.

Mikel’s comments showed a balanced mindset:

 Respect Messi, but don’t be intimidated by him

This approach is crucial when facing elite players. Instead of over-focusing on stopping one individual, successful teams:

  • Stay compact defensively

  • Control space

  • Maintain confidence in their own style

In my view, Mikel showed strong leadership before the game. He didn’t underestimate Messi, but he also didn’t let the team become obsessed with him.

That mentality is important in big tournaments — because once a team loses confidence, the game is already lost.

John Mikel Obi’s message ahead of Nigeria’s clash with Argentina was clear: preparation, teamwork, and belief were the keys to handling Messi and his teammates.

While Messi remained a major threat, Nigeria’s approach showed that even the best players can be challenged with the right strategy.

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