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Nigeria aims to cause another upset

Cape Town - Nigeria will be aiming to keep up their 100% record against France when the two teams clash in the last-16 of the 2014 World Cup on Monday.

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The Super Eagles have only ever faced Les Bleus once before, beating them 1-0 in Saint-Etienne in 2009, and their hopes of progression hinge on keeping a red-hot Karim Benzema quiet at Estadio Nacional de Brasilia.

Benzema has bagged three goals at the tournament in Brazil - and nine in his last nine outings - to threaten the Nigerians' bid to become only the fourth African nation to reach the quarter-final stages.

The French are unbeaten in their three matches, although a 0-0 draw against Ecuador last time out spoiled their perfect record in Group E after wins over Honduras and Switzerland.

Meanwhile, Stephen Keshi's side lost 3-2 to Argentina most recently, but still managed to qualify for the knockout phase after going undefeated in their previous two group encounters - a 0-0 draw against Iran followed by 1-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

However, their chances have been boosted by injuries in the opposition camp, with doubts over first-choice central defensive pairing Mamadou Sakho and Laurent Koscielny.

Sakho came off with a hamstring injury against Amarillos, while Koscielny is struggling with an Achilles tendon problem, which could see the relatively inexperienced Raphael Varane and Eliaquim Mangala start in the heart of defence.

But Keshi has injury concerns of his own, with midfielder Michael Babatunde having sustained a suspected broken hand after being struck by a shot from team-mate Ogenyi Onazi in the loss to La Albiceleste.

Winger Victor Moses is still rated doubtful with a muscular problem, so Michael Uchebo could get the nod to start against the 1998 World Cup champions.

Source : sport24.co.za

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