Ahead next month draw for 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have been placed in Pot 4 where they could defending champions, Germany, European champions, Portugal, France and their perennial world cup foe, Argentina in the group stage.
The pots were announced yesterday by FIFA after Peru clinched the final qualifying spot for the Mundial courtesy of a 2-0 aggregate win over New Zealand.
It was confirmed in September, by the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions, that all teams will be allocated to (eight-team) pots 1 to 4 based on sporting principles.
The last month FIFA world ranking will be used to allocate all qualified teams to the four pots according to their ranking in descending order, after hosts Russia who take the top seeding spot.
As it is, Nigeria will draw one team each from Pot 1, Pot 2 and Pot 3, which are perceived to have stronger sides than Pot 4.
With the pots confirmed, the Super Eagles might be drawn against world heavyweights like champions Germany, Argentina, Brazil, France, who are all in Pot 1.
Other teams in Pot 1 are hosts Russia, Belgium, Poland, Portugal.
Pot 2 has Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, and Croatia.
In Pot 3 are Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal and Iran.
While in Pot 4 the other teams alongside Nigeria are Serbia, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
The Final Draw will take place on Friday 1 December at Moscow’s State Kremlin Palace.
