TheCable

Nigeria striker, Shola Ameobi, is aware the Super Eagles are now condemned to win their next game against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday after the dismal game with Iran in their opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Ameobi, who came on as a second half substitute in the 0-0 draw, failed to inspire the African champions to an opening-day win over the three-time Asian champions. This, he admits, has put the team under pressure.

“We are all under pressure,” he told supersport.com.

“However, it’s not just Nigeria that’s under pressure. Every team that’s here for the World Cup is under pressure because it’s a big tournament – the biggest in the world so there’s always pressure,” he said.

A loss against the debutants will make qualification for the second round highly unlikely for the Eagles, as they will face two-time champions Argentina in their final match, but Ameobi believes “nothing has changed” as the players have a mindset of going all out for a win against the Bosnians.

“The Bosnia game is a game we were always going to be looking to win anyways, so nothing has changed,” he said.

Ameobi, whose Eagles career took off rather late, is pleased to be representing the nation of his birth at the World Cup after representing England 20 times at U-21 level.

“It’s a very proud moment for me. I am very proud to be here (in Brazil),” he said.

“Unfortunately, we could not get the win in that first game (against Iran). We have to look at the positives. Hopefully, we can move on to the next game where hopefully, we should have more attacking options.

“We need to learn how to break teams that set up negatively against us. Iran played with ten men behind the ball.

“We have to stay true to good habits and hopefully, we get the rub of the green next time.

“The fact that we didn’t win is a negative for us. At the end of the day, tournament is all about winning games. Trying to get out of this group, we have to stay positive and take the right mentality to the next game,” he said.