Ex-international Taribo West has warned that a ‘very fit’ Super Eagles ‘will be a surprise to the nations of the world’ at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Nigeria are drawn in Group D, where they will face Croatia in their opening match on 16 June before confronting debutants, Iceland (on 22 June) and Argentina in their final group game on 26 June.

In a chat with the BBC, the former Inter and AC Milan defender, who featured for the Eagles in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups believes the unity and fitness level of the team will see them shock all comers in Russia.

“For the first time after a long years, we could see that unity of that spirit is coming back,” the 44-year old said. “I think this coach (Gernot Rohr) is bringing back what has been lost for a long years.

“The team does not have great players like the Kanus, the Okochas, the Victors, the Amokachis, but they play as one. They fight as one, they move as one, and you could see that the team is conditionally very fit.

“If a team is very fit, they can surprise any team any day, any time. I think that is what we’ve seen in this game. And I believe the Nigerian team will be a surprise to nations of the world in this World Cup,” he said.