Reading FC Warn Group D Teams: Nigeria Are A Side To Be Reckoned With & Have Mikel

Iceland national team boss Heimir Hallgrímsson confirmed on Friday that he's taking Reading striker Jón Daði Böðvarsson to the World Cup after naming him in the 23-man squad.

The Royals, who have in their ranks Sone Aluko and Tiago Ilori, have been previewing the opponents Böðvarsson will face at the World Cup, Nigeria, Croatia and Iceland, and they noted that several Super Eagles players have close ties to Premier League clubs.

Victor Moses and Ola Aina are on the books of Chelsea, Alex Iwobi Arsenal, Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi for Leicester City, while Chinese-based pair John Obi Mikel and Odion Ighalo previously wore the colours of Chelsea and Watford respectively.

''After qualifying for the tournament for the first time in 1994, Nigeria have been almost ever-present at the World Cup since, only missing out in 2006 due to an inferior head-to-head record against Angola,'' Reading wrote on their official website.

''Nigeria are a side to be reckoned with at the tournament with a good previous record, having made it through to the knockout stages in three of their five appearances on the world stage.

''Their side is awash with current and former Premier League talent as well, in the shape of Leicester pair Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho, former Watford striker Odion Ighalo and former Chelsea stalwart, John Obi Mikel.''

Nigeria will take on Iceland in their second Group D fixture in Volgograd on Friday June 22nd, beginning 1600 hours GMT.

Igho Kingsley