Everton Central Midfielder, Gylfi Sigurdsson has revealed the main strength of Nigeria’s World Cup rivals Iceland, saying teamwork has been the key to their success in recent years.
Apart from Sigurgsson, the Nordic country have in their ranks top stars including Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City), Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson (Burnley), Birkir Bjarnason (Aston Villa), Emil Hallfreðsson (Udinese) and Alfreð Finnbogason (Augsburg)., but their strength lies in unity, the playmaker has stressed.
”It has a lot to do with the team spirit that we have. How we are as a group is unique,” Gylfi Sigurdsson was quoted as saying by fifa.com.
The country’s modest population, and the consequently small pool of players to pick from, ensures that Hallgrimsson’s squad rarely changes, and is largely comprised of close friends who have come through the youth ranks together.
Sigurdsson started every single game for Iceland in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and was on target against Kosovo and Ukraine.
Nigeria will face Iceland at Volgograd Arena, Volgograd on June 22 in their second match in Group D of the 2018 World Cup.
Meanwhile, German side Mainz have re-signed Nigeria international striker Anthony Ujah from Chinese club Liaoning FC.
He joins the Bundesliga side for an undisclosed fee and signs a three-and-a-half-year deal until summer 2021.
The 27-year-old scored twice in 17 appearances for the club in the 2011-12 season before he switched to Cologne
I’m extremely happy to return to Mainz, I’m looking forward to playing in the Bundesliga again.,” he told the club’s website.
“I have only good memories of my time here [at Mainz], My ambition is to help the team from the second half of the season to reach the goals of the club.”
Mainz sporting director Rouven Schröder is delighted with the reunion and believes the Super Eagle will improve the squad.
“Anthony [Ujah] is an athletic, determined and strong attacker who has proved his qualities at the Bundesliga level,” said Schröder.
Bundesliga campaigner during his three years at Cologne he scored 36 goals in 102 matches.
