Argentina central defender Emanuel Mammana has expressed fears ahead of their clash against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the 2018 World Cup to be staged in Russia.

Le Abiceleste are paired in Group D in the World Cup draw that took place a forth night ago alongside the Super Eagles of Nigeria, the Fiery Ones of Croatia and Our Boys of Iceland.

Both Nigeria and Argentina have previously had meetings at the biggest global football event in the past, with the latter having all the triumphs.

However, at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta-Georgia in the United States of America, it was the Super Eagles that carried the day in a dramatic 3-2 win in the final.

Their most recent in an international friendly saw Nigeria again coming back from 2-0 down to earn a 4-2 win over Jorge Sampaoli’s troops, thus creating fear in the heart of Mammana.

The Fc Zenit St Petersburg defender has now said playing against Nigeria will be the most difficult in the group, and has thus expressed his weariness in the finesse of the Eagles.

The 21-year-old Mammana did not see action in Krasnodar, Russia on November 14 when Nigeria earned the comeback win as he was on the bench all through.

”All the groups are difficult, Argentina has three very complicated rivals, with Nigeria we played recently, Iceland had a very good European Championship and Croatia is a country that always fights,” Mammana told TyC Sports.

”We know that we have the best of the world on our team and that gives you peace of mind.

”We all want Argentina to be a champion and that Leo can win a World Cup, that is the only thing he lacks.”

Emanuel Mammana has been capped three times by Argentinian senior national team since his first appearance against Slovenia in 2014.

Nigeria and Argentina will lock horn with each other for the fifth time in the group stage of the World Cup at Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg on June 26.