Speaking to the official website of Fifa, Vincent Enyeama, the deputy Super Eagles skipper, has predicted that Nigeria will become the first African country in history to advance to the semifinals of the World Cup.

Before the showpiece event in Brazil, African countries - Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana in that order - have only managed to qualify for the last eight, and the Lille numero uno thinks Nigeria will join that elite group and even surpass the record currently held by the trio.

“I think we are going to make big progress. We are focused on the World Cup, to make Africa the proudest continent.

“Ghana almost reached the semi-finals four years ago. We are going to achieve a better result and be the first African team to get to the semi-finals of the World Cup,” Vincent Enyeama said.

It would be third time Vincent Enyeama would participate in the mundial if he is selected in the final squad by Stephen Keshi, having featured in the tournament in 2002 and 2010.

Nigeria are in Group F alongside Argentina, Bonsia Herzegovina and Iran.