Now, it is instructive that the distinct attributes that the Super Eagles would likely thrive on in their bid to write their own piece of history in Russia next year is succinctly emphasized on with this piece:compactness in defence is an immutable prerequisite of course, but let us pry at what the offensive prowess of this team can bring.

In theory, it makes for mouth-watering prospect to think of what a proactive attacking pivot of Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Victor Moses can muster; having particularly had the benefit of the defence-wrecking qualities of those three.

Looking back at the 4-0 win against Cameroon in Uyo where the mad cap walloping powers of the Super Eagles had mostly came to fore, with Iwobi unavailable for that one, Moses Simon who had been a plausible shoo-in took his place and had largely done well.

Often, a win of that magnitude is one which was always going to elicit euphoria and a good omen it was that we got to
see the rip-roaring strengths of this team's attack in such degree.

As Victor Moses roamed around mostly from the right, cantering away with loose balls and overloading the Indomitable Lion's rearguard, his partner, Simon held width on the left, seizing the best opportunities to run at the opponents while the poacher, Odion Ighalo, (another goalscorer on the day) invariably drifted deeper to link up with the orchestrators before chasing down lofted passes played in behind, toying with the pair of Ngadeu-Ngajui and Adolphe Teikeu like suckers in the process.

If that swashbuckling turnout had done little to suss belief on what the attacking department can bring, how about their most recent in Krasnodar?

Realistically, beating Argentina was one thing. Putting four past them in that manner makes for an exhilarating experience and then, a completely different out look.

The thing is that the national team is very well stocked in that offensive zone to trouble any quality of opposition, even aside those Uyo star performers.

So with the Simon-Ighalo-Moses pivot missing here, in came another ruthless combo of Mikel, Iheanacho and Iwobi.

As an analogy, what we saw the youngsters deliver was a more than killer-instinct display, effectively winding up the illustrious defensive duo of Nicholas Otamendi and Javier Mascherano.

One thing is certain: If there is anything that physical centre-backs(as the said duo are) resent with passion, it is none other than sudden bursts across their fields of vision, and that was precisely what Iwobi excelled at on Mascherano, his cheeky nut-meg on the Barcelona defender to put away Nigeria's last goal just one of the few highlights in a smash-and-grab second period.

With Mikel Obi often the leading exponential that instigates attack for this team, there is hardly any limit to what this current crop of attackers can achieve, if they stick together.

And it is easy to see that in Mikel, Moses, Iwobi, Iheanacho, Ighalo — to mention but a few, there is that striking lucid combination of youth, experience, leadership, technique and of course, extra-superior star dust.

Only time will tell but come 2018, the world, not just Nigeria, would be keenly watching to witness the exploits of these ones and if they happen to be in phenomenal mood in Russia, then the forecast would be ominous for their opponents who are certain to feel the verisimilitude of the potency of this Super Eagles's attack.

Emmanuel Chinaza