Former Super Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen has advised the Super Eagles players that beating Croatia in their first game at the 2018 World Cup will be a key factor in the team qualifying for the last sixteen of the competition.

The retired Nigeria international also recommended that manager Gernot Rohr should consider rotating between a 4-4-2 and a 4-5-1 formations ahead of the tournament in Russia, saying that his team should be unpredictable.

''I am very confident Nigeria will qualify from that group but it is easier said than done,'' Eguavoen told allnigeriasoccer.com.

''First game is always key to any tournament. First game, if we win that game or come with a result we will go all the way.''

The ex-Torpedo Moscow defender added : ''I give a lot of credit to the coach, he is trying to see different formations before the World Cup.

''Sometimes in a game your plans don't go according to what you want to do, you can also change system without making substitutions, from a 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1 he can change to a 3-4-3.

''So far so good I think 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 will be okay for us. We need a player who is very intelligent and technically strong to play just behind the striker.''

Nigeria will face off with Croatia at the Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad on June 16, 2018.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel