Super Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi has reassured Nigerian fans that he and the rest of the national team are determined to do well at the FIFA World Cup which kicked off on Thursday.

Speaking from the Nigerian camp in Campinas, where the Super Eagles are preparing for their opening match against Iran on Monday, Mikel stated his desire to make an impression in Brazil.

”This is my first World Cup. I want to make sure we achieve something coming here. We don’t just want to come and make
up the numbers, we want to do well… we all know what we want and hopefully we will have a good tournament.”

The Chelsea midfielder, who hopes to lead by example, also welcomed the pressure on Nigeria to do well in Brazil following success at the 2013 Cup of African Nations in South Africa.

”We know we’re the African champions and people expect us to do well, to represent the African continent. That’s a bit more extra pressure but it’s pressure that we love. We love to be African champions.”

Alongside Iran, Nigeria has been drawn in Group F with Argentina and debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Mikel seen as crucial to Nigeria’s fifth World Cup campaign along with Chelsea teammate Victor Moses, Fernabahce striker Emmanuel Emenike and Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.