The Red Devils of Belgium, who have again been tipped to win their first World Cup in Qatar, will get their campaign underway tonight against debutants Canada.
Belgium are SCORENigeria’s adopted team at this World Cup in the absence of the Super Eagles.
The Group F opener kicks off by 8pm.
Belgium beat Canada 2-0 in their one and only meeting at this level in 1989.
They will be without star striker Romelu Lukaku, who is nursing a hamstring injury.
Ike Ugbo, whose father is Nigerian and could have played for the Super Eagles, is on the Canada squad in Qatar.
Canada topped the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, but are underdogs in this match.
Former Belgium star Nico Claesen, who featured at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, has tipped his fellow countrymen to go all the way in Qatar.
“Of course it is important who you play against. But I expect that Belgium will always … I expect that they will become world champions!”, he told TVL
“There has been no preparation by any team. France have an advantage in that respect, but so too Belgium, because they have been playing with the same team and with the same coach for a long time. So they have an advantage.
“Moreover, they have the best goalkeeper of the world (Thibaut Courtois), the best midfielder (Kevin de Bruyne) and when Lukaku plays one of the best strikers.
“If that central axis can be supported by the likes Trossard or Doku, then I think Belgium will go far.”
