Coach Stephen Keshi says he is optimistic that Nigeria will reach the Round of 16 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil,

Second-place Super Eagles, who have four points from two matches, will meet Group F leaders, Argentina in their final group match in Porto Alegre on Wednesday and a defeat by the 1986 world cup winners will see the African champions eliminated from the world cup if Iran gets a victory against Bosnia in the other group F match.

However, if Iran fails to beat Bosnia in Salvador, then the Super Eagles will qualify for the second round for the third time in their world cup campaigns if they get defeated by Argentina.

Keshi does not think his side will need all of that to advance to the next round in Brazil and he believes that hard work and team play against Argentina will help them to advance into the round of 16

“I never thought that we wouldn’t make the Round of 16. We need to work hard for the game against Argentina. I have the players,” Keshi, who represented Nigeria at the USA 1994 World Cup, said

Meanwhile, Argentina hope to notch up their third win and top the table as that would mean, they would likely avoid an impressive France side for a second round tie and instead will hope to take on Group E runners-up, which is likely to be Ecuador or Switzerland, although Honduras still has an outside chance of qualifying.

The two-time former world cup winners may have failed to set the 2014 World Cup stage alight in their opening games but Messi predicts they are gradually blending.

“We are not showing what we can do, but with a run of games I think we will get there,” he said.

Coach Alejandro Sabella hailed Messi, saying the Barcelona star was crucial to his plans after his heroics against Iran.

Sabella said: “All the players contributed to the victory but of course we have a genius who is called Messi. Fortunately he is Argentine — everyone would like to have Messi but it is us who have him. Iran made life hard for us but with Messi, everything is possible”.

Nigeria have met Argentina thrice at the group stage of the world cup in 1994, 2002 and 2010 and losing on all occasions.