Super Eagles Star Reveals How He Lost Confidence at World Cup When He Met Messi

• Haruna Lukman has expressed happiness to have played against Lionel Messi at the 2010 World Cup
• The 31-year-old who played 44 games for Monaco explained that he lost his confidence when he saw Messi
• Lukman was one of the best midfielders years back and has played 13 games for the Super Eagles netting 3 goals

Super Eagles midfielder Lukman Haruna has opened up on how he lost his confidence at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when he met Lionel Messi while playing for Nigeria.

The 31-year-old Lukman Haruna came into prominence in 2007 when he helped the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria to win the Under 17 World Cup under late Coach Yemi Tela.

His performances then promoted him to the Under 20 where he also played in the 2009 World Cup with the Nigerian team.

While speaking exclusively with Punch, Lukman Haruna who is currently without a club explained that he has been training hard and hopeful that he would get a club.

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He also explained that playing against Lionel Messi was a great experience for him at the World Cup.

Haruna Lukman's reaction about playing against Messi

''People talk about Messi a lot, but I must tell you he is from another planet. It was a great moment for me. Seeing him walk down the tunnel that day, I won’t lie; I lost my confidence as a player that moment because he is a player capable of singlehandedly destroying any team.

''But I overcame it after our anthem was rendered but unfortunately we lost that game. I still have pictures of that game in my gallery where I came up against him. Each time the Eagles take on Argentina and I see those pictures, it rekindles old memories of my time in the Eagles.''

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Wilfred Ndidi Praises Former Super Eagles Captain Mikel Obi Over Achievement With PL Side Chelsea

Earlier, Sports Brief had reported how Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi lauded Mikel Obi for his achievements during his time with English Premier League club Chelsea.

Ndidi stated that he always looked up to the former Chelsea No.12, who was part of the Blues squad that won the coveted Champions League in 2012.

Mikel also won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one Community Shield, one Football League Cup as well as one Europa League title during his time with the Stamford Bridge outfit.

During a Twitter Space hosted by FanBants, Ndidi admitted that he always admired the former Nigerian international.