THE Nigerian team to the 2014 Standard Chartered international tournament taking place at Anfield, Liverpool on Tuesday will face defending champions Thailand in their first game of the round-robin first round after both teams were drawn together in Group A on Monday.

Thailand won the 2013 tournament after beating Dubai in the final. Thailand are again one of the favourites at this year’s edition.

”We know they’re good in Futsal (5-aside) football but we are ready for them,” Nigerian captain Demola Omitayo said confidently after the draw held at the famous Liverpool Boot Room at Anfield. “Our strategy is to win or get at least a draw in our first game, then take our chances in subsequent games. Our target is to qualify for the semi-finals. After that, anything can happen,” he said.

Other Group A teams in the order that Nigeria will face them are Kenya, Korea, MENA, Singapore and West African brothers Gambia. Group B is made up of Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Europe, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

The top two teams in each group will qualify for the semi-finals from whence the tournament will be played out on a knock-out basis. The Standard Chartered Road to Anfield Trophy is sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank to promote friendship amongst its major markets around the world.