Nigeria's German coach Gernot Rohr consoles Nigeria's defender Brian Idowu after defeat during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group D football match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS
Many Nigerian fans could not hold back their emotion yesterday as struggling former World champion, Argentina, ended Super Eagles’ dream campaign to the Russia 2018 World Cup.
The Eagles went down 1-2 in the battle of St. Petersburg, in a game Lionel Messi put up a magical show to put the White and Sky Blues into the lead in the first half of the match, before defender, Marcus Rojo sealed the passage for the former the two world champion with less than 10 minutes to the end of the game.
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Some of the fans, who were at the venue to cheer the Eagles, broke down in tears as the referee sounded his final whistle.
Former international, Wilson Oruma and former Golden Eaglets captain, Olusegun Fetuga, lamented openly as the Eagles wasted chances that should have given them ticket over the Argentines.
“This is a game we should have won,” one of the fans, who identified himself as Danladi lamented.
“I knew it was going to be a great game, but after we equalised, I thought the Eagles would go ahead. I am really sad over this defeat… How come Argentina will always defeat Nigeria in their last group match?”
Oruma blamed the defeat on the inability of the Super Eagles to take their chances. “I will blame our players for not taking their chances,” Oruma stated.
“In a big match like this, you must take your chances. Perhaps, if our players had made good use of the chances that came their way, we could have got at worst a draw, which would have been enough for Nigeria to scale through.
“I won’t single a particular player for blame, but I put the blame on the team.”
Source: G Sport
