The Nigeria team poses before a game at the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA PHOTO: FIFA.com
There is something about the USA ’94 Super Eagles that makes them untouchable, peerless to most Nigerians. The team lifted the spirits, had Nigerians on the edge of their seats and was full of adventure. For a team making its debut at the World Cup, the Super Eagles led by Clemens Westerhof showed it was not out of place at the Mundial.
The sound trouncing of Bulgaria set the ball rolling before the setback against a Diego Maradona-led Argentina. The loss didn’t hurt much, Nigeria finished top of the group after smartly dispatching of Greece. Unknown, it was setting Nigerians up collectively for the most harrowing of heartbreaks, the mind-lacerating loss to Italy… in extra time… from the spot…after Austine Eguavoen’s clatter into Antonio Benarrivo.
For @Osi_Suave, his emotion was pitifully encapsulated in a seven-tweet thread. It will not be far-fetched to claim he shed quite a few tears while constructing the thread.
There is no football game that pained me more than NGR VS ITALY at USA94
Fam i cried ooo
Thread
— Cinderella Man (@Osi_Suave) March 22, 2018
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2 mins from full time
2 mins my people
Roberto Baggio tear net
Fam see tearssssssssssssss
— Cinderella Man (@Osi_Suave) March 22, 2018
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Extra time start
Westerhof come dey panic trying to push the game into penalties, baba dey comot attackers dey put defenders
— Cinderella Man (@Osi_Suave) March 22, 2018
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Baggio scatter net
2-1 my people .
I cried ehn the tears dry for my face
I remember it like yesterday
— Cinderella Man (@Osi_Suave) March 22, 2018
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Many still hold their grievance against Eguevoen, Twitter user @KaroOrovboni still holds a grudge against both Eguavoen and Roberto Baggio who tucked away from the penalty. Karo felt the sense of schadenfreude when Baggio missed his penalty in the finals.
Man I cried.
I don’t think I can forgive Austin Eguavon, and Roberto Baggio, with that his annoying pony tail. Was so happy when he missed his penalty at the finals.
That team could have made the Semi-finals, had they held on for 2 more minutes. https://t.co/b0QxpWsd6F
— Karo (@KaroOrovboni) March 22, 2018
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Benson Ikponmwonba’s case was different, fed with a rumour that Nigeria would qualify ahead of Italy because the Azurri’s had been disqualified for drug use, he hoped against hope. Reality struck when the Italians filed out against Spain.
Baba dere was dead silence in my area that day, rumour come de fly the next day say we go qualify, say some players of Italy use drug's..
See happiness
Few days later we see
for
— Benson Ikponmwonba (@kekoben) March 23, 2018
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Like the King of Uyo, the loss hurt deeply but we hope this time, that is Russia 2018, will be better.
I cry pass u… Hope this time will be better pic.twitter.com/HZrw8YfwnN
— King of Uyo
(@UyoOf) March 22, 2018
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Source: G Sport
