The 2018 FIFA World Cup that will be taking place in the home of Vladimir Putin, Russia will never take place without the Super Eagles of Nigeria as they have taken care of all the stumbling blocks on their way by beating teams like Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia.

This article will not dwell on futuristic flimsy predictions, but rather on historical expository and existential facts and figures that will eschew all erroneously adopted positions of glory that doesn’t exist and reinvigorate all uncelebrated glory that has gone unnoticed as a result of lofty historical omissions in our documentary archives.

Nigeria and Nigerians had zero history in the world cup until 22years ago precisely 1994 in the United States of America. The world cup was 64 years old when Nigeria first participated in it and Nigeria as a country was 34 years old as at then. Participating in a tournament that is 30 years older than someone is not easy, but that did not stop the trailer load of positive expectations from Nigerians at home who believed that having conquered Africa for the second time in Tunisia 1994, it will not be that bad to compete at the world cup.

Take a look at these facts and figures: the world cup was 64 years old (1930-1994), Nigeria was 34 years old (1960-1994), the Dutch coach that was handling the eagles then, Clement Westerhof was 54 years old(1940-1994). What is so special about 4? Away from that, the coming of Westerhof in 1989 wasn’t far from when the teams nickname was changed from Green Eagles to Super Eagles after the lost Morocco 1988 Nations Cup. The Dutch coach narrowly lost the qualification bid for Italy 1990 World Cup because he was recently appointed. But in 1994 he did it.

Do not be deceived by the joy and euphoria of those who saw when the Super Eagles qualified for their first world cup and believe it was so easy to qualify. It wasn’t easy at all as Nigeria’s first world cup tournament was gotten as a result of superior goal difference we had over Ivory Coast.

In 1992, Nigeria began its quest to qualify for her first-ever FIFA World Cup, which would be held in the United States two years later. Placed in a group with South Africa and Congo, Nigeria finished top of its group in the first round, winning 3 games and drawing 1, and did not concede a single goal in all 4 games.

For the second and final round, Nigeria was grouped with Ivory Coast and Algeria. The Super Eagles won 2 games, drew 1 and lost 1, and finished equal with Ivory Coast on points but advanced to the World Cup with a superior goal difference.

THE 1994 WORLD CUP DETAILS

In the tournament proper, Nigeria was in Grpup-D. We played 4 matches, scored 7 goals and conceded 4 goals. Nigeria’s first world cup match was played on June 21 1994 in Cotton Bowl, Dallas under the officiating power of a Costarican referee, Rodrigo Badilla. The match was played in the presence of 44,132 spectators. Bulgaria was beaten 3-0 with goals from Rasheed Yekini, Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amunike.

Nigeria’s first world cup goal was scored in that tournament by legendary Rasheed Yekini. It took Nigeria just 21 minutes of play to register her name in the score sheet of nations that have scored at the world cup. Amokachi made it 2 -0 at 43 minutes. In the second half precisely 55 minute, Emmanuel Amunike buried Bulgaria and Nigeria had her first 3 points in the FIFA World Cup. Don’t forget the date: 21 June 1994 Cotton Bowl, Dallas USA.

In the second match on June 25 at Foxborough, it was a bigger crowd, a bigger test and a bigger match. The game took place with 54,453 spectators watching referee Bo Karlsson of Sweden officiate the first world cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. The match was settled in the first half as Samson Siasia’s 8 minute goal was cancelled by the ever dribbling Claudio Caniggia in 21 minute and Caniggia later nailed the Super Eagles to their first defeat in the second match at the 28 minutes of that game.

The third game was at the same foxborough stadium with 53,001 spectators watching referee Leslie Mottram of Scotland officiate between Nigeria and Greece on the 30 June 1994. The Super Eagles won that one with 2 unreplied goals courtesy of Finidi George and Daniel Amokachi. Another interesting thing in this match was that the 2 goals came at additional times of either halves. Finidi scored in 45+2 minutes while Amokachi scored in the 90+5 minutes.

The journey ended on July 5, 1994 when 54,367 spectators gathered at the Foxborough stadium to watch referee Arturo Brizio Carter of Mexico take charge of the Super Eagles against the Azzuris of Italy led by Legendary coach Arrigo Sacchi. Emmanuel Amunike scored in the 25 minutes, but Eagles couldn’t survive just 2 minutes of normal time as Legendary Roberto Baggio equalized in the 88 minute and nailed the Super Eagles during the extra time with penalty at 102 minutes.

Read the full history on: https://abacityblog.com/2017/11/the-totality-of-nigeria-world-cup-history-the-untold-stories.html

Go Eagles

Good.

At the end na dollars dem go de drag de

abeg pass jor








mean while, u can check my signature