Super Eagles hope to leave an impact in the World Cup

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Sat, 16 Jun 2018 - 02:49 GMT

BY

Sat, 16 Jun 2018 - 02:49 GMT

Soccer Football - World Cup - Nigeria Training - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia - June 15, 2018 Nigeria players during training REUTERS/Matthew

Soccer Football - World Cup - Nigeria Training - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia - June 15, 2018 Nigeria players during training REUTERS/Matthew

CAIRO – 16 June 2018: Nigeria reached the World Cup for the sixth time in their history and they hope to shine in Russia like they did in their first two participations in 1994 in USA and 1998 in France.

The team, known as Super Eagles, dominated the African qualifiers despite playing in the “group of death” alongside Zambia, Cameroon and Algeria.

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They secured their spot at the World Cup with one game remaining. They achieved three consecutive victories over Zambia, Algeria and Cameron respectively and they secured their qualification after an away 1-1 draw with Cameroon and a 1-0 victory at home against Zambia.

Nigeria’s history at the World Cup:

During their first participation at the tournament in 1994, they made it to the second round with their golden generation consisting of Victor Ikpeba, Rachidi Yakini, Sunday Oliseh, Daniel Amokachi, Emmanuel Amunike and Jay Jay Okocha.

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The draw put them alongside Argentina, Greece and Bulgaria and they picked six points after two victories over Bulgaria, who finished the tournament in the fourth position, and Greece while they lost to Argentina.

They were eliminated from the second round after a 2-1 loss to the finalists, Italy, after extra time.

They also had their giant striker, Yakini, who scored their first goal at the tournament against Bulgaria at the group stage and he cried while holding the net. This celebration is one of the iconic moments of the 1994 World Cup.

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In 1998, the team was better because they added many players from the team of the 1996 Olympic Games who clinched the Gold medal defeating Brazil and Argentina at the semis and the final respectively.

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They added Nwankwo Kanu, Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West and other players and they also made it to the second round leading their group of Spain, Bulgaria and Paraguay.

They were eliminated at the second round losing 4-1 to Denmark.

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The African Eagles failed to repeat this achievement in their last three participations in 2002, 2010 and 2014.


It is strange that the World Cup draw put Nigeria in the same group alongside Argentina at four of their five participations and the draw put them together in this year’s tournament.

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Nigeria’s manager Gernot Rohr’s squad for the tournament consisted of:

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United)

Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor), Tyronne Ebuehi (Den Haag), Elderson Echiejile (Brugge), Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes), William Troost-Ekong (Bursaspor), Leon Balogun (Brighton), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa)

Midfielders: John Obi Mikel (Tianjin TEDA), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester), Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas), John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Joel Obi (Torino)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone)

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The Nigerian fans count on their Premier League stars, Iwobi and Moses, to achieve their dreams in Russia.








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