In what could be described as a final of sorts, Nigeria and Argentina are locked in a titanic battle for a spot in the Round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup on Tuesday (June 26) from 7pm Nigeria time at Saint Petersburg Stadium, Russia.
This is the fifth time both countries will clash at the World Cup with Argentina claiming victories on all occasions, while Nigeria had equally claimed victories on two occasions though during friendlies.
The Super Eagles need outright over the South Americans to advance in the glamorous showpiece regardless of the outcome of the Croatia/Iceland match which will be played simultaneously. Croatia have already qualified from the group with six points.
Also, a draw could take Nigeria to the next stage if Iceland lose to Croatia or even win by 2-0 with head-to-head rule coming into play.
A 3-0 win could earn Iceland a ticket if Nigeria and Argentina settle for a draw, or Argentina win except by at least four unreplied goals at the expense of Nigeria.
On paper, tonight’s game could be the last outing of Lionel Messi for Argentina given the fate of La Albiceleste so far at Russia 2018.
Messi, who had on June 27, 2016 announced his international retirement following Argentina’s defeat to Chile in the final of Copa America has not justified his pedigree so far at Russia 2018.
He first wasted a penalty kick which would have given the Albiceleste a 2-1 win over Iceland in the opener which eventually ended in a 1-1 draw. Messi also helplessly captained Argentina to a 0-3 defeat at the hands of Croatia in the second group game, leaving tonight’s game against Nigeria as his possible valedictory match.
A win or draw for Nigeria will certainly end his dream to win the World Cup this year except he wants to have a last trial at the 2022 Mundial.
Interestingly, Argentine soccer legend, Diego Maradona retired after his country beat Nigeria 2-1 at the 1994 World Cup occasioned by a doping ban.
Tonight, will Messi follow suit after the game against the Super Eagles should the ticket go to either Nigeria or Iceland?
Perhaps, what appears to be a morale booster for the Super Eagles ahead of Tuesday’s clash was the handshake from the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino after the hard-won 2-0 victory over Iceland last Friday at the Volgograd Stadium.
Infantino shortly after the match was led to the dressing room of the ecstatic Eagles by the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick alongside first NFF vice president, Barrister Seyi Akinwumi; second vice president, Alhaji Shehu Dikko and the Eagles gaffer, Gernot Rohr where the Swiss shook hands with the players for their impressive outing.
When it got to the turn of Ahmed Musa, an elated Pinnick said, “this is the match winner, Ahmed Musa” and for Kelechi Iheanacho, the NFF head said, “meet the former FIFA U-17 World Cup winner and Most Valuable Player”.
Perhaps, the meeting with Infantino could serve as the tonic that will propel the Eagles to rewrite the world football history on Tuesday night in Russia.
The loss to Croatia last Thursday was Argentina’s worst result since 1958 and anything short of victory on Tuesday night will certainly complete the miserable outing of the Albiceleste.
On paper, the two players on focus tonight would be Messi, who is struggling to be on the score sheet at Russia 2018 and Musa, the Leicester City forward, whose brace helped Nigeria to a 2-0 win over Iceland last weekend.
Musa, boasts a delighful record of scoring against a Messi-side. The former Kano Pillars scored a brace at the 2014 World Cup against Argentina in a group match. He also scored twice for Leicester City when they lost 2-4 to FC Barcelona in August 2016 in the International Champions Cup in Stockholm.
The first victory for Argentina, 2-1 was recorded at the Foxboro Stadium, Boston during the USA ’94 group game, through a first-half brace from Claudio Caniggia after Nigeria had taken the lead through Samson Siasia.
Both sides later at the 1995 Confederation Cup in Saudi Arabia settled for a barren draw in a group game which forced Nigeria to settle for the third place match which they also lost to Mexico.
Argentina rallied to a 1-0 win during the third meeting at the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup in a group F opener at the Kashima Stadium, Ibaraki, through a second-half header from Gabriel Batistuta.
The Albiceleste coached by Maradona triumphed again over the Super Eagles at the 2010 World Cup through Gabriel Heinze’s flying header in the sixth minute at the Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, also in a group game.
At their last World Cup meeting in Brazil in 2014, Argentina secured a 3-2 win at the Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, also in a group game where Musa became a hero with a brace despite a brace also from Messi and the winner from Marcos Rojo.
However, Nigeria prior to Brazil 2014 loss had on June 1, 2011 in Abuja, spanked Argentina without Messi 4-1 under Samson Siasia though in a friendly with goals from Ikechukwu Uche (brace), Obinna Nsofor and Emmanuel Emenike.
Three months later, Argentina avenged the defeat with a 3-1 victory also in a friendly at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Nigeria claimed their second victory last November in Krasnodar, Russia, where the Gernot Rohr-side hammered Argentina also without Messi 4-2 in a 2018 World Cup build up. A brace from Alex Iwobi (52nd and 73rd minute) and goals from Kelechi Iheanacho (44th minute) and Brian Idowu (54th minute) ensured a dramatic victory for the Eagles after conceding two early goals in the match scored by Ever Banega and Sergio Aguero.
Indeed, the question on the mind of an average soccer buff remains will Nigeria break the World Cup jinx against Argentina this time?