Nigeria were placed second in Group D after the first two matches of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia. They had 3 points with one win and one defeat but were unsure of a qualification to the knockouts round.
In their final group game, Nigeria needed at least a draw against Argentina to advance to the last 16 and more importantly knock the two-time world champions out of the tournament. But Argentina had other plans for the African nation.
Argentina and Lionel Messi were on a mission and accomplished it with a 2-1 win over Nigeria to leave the fans heartbroken. They advanced to last 16 as the second best team from Group D behind Croatia.
Argentina had a torrid time in first two matches after they played out a 1-1 draw against Iceland and were thrashed 3-0 by Croatia.
They will face Group C toppers France on June 30 for a place in the quarterfinals.
Supporters of Nigeria’s soccer team described their heartbreak after watching the elimination of the national side from the World Cup on Tuesday following a late Argentina goal.
The game determined who progressed from Group D to the knockout stage and dictated whether or not Messi – considered by some soccer fans to be the world’s best player – would continue to play a role in Russia.
Nigeria were minutes from progressing before Argentina defender Marcos Rojo volleyed home a Gabriel Mercado cross in the 86th minute to give the South Americans a 2-1 win and passage into the last 16.
“Heartbreak… we squandered two great chances that would have put us right above (on top in) the fixture,” said Kelechukwu Mgbeahuruike, who watched the game at an open air screening in the commercial capital, Lagos.
“Argentina had the zeal to still come back because they knew that yes they could still do it,” he said, referring to the period in which a Nigeria penalty converted by Victor Moses levelled the match at 1-1 after Messi had opened the scoring.
A draw would have been enough for the West African side to progress to the knockout stage of the tournament.
The team representing Africa’s most populous nation, making their sixth World Cup appearance, reached the last 16 when the tournament was held four years ago in Brazil.
There had been a widespread hope in Nigeria that the team could progress from Group D, which was widely considered to be one of the toughest in the tournament since it brought together Argentina, Croatia and Iceland alongside Nigeria.
Retail assistant Femi Ogundeji expressed anger at the decision not to award Nigeria penalty in the second half.
A video assistant referee (VAR) review decided that a possible handball by Rojo did not warrant a penalty.
“It is so clear, everyone can see that it was a clear handball and it is supposed to be a penalty,” said Ogundeji. “It is so painful. We could have drawn the match and we could have been in the round 16,” he added.
Nigeria were the only one of Africa’s five representatives from the last World Cup to return for the 2018 edition in Russia, which kicked off on June 14.
For some, the cause of Nigeria’s woes lay in divine intervention. “We cannot fight God. It is how God wants it,” said Kenneth Uzonwanne, an artist.