Russia World Cup Set to be Highlight of Nigerian Sports in 2018
It’s another World Cup year and this time more than in recent years, Nigerians are optimistic of a successful outing, probably better than any other edition. This, despite the fact Nigeria have been drawn in a group some pundits see as the ‘group of death’ alongside two time champions and last edition’s finalists Argentina, a very talented Croatia side and giant killing Iceland.
The optimism stems from the way the Eagles navigated their qualification for global sports’ premier event: Nigeria came top in a group that included African champions Cameroon, a tough Zambian side that eventually finished second, and a highly –rated Algeria side that were number one in Africa at the time of the draw. The Eagles were so good that they could afford to qualify even after they were penalised three points for fielding an ineligible player in their last game against Algeria.
If the World Cup is the highlight of the year, the match against Argentina – the last of the group stages – will be a fitting climax and a marker of how much the Eagles have progressed in recent years. For the umpteenth time, both teams have been drawn together in the same group, with Argentina superstar and Barcelona stalwart, Javier Mascherano describing the fixture as a World Cup Clasico.
The match slated for June 26 at the St Petersburg stadium would be the fifth time in six World Cups that Nigeria would be playing the South American giants. In 1994, a Diego Maradona inspired team came froma goal down to win 2-1 courtesy of a Claudio Cannigia brace. In 2002, Gabriel Batistuta made the difference with a lone goal. In 2010, it was a Gabriel Heinze goal that separated both teams while Lionel Messi helped his team defeat the Eagles 3-2 in 2014.
In fact the only occasions the Eagles have won have been in friendly games. The most recent – a friendly in Russia last month – gives cause for optimism. A young Nigerian team came from two goals down to beat a strong Argentine team 4-2. Lionel Messi was the only superstar to miss the game for the Argentines.
The rivalry between both countries goes beyond the senior level though. Argentina prevailed over Nigeria in the final game of the FIFA Under 21 tournament in 2005, in what was Lionel Messi’s (and Mikel Obi’s) breakout tournament. ZThree years later at the Beijing Olympics, the same players were central characters as the Argentines won gold at the expense of their Nigerian counterparts with the same scoreline as in 2005: 1-0.
Incidentally, Nigeria’s biggest success onn the global football stage was against Argentina. The victorious Olympic team of 1996 won the gold medal match against a star-studded Argentina 3-2, after previously dispatching Brazil 4-3 in an epic semi-final. It is safe to say (and concur with sports experts) that the June 26 game at the Russia 2018 World Cup would be one of the most anticipated in Nigeria’s sports calendar. Already, the match has been touted as one of the top ten games to see in the competition.
Staying with football, 2018 might be the year when a Nigerian player goes on to be the very best on the continent if they continue their upward trajectory. The World Cup would be an oppoprtunity for Premier League stars like Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi to increase their stock as they play central parts in the fortunes of their respective teams, Chelsea and Arsenal. Both have become central to their teams exploits and just need to step up a notch to be genuine global superstars.
A few youngsters to look out for include Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhen, Ola AIna and possibly, Tosin Adarabioyo. They are indicative of a bright future for Nigerian football.
Moving away from football, Nigfterians can look forward to the exploits of world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua. Admittedly, Joshua fights under the British flag, the country he represented and won ogold for at the London 2012 Olympics. However, Joshua’s penchant to identify with the nation of his birth has made hime a Nigerian hero and every staep he makes in 2018 will be keenly followed, supported and applauded in Nigeria.
The WBA and IBF champion is bound take centre stage in2018 with defences of his title and unification bouts in the works. Three names that are on the shortlist of possible contenders include WBO champion, Australia’s Joseph Parker, which is seen as the most likely fight to take place.
However, the boxing World is smacking its lips at the prospect of Joshua taking on WBC champion, America’s Deontay Wilder, who has a record of 38-0 with 37 knockouts. The fearsome boxer has been making the right noises and calling Joshua out in a fashion that suggests a face-off is just a matter of time.
Meanwhile, former champion, jthe undefeated Tyson Fury who has just been cleared to resume his boxing career after being stripped of his titles is waiting the wings. The towering boxer – at 6ft 9inches – is seen as the greatest threat to Joshua’s dominance as long as he gets back in shape. According to Fury, all he has to do to regain his belts is to outbox “a bunch of bodybuilders”.
TO kick off the excitement this year would be the Nigeria’s historic participation at the Winter Olympics in the relatively little known sport of bobsled.
The trio of Segun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga completed the required races to qualify for the Pyeong-Chang Olympics in South Korea, becoming the first Africans to do so. They were former US-based sprinters who through personal efforts defied all odds to make it to the competition. Through massive campaigning and marketing, they crowd-funded the $150, 000 required to fund their efforts in the races.
Now they are stars in their own right and their stock can only increase when the competition commences; regardless of their performance at the Olympics, they have made history and a are source of pride and inspiration to their fellow citizens, especially women.
The match slated for June 26 at the St Petersburg stadium would be the fifth time in six World Cups that Nigeria would be playing the South American giants