‘This is Nigeria’: Super Eagles’ victory sends Twitter into frenzy
Nigeria defeated Iceland 2-0 at the Volgograd Arena on Friday to keep their chances of progressing from Group D alive.
Ahmed Musa’s efforts in the 49th and 75th minutes gave the three-time African champions their first win in Russia after losing their first group fixture to Croatia.
The win ensured Nigeria’s qualification to the knockout round goes down to the wire – when they play Argentina on Tuesday. However, football enthusiasts are thrilled by the performances of Gernot Rohr’s men.
Musa has done more for Nigeria than the entire elites and Political class
— Khaleesi (@AbangMercy) June 22, 2018
Please tell them to Shaku Shaku after the game. It has to be added to FIFA 19 @NGSuperEagles
— Nathan🌴 (@90s_nathan) June 22, 2018
Nigeria in their last match vs Nigeria now pic.twitter.com/0nULGoqXtL
— Audrey ketturrah Osm (@audreyosmonds) June 22, 2018
Nigeria are turning Iceland to Ice cream 😭😭😭😭 #NGAISL
— AZA (@Cyborgg4) June 22, 2018
This is Nigeria , This is Nigeria🇳🇬
Look how we leading now
Look how we leading now
Everybody be loving now #WorldCup#NGAISLpic.twitter.com/bgttrb6Muf
— 👑HorehThe1st🇳🇬🇬🇧 (@HorehzyBalo) June 22, 2018
We celebrate for Nigeria! 🙌 #Nigeria#NIGICE#WorldCuppic.twitter.com/i1ITV5I1LJ
— Emma (@Emma8844) June 22, 2018
#Russia2018WorldCup#soarEagles@SuperSportTV@thenff@NGSuperEagles . We made it. Ahmed Musa for 2019😂😂. If you know you know. pic.twitter.com/UVBRk24upY
— Ajadi Samson B (@tflex_vchannel) June 22, 2018
GOAT 🦅 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/iHsIDHsu35
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) June 22, 2018
Super eagles na super all their goals na wire… Super eagles na super all their goals o na wire
When I remember Musa water throway me o Ayo Ayo water throway me o #supereagles#worldcup#SoarSuperEagles@NGSuperEagles
— i need a writing job (@PharmGatsby) June 22, 2018
If at this moment you are one of the 200 million Nigerians who is proud to be a Nigerian please retweet this picture !!! pic.twitter.com/kEIKzYYjN8
— AuduMaikori (@Audu) June 22, 2018
Let my tomb stone read;
“I lived in the time of Ahmed Musa”.
🦅 🇳🇬
— Babs 🦅🇳🇬 (@BabatundeCASH) June 22, 2018
Musa I love youuuu Goalllllllll #Worldcuppic.twitter.com/QbsrN6hkpt
— ITS DONJAZZY AGAIN😉 (@DONJAZZY) June 22, 2018
This is Nigeria , This is Nigeria🇳🇬#WorldCuppic.twitter.com/3gP3X3Be72
— illusigram (@illusigram) June 22, 2018
Congratulations, @NGSuperEagles for this redeeming victory. Nigerians are backing you all the way to Gold #RUSSIA_2018
— Alh Abdulfatah Ahmed (@AbdulfataAhmed) June 22, 2018
How to melt ice 101 @NGSuperEagles@thenff 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/72Tg5I01KW
— Darey Art Alade (@darey) June 22, 2018
Our World Cup 2018 is on! Great result for the Super Eagles vs Iceland.The boys all did well especially in d 2nd half, particularly impressed with Musa,Ndidi,Uzoho & Balogun. Great that you all supported & prayed like we implored earlier,cheers guys; -) pic.twitter.com/HiYqfb2b8X
— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) June 22, 2018
So happy for Ahmed Musa, the team’s talisman from 2014 struck twice again today to become the leading Nigerian scorer at a #WorldCup with 4 goals.
— Lolade Adewuyi (@Jololade) June 22, 2018
🇳🇬 The Super Eagles are soaring now! 🦅
Big congratulations to our Naija boy @alexiwobi and his @NGSuperEagles team-mates – #NGA have just beaten #ISL 2-0 in Volgograd #WorldCuppic.twitter.com/HIpdx1qaZz
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) June 22, 2018
Next time you see me call me Peter Oracle😊 Argentina we r coming for you! No fear !!! Up Super Eagle🇳🇬🦅 https://t.co/uW7CtC50No
— Peter Okoye MrP (@PeterPsquare) June 22, 2018
This is for the 180 million Nigerians 🇳🇬🙏🏻 #FIFAWorldCup2018Russia pic.twitter.com/gGJjSwSuZ0
— Ndidi Wilfred (@Ndidi25) June 22, 2018
Why Nigeria’s win is good for Argentina
The final few minutes of Argentina’s calamitous loss to Croatia felt like a funeral. They felt like the end of an era. They felt like an end for Lionel Messi. The disaster reportedly provoked an attempted mutiny. It left an entire nation depressed.
And yet heading into its final game in Group D, Argentina’s 2018 World Cup remains almost entirely in its own hands.
The Argentines got the pivotal result they needed in Group D’s other Matchday 2 game roughly 21 hours after their own debacle. Nigeria beat Iceland 2-0 on two wonderful second-half goals from Ahmed Musa.
Those goals, coupled with Gylfi Sigurdsson’s late penalty miss for Iceland, leave Nigeria in the driver’s seat for the Group D runner-up spot behind Croatia. But Argentina, most importantly, now knows a win over Nigeria on Tuesday will very likely take it through to the knockout rounds, even after Thursday’s heartbreak.
Argentina scenarios
Argentina’s loss to Croatia put it in a hole. But plenty of teams have advanced after taking one point from their opening two games. The Argentines are still within touching distance heading into their final group game.
They’ll play Nigeria while Iceland and Croatia clash in simultaneous games on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET. Here’s what the Group D table looks like heading into those games:
Group D table
1. Croatia — 6 (+5)
2. Nigeria — 3 (0)
3. Iceland — 1 (-2)
4. Argentina — 1 (-3)
So the scenarios for Argentina are relatively simple. It must beat Nigeria. If it does, a loss or draw for Iceland against Croatia will send the Argentines through.
If Iceland beats Croatia, Group D’s runner-up spot would be decided by tiebreakers. The first is goal differential. So Argentina’s margin of victory on Tuesday would have to be at least one goal greater than Iceland’s. If goal differential is level, the second tiebreaker is goals scored.
The third tiebreak would be discipline – yellow and red card counts.
With Henry Bushnell – Yahoo Sports