The Tremendous Eagles of Nigeria Break the Earth Cup Jinx

Nigeria broke the Entire world Cup jinx in 1994, when she finally experienced for the greatest footballing party on planet earth.

This was just after several futile makes an attempt, by the then Eco-friendly Eagles to seize the elusive ticket. The closest try was in 1978, when an unfortunate individual aim by defender Godwin Odiye in a qualifying match against Tunisia, despatched Nigeria crashing out of the race to characterize Africa at the 1978 Mon-dial.

The crew had just before then, secured a – attract towards the Cartage Eagles of Tunisia in Tunis, and all they needed was a acquire, to secure her 1st at any time ticket. That was not to be, as they were specified the shock of their life, when reliable defender- Godwin Odiye, headed in an very own objective into his very own web.

Subsequent endeavours by the Eagles to qualify for the 1982 Mon-dial hosted by Spain, did not produce any optimistic consequence, as they were denied the lone ticket by the desert Warriors of Algeria, who defeated the Eco-friendly Eagles at their have yard 2- and capped it with a 2-1 defeat in considerably away Algiers, thus ending Nigeria Earth Cup dream.

In 1986, the Countrywide team at the time once more unsuccessful to qualify for the Worldwide fiesta, which was hosted by Mexico. They as soon as yet again fell to the exceptional powers of the North Africans. This time all over, it was the very same Tunisians which denied the Eagles the precious ticket 8 yrs in the past, that as soon as all over again inflicted a 2- defeat on the Inexperienced Eagles in Tunis, to put a prevent to their World Cup ambition. The tale was not diverse in 1990, as the Tremendous Eagles had been dealt a serious blow, by near neighbors Cameroon.

Needing at the very least a attract in their past team match, the Super Eagles ended up overwhelmed 1- by their perennial rival Cameroon. The Italia 1990 qualifier would be very best remembered for claiming the existence of Nigeria’s enterprising midfielder Samuel Okwaraji, who died in the Planet Cup clash with Palancas Negras of Angola on August 12th 1989 at the Nationwide stadium Lagos.

Nigeria eventually declared her arrival at Football greatest phase, the Earth Cup in 1994, when she arrived at the globe cup for the initially time, immediately after many past unsuccessful makes an attempt. They started off their journey to their pretty initially Environment Cup outing, with a 4- trouncing of Bafana Bafana of South Africa in their 1st Planet Cup qualifying match.

They even so endured a slim 1- defeat in the arms of Congo in their next Earth Cup qualifying match. In the return leg of their encounter with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa tagged “the struggle of Johannesburg”, the Eagles braved the substantial altitude to record an extraordinary barren attract ahead of a packed group at the Johannesburg Soccer Metropolis.

Nigeria scaled through to the group stage with an emphatic 2- victory around Congo, in the last match of the to start with phase of the qualifiers.

Paired in team A along with Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria, Nigeria began her Globe Cup last journey on a shaky take note, as they experienced a 2-1 defeat in the arms of Cote d’Ivoire, in an absent fixture, in advance of restoring some hope of qualification with a resounding 4-1 defeat of Algeria. The flood gate of ambitions was opened by a specified Austin Okocha, who mesmerized the Algerians with some wonderful dribbling expertise and capped his outstanding performance with a spectacular objective scored from a absolutely free kick. Cote d’Ivoire had been the upcoming to tumble, and they went dwelling empty soon after struggling a 4-1 defeat in the hands of the rampaging Super Eagles.

It was a fairy tale experience, and 1 match was standing in involving Nigeria, and a World Cup ticket. In the struggle of Algiers, the Countrywide Senior staff required possibly a Get or at least a draw to seal a Environment Cup ticket.

Ahead of a vociferous and hostile crowd at Algiers, the Super Eagles obtained the final result they wanted when Finidi George equalized for Nigeria after the Algerians had taken the lead, to force the Desert Warriors of Algeria to a 1-1 attract.

It was a historic result, as Nigeria booked her ticket to seem at the Environment major football fiesta for the pretty fist time. All about Nigeria, there was celebration, and the complete place was united in her second of ecstasy.