5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

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waka-man
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5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by waka-man »

In descending order

5. Ahmed Musa's brace in a losing cause against Argentina in 2014
4. Emmanuel Amunike's lethal wing play against Bulgaria in 1994
3. Vincent Enyeama's heroics in a losing cause against Argentina in 2010
2. JJ Okocha's bamboozling of Spain in 1998
1. Ahmed Musa's high-speed evisceration of Iceland in 2018

Honourable mentions
Amokachi's dominance of Bulgaria in 1994
Uche Kalu's single-handed attempt to rescue us over 3 games in 2010
Ogenyi Onazi's resistance army against France in 2014
Emmanuel Emenike's bullying of Bosnia's left back in 2014
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by Scipio Africanus »

Hopefully we can update that list on Tuesday

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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by mystic »

I would have Enyeama's heroics against Argentina as number 1. Followed by Musa against Argentina.
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

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mystic wrote:I would have Enyeama's heroics against Argentina as number 1. Followed by Musa against Argentina.
Top performances indeed, just they both occurred in losses...
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

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O'Cafu in 2002 winning for Brazil.
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by theYemster »

waka-man wrote:In descending order

5. Ahmed Musa's brace in a losing cause against Argentina in 2014
4. Emmanuel Amunike's lethal wing play against Bulgaria in 1994
3. Vincent Enyeama's heroics in a losing cause against Argentina in 2010
2. JJ Okocha's bamboozling of Spain in 1998
1. Ahmed Musa's high-speed evisceration of Iceland in 2018

Honourable mentions
Amokachi's dominance of Bulgaria in 1994
Uche Kalu's single-handed attempt to rescue us over 3 games in 2010
Ogenyi Onazi's resistance army against France in 2014
Emmanuel Emenike's bullying of Bosnia's left back in 2014
The 2010 world cup is a blur to me.

Okocha against Bulgaria (in 98) comes to mind as well. Ran them ragged.
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by Rawlings »

Iceland???
Nwabali -- Aina, Bassey, TroostEkong, Sanusi --- Chukwueze, Aribo, Ndidi, Iwobi --- Osimhem, Sadiq Umar
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by akamoke »

There has to be space for Aghohawa rescuing us from the shackles of Senegal in 2000 in Lagos with his brace
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

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Rawlings wrote:Iceland???
Uganda?
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

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akamoke wrote:There has to be space for Aghohawa rescuing us from the shackles of Senegal in 2000 in Lagos with his brace
A great performance; alas not a World Cup
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by Rawlings »

Iceland breakdown
Population 300,000
50% are women, so 150K left
50% are kids so 75,000 left
60% are over 35, so about 30,000 to choose from
10% are invalids
15% live outside the country
5% are bisexuals
Etc
So they had about 1000 men to choose from
That was a hollow victory
Nwabali -- Aina, Bassey, TroostEkong, Sanusi --- Chukwueze, Aribo, Ndidi, Iwobi --- Osimhem, Sadiq Umar
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by kalani JR »

Rawlings wrote:Iceland breakdown
Population 300,000
50% are women, so 150K left
50% are kids so 75,000 left
60% are over 35, so about 30,000 to choose from
10% are invalids
15% live outside the country
5% are bisexuals
Etc
So they had about 1000 men to choose from
That was a hollow victory
If bisexuals can't play ball how did John Paintsil managed to have a career, don't think we forgot.

[/video]
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by waka-man »

Rawlings wrote:Iceland breakdown
Population 300,000
50% are women, so 150K left
50% are kids so 75,000 left
60% are over 35, so about 30,000 to choose from
10% are invalids
15% live outside the country
5% are bisexuals
Etc
So they had about 1000 men to choose from
That was a hollow victory
Uganda
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by akamoke »

waka-man wrote:
akamoke wrote:There has to be space for Aghohawa rescuing us from the shackles of Senegal in 2000 in Lagos with his brace
A great performance; alas not a World Cup
Lol it helps to read
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by 2drama »

what no Yekini ( Nigeria's First Goal in WC) or Sunday Oliseh thunder goal vs Spain
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by TonyTheTigerKiller »

Julius Aghahowa’s goal and subsequent acrobatic celebration against Sweden in 2002 :!:


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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by vancity eagle »

What about JJ Okocha taking Denmark to drink garri ?
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by ANC »

kalani JR wrote:
Rawlings wrote:Iceland breakdown
Population 300,000
50% are women, so 150K left
50% are kids so 75,000 left
60% are over 35, so about 30,000 to choose from
10% are invalids
15% live outside the country
5% are bisexuals
Etc
So they had about 1000 men to choose from
That was a hollow victory
If bisexuals can't play ball how did John Paintsil managed to have a career, don't think we forgot.

[/video]


gbosa!!!!


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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

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You left out the best one. For me their first half performance against Bulgaria was one of the most thrilling exhibitions of attacking play and flair I have ever seen from any Nigerian team. Who can forget the "perfect" goal that Nigeria scored in that game with the ball starting in the hands of the GK, being knocked around the back by defenders, going through the midfield, then to Okocha with a shimmy, then to striker Ikpeba to score. From one end of the pitch to the other, without a Bulgaria player touching the ball. It was Barcelona-esque.

Even the normally patronising European press (who usually never give African teams credit) were drooling over the performance and admitted that Nigeria "played a game beyond the reach of most European teams", and said the performance was a "landmark in the game". See the excerpts below from the Independent:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/marvell ... 43013.html
Against a methodical, phlegmatic Bulgaria, they upstaged Brazil for the first hour with a performance of extravagant technique and wilful attack, reaching the second round with this second victory.

The question mark against them is their stamina. In the last 20 minutes Bulgaria twice all but equalised as Nigeria sagged like a punctured balloon, Emil Kostadinov hitting the underside of the crossbar with four minutes remaining.

SLIGHTLY FORTUNATE

Nonetheless, Nigeria were a revelation, following their earlier, slightly fortunate victory over Spain.

FIFA's insistence on strict interpretation of the laws as written by referees largely ignored these past 32 years since Pele was cut to pieces in England is taking effect.

Restricted in their physical challenge, Bulgaria could seldom master the footwork and wizardry of Victor Ikpeba, Daniel Amokachi, Finidi George and the rest.

With continuing, legitimate protection, the Olympic champions of 1996 have good reason to believe they can become world champions.

Without their legs, and more important their balance, being threatened by every other challenge, Nigeria were able to play a game beyond the reach of most Europeans.

They could regularly do as Pele used to do: deliberately play the ball off the shins of their opponents at close quarters and go past on the rebound.

We heard at the Parc des Princes something from the days of Stanley Matthews the crowd laughing as Bulgaria were left standing and looking foolish.


The danger will be if Nigeria come to rely too much on dexterity. They squandered possession alarmingly towards the end, allowing Bulgaria to camp in their half. Being the best is not always enough, as Hungary and Holland have discovered in past World Cup finals.

Behind this outstanding display in my opinion a landmark in the game lies the hand of an extraordinary coach. The talent of Nigeria is natural; the tactical organisation and, more significantly, the temperamental equilibrium, is the work of Bora Milutinovic.

The first hour was a delight, Nigeria as easy on the ball as Brazil, dour Bulgaria attempting to swat them like bees. Amokachi and his colleagues would taunt them with the ball like a pot of honey, and then nonchalantly tweak it away from them as they lunged for it.

A key figure in Nigeria's early dominance was Celestine Babayaro, the Chelsea left-sided wing-back who was so long out of action last season.

He regularly added to Nigeria's eight-man attack, but he was also one of those who flagged badly in the later stages.

Bulgaria knew they had to watch things. There was nothing, however, they could do about one of the best goals of the tournament so far.

Amokachi found Finidi, a return pass to Amokachi, a flick inside to Ikpeba who was darting into the penalty area. Nimbly sidestepping Ivanov almost as though he did not exist, Ikpeba, last year's African player of the year, swept the ball into the net.

Between then and half-time, Nigeria might have scored at least another three.

Daily Telegraph, London.

- DAVID MILLER
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by balo »

Rawlings wrote:Iceland breakdown
Population 300,000
50% are women, so 150K left
50% are kids so 75,000 left
60% are over 35, so about 30,000 to choose from
10% are invalids
15% live outside the country
5% are bisexuals
Etc
So they had about 1000 men to choose from
That was a hollow victory

We can look at those stats after the world cup. That's when everyone else matters.
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

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[/video]
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

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danfo driver wrote:[/video]
That was a nightmare :woot: :scared:
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Re: 5 greatest performances by Nigerians at a World Cup

Post by waka-man »

I have blotted the Denmark game from my memory. No way can it make this list.
As for individual and singular efforts - not what I’m celebrating here. Aghahowa disappeared after his dramatic goal against the Swedes and did Yekini frankly after scoring Nigeria first ever World Cup goal.
And the Bulgaria 98 game? Hmmm... the goal was a thing of beauty, but no one really stood out.
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