As controversial as the match between Nigeria and Argentina may appear to be, in my opinion Nigeria does not deserve to win the Match.
Despite that it was as clear as day that FIFA did suppressed the ambition of the Nigerian national team from advancing to the second round using VAR, by directing the referee through the ear piece attached to his ear to go for a second opinion, when he had already awarded a penalty that if taken may put an end to Argentinian campaign for the world cup. i still do not think that the Nigerian team deserve to emerge as winners in its last group match encounter with the Argentinian team. I consider the going to the VAR by the referee as an excuse to do the bidding of the gods of football.
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FIFA perhaps had seen that the Nigerian team wasn't really prepared quality wise to grace the second round, or it thinks that it will be a great blow to have one of the best teams in the tournament with a player rated to be the greatest footballer of all time not to be among the group of sixteen. This is not to mention the revenue loss that may be at its wake should a player like Messi not being among the players in the group of sixteen.
Similar controversial calls were made when two other teams regarded as underdogs played against Portugal and Spain. At a point the Moroccan team left the football pitch in protest accusing the referee as being partial. They only to returned when the Moroccan officials pleaded with them to return and finish the match. Again, in my opinion, FIFA thought it not possible to have its current FIFA World football player of the year in the person of C. Ronaldo not advancing to the group of sixteen. The tickets will not sell well.
I am a Nigerian, and no doubt a patriotic one for that matter. It is my earnest wish that the Nigerian team advanced to the knockout stages, but that was not to be. Mainly because the Nigerian team was responsible for its lost the other day. It was pretty obvious that match it played yesterday was it's best so far in the tournament, but certain acts were not lost on us. some of the players were quite selfish. Ehenacho in the first half should have simply passed the ball to Musa who was alone by the side, but he decided to take on two Argentinian world class defenders. Also, Igahlo on two occasions in the second half refused to pass the ball to Musa who was simply waiting to tap it into the net. It is not possible for the Argentinian players not to pass the ball to Messi when he is free and unmarked, they know Messi is a goal scorer and in my opinion so is Musa. So when a team is not United in the way the Nigerian team is not but is driven by selfish ambition, then it does not deserve to win any match.
The Nigerian coaching crew need to work on this anomaly bedeviling the team right now if it wants to make headway in its future quests for glory. Glory can only be attained when the players discard any bias and self promotion in a tournament of this magnitude. They must know that it is all for one and one for all. The world cup is the most prestigious football game so far in the world, and as such there is the need to make marked distinctions between domestic football and club football, African Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup.
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Notice.
All that i say above is my personal opinion based simply as a by-sitter living room observer. My opinion no doubt will be biased as a Nigerian. Forgive me if you think that i have made unfounded accusations, i am Simply allowing the patriotic feelings of national pride and fire burning in my breast to cool down. So much for venting my spleen. 😂
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