11 matches have been played in the on going 2018 FIFA World Cup taking place in Russia and all 3 African teams who have played out of the 5 African countries represented have failed to at least salvage a point in their opening games, a thing we hope Tunisia and Senegal will remedy when they play their first games tomorrow and next respectively.
Egypt and Morocco both suffered injury time defeats on Friday with Jose Gimenez’s 89th minute goal sealing it for Uruguay against Egypt and a stoppage time own goal from Morocco’s Aziz Boihaddouz giving Iran their second win in their World Cup history.
Last night, the Super Eagles of Nigeria followed suit as they lost an opening game to an European side in the world cup for the first time, as the well coordinated and experienced Croatian side defeated them via an Oghenekaro Etebo’s first half own goal and a nicely converted Luka Modric second half penalty, giving the Croatians their first World Cup opening game win in 20 years. The blazers first opening match win in the world cup was during their debut in France 1998.
The loss caused by a handful of technical and tactical errors means the Eagles have now failed to win their opening game of a World Cup in their last 4 World Cup appearances and have now lost 7 World Cup games when conceding first. Well, it seems the trick could be to ensure they do not concede first in their remaining games if they have any intentions having a win in this World Cup.
With the resilient Islanders tying the Argentines to a 1-1 draw, a game which saw Talisman Lionel Messi’s spot kick get saved by Iceland’s goalie Hames Halldersson in the 64th minute, this means the Eagles are now sitting, uncomfortably (we hope), at the bottom of group D.
The Eagles will take on the Islanders in their second group game on Friday 22nd June and Argentina in their last group stage game on the 26th of June and Nigerians are somewhat optimistic that if all the errors from their previous game are checked and corrected, the Eagles might still have a chance of surviving in their group of Death.
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