An estimated 80,000 Argentinian fan base filled the Estádio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre to watch Nigeria play Argentina for the third time in a World Cup on Wednesday.
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Nigeria came in to the game looking very much like Africa’s best hope of making it to the next round. Both Nigeria and Argentina needed just a draw and a good result from Iran to qualify for the next round.
In the final minutes of the game, news of Iran losing their final game in Group F meant the score in the Nigerian game had no bearing on the Africans going through to the round of 16.
The game got off to a quick start, and as early as the 3rd minute, Angel di Maria‘s low shot bounced off keeper Vincent Enyeama and the post toward Argentina’s danger-man Lionel Messi who fired one past the Nigerian defense to score the opener.
Nigeria had not conceded in 182 minutes of play time in this World Cup, but for Lionel Messi, it was his ninth goal in his last eight appearances for the South American team.
The Nigeria response was immediate as Michel Babatunde moved forward through the center before passing Ahmed Musa on the left side of the box for a shot at goal in to the top corner to level the scores.
In the 46th minute of the first half, Lionel Messi put Argentina in front again through an impeccably well-taken free-kick.
But Nigeria’s Super Eagles came back again in the 47th minute through Musa.
Argentina didn’t waste time to reclaim their lead, though.
In the 50th minute, Marcos Rojo found the net with ease for another instant-response goal.
This 3-2 loss was enough for Nigeria to make it through to the next round, where they will likely take on France.
While the game was ongoing, there were reports of an explosion at a shopping mall in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, with reports saying at least 21 people were killed and 17 wounded.
This sad new marred the celebration of going to the next round for Africa’s most-populous nation.
Ghana and Algeria are the remaining African countries in Brazil that also have a chance to go further in to the tournament.
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