Argentina, have Messi on us

Suddenly, the raging optimism of the Super Eagles of going beyond the first round of the World Cup in Brazil hit all time low after their 0-0 draw with Iran at their opening match.

 

The Super Eagles and Carlos Queiroz’s Iran failed to score in a sluggish match which saw both teams take a lazy single point in Group F.
Neither side showed any urgency in attack and will both have to up their game if they hope to progress from a group which includes Argentina and Bosnia.

 

The Super Eagles and their supporters are now taking solace in Prayers. A fervent prayer that Messi should have mercy on Nigeria when the Super Eagles faces Argentina on 25th June.

Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, who came to Brazil as a favourite for player of the tournament, could shatter the hope of Nigeria and stop them going through to the knockout phase as of Group F.

Nigeria may have woken up from their dream of reaching the knock stage of the World Cup having been frustrated by Iran on 16th June with a goalless draw.

Messi, Argentina’s second highest scorer of all time with 38 goals in 86 internationals, has a score to settle with Nigeria at the final group match against Nigeria in Porto Alegre on June 25.

One person who will be at the mercy of Messi is Vincent Enyeama, the Nigeria keeper. Enyeama ensured Messi was tamed at the previous World Cup in South Africa in 2010, making superb saves from the ace in a 1-0 Argentine win in South Africa.

After the game, the Nigerian goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama revealed how he stopped Lionel Messi from scoring in the South Africa World Cup match. The Super Eagles lost 1-0, but a brilliant performance from Enyeama, which saw him deny the Barcelona’s star a number of scoring chances and earned himself the man of the match award.

“I have been watching a lot of Messi’s games in the Spanish La Liga and I have been studying the way he beats the keepers with some curling shots, so I knew what I had to do to stop him,”revealed Enyeama.

“I think I watched almost 20 games of him playing in the Spanish league and I knew what I needed to do to stop him, that’s why each time he tried to beat me, I knew which direction he was going to hit the ball and how he was going to do it.

“So, for me, studying almost 20 games played by Messi helped me a lot.

“I just feel wonderful with the way I played, but I feel horrible because we lost. I wish Messi had come to talk afterwards, but he is the best player in the world and he wouldn’t come to the player he doesn’t know to congratulate him,” quipped the 27-year-old.

But this time around, rather than watch 20 video footage, Enyeama has resolved to prayers along with other members of the Nigerian team. Mr Folu Ali, a fan of the Nigerian team said, “they need the prayers because Messi does not have mercy on his opponents.”