Most drinking bars across the country looked toward Friday, the day Nigeria played Iceland with trepidation. Nigeria would be heading back home from the World Cup if they lost the match. But for them, this was not just about Nigeria heading back home, it was also about the loss of business that could result if such a fate befell the country.
Many bars have witnessed a significant boom in businesses since the world cup began. But there is even more guaranteed business on the days that the Super Eagles played. Football loving Nigerians, like most fans in most parts of the world, enjoy watching football with the ‘crowd’ or with ‘the boys’ as some will say. That comes with the associated drinking and eating that goes with it boosting sales of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Betting houses are also seeing a boom as Nigerians stakes bets on who will win the matches. Banks and other businesses are also riding on the interest in the World Cup, which cuts across the country, to promote their goods and services.
Even though interest in the World Cup is not expected to die, if Nigeria exits the World Cup, the evidence is that it will remain twice higher than normal as long as Nigeria remains in the competition. This is why the match against Iceland was important, especially for businesses who may have planned certain campaigns around the World Cup.
But a revamped Nigeria beat Iceland 2-0 and to resurrect the country’s hopes of staying in the competition beyond the group stage. Ahmed Musa was the star, scoring to beautiful goals that froze Iceland out of the game. Now on Argentina, which has hugely disappointed in the competition stand between and qualifying for the group stage.
If the Super Eagles are able to pull a draw with the Argentina would see the country move to the second round provided Iceland does not beat already-qualified Croatia by a wide margin.
Argentina must have to beat Nigeria and also hope Iceland do not win against Croatia to qualify.
But Nigeria will be looking to avoid all these calculations by beating Lionel Messi and his compatriots outright, however.
“We will play to win the game,” Nigeria’s German coach Gernot Rohr said.
“We played them in a friendly but there was no Messi then,” he said, referring to Nigeria’s 4-2 victory in a friendly in November when Messi was absent. “We know we can do it, our confidence is coming back.”
In only the second win for an African side in the Russia World Cup so far, Nigeria broke a stale deadlock in the 49th minute when wing-back Victor Moses lofted a pass towards Musa who deftly controlled the ball and smashed in the half volley.
Musa was on the bench for Nigeria’s limp defeat to Croatia in their opening World Cup game, and the announcement of the Leicester City striker’s name in the starting team on Friday drew thunderous cheers from Super Eagles fans.
He hit the bar shortly before making it 2-0 in the 75th minute when he used his pace to beat Iceland defender Kari Arnason and rounded goalkeeper Hannes Por Halldorsson before slamming the ball into the net.
Iceland, who caused one of the biggest upsets in the tournament so far by holding two-time champions Argentina to a draw on Saturday, showed their trademark grit to stay in the game and won a penalty.
Referee Matt Conger used the Video Assisted Referee system to confirm that striker Alfred Finnbogason had been fouled by Tyronne Ebuehi in the 80th minute.
But playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson, Iceland’s most gifted player of his generation, blasted his kick high over the bar.
Nigeria’s win vindicated the decision of Nigeria’s German coach Gernot Rohr to overhaul his attack after the 2-0 loss to Croatia, bringing in Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho at the expense of strikers Odion Ighalo and Alex Iwobi.
He used three central defenders flanked by wing backs, including Moses who usually plays in attack for Nigeria, and persuaded John Obi Mikel to play deeper in midfield.
“They did this for the country, for the team. It was not easy to convince them but in the end they did it well. It gave us more space and the speed proved decisive for us,” Rohr said.
Iceland, the smallest country ever to play in a World Cup, were roared on by their travelling army of their fans. But they missed the pace of winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson who was injured in the Argentina game.
Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said things had been going to plan at halftime with the score 0-0. But Volgograd’s heat, with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius (86°F), sapped his team.
Iceland must now turn their sights on Croatia who ended the island’s 2014 World Cup dream in a playoff, and the relationship between the sides on the field has often been tempestuous.
“We’ve played Croatia four times in four years. We’ve often said we’re like a married couple – we’re trying to get divorced, but we always meet up again,” Hallgrimsson said.
