Nigerian football enthusiasts on Wednesday expressed great expectations on Thursday’s 2010 World Cup Group Two game between the Super Eagles and Greece in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, a cross-section of Nigerians said they expected the Eagles not to only win the game but also win with a heavy scoreline.
According to them, the big win will enhance the team’s chances of qualification for the second round, ahead of South Korea, their group foes whom they are scheduled to meet on June 22 at Durban.
NAN reports that the Eagles had lost 0-1 to Argentina last Saturday in their opening match while the Greeks lost 0-2 to South Korea in their corresponding game.
Mr Mayo Adeyemi, a development research analyst, told NAN that nothing short of a big win will do much good to the Eagles’ campaign.
“At this level of the game, teams always grab their chances as they come and that opportunity has come for the Eagles.
“They have improved lately with every game and on the strength of that game against Argentina on Saturday, I expect them to improve this time around against the Greeks.
“The Eagles need to beat the Greeks with a good margin that will help them to stay ahead of the Koreans on the table,” he told NAN from Lagos.
Yaya Umaru, a footballer with FC Abuja, a National League club side, told NAN that he was optimistic that the Eagles would beat Greece by two goals to nil.
“Though they (the Eagles) lost their previous game against Argentina and the damage has already been done, I don’t expect them to do anything apart from winning by at least two goals to nil,” he said.
Samuel Edeh, another Abuja-based football enthusiast, also said he was basing his optimism on the Eagles’ performance in their game last Saturday.
“With their performance against Argentina, I believe they will beat Greece 2-0.
“ I think tomorrow’s match is going to be a very good one because the team is now very much organised.
“The way they played against Argentina was very good and the present coach (Mr Lars Lagerback) is doing his best at the moment.
“If you take a look back at the match they played last Saturday, you will discover that it is different from what they played at the Africa Nations Cup in Angola,” he said.
Ezekiel Joshua, an Abuja-based Youth Corps member, was also optimistic that Nigeria would beat Greece with a two-goal margin based on what he described as their impressive performance against Argentina.
“I see us (Nigeria) winning that match with at least a two-goal margin because we played impressively against Argentina and I am sure that if we meet again, we will beat them,’’ he said.
Malam Isah Ahmadu, a school teacher in Zaria, said he was sure history was going to repeat itself against the European side, recalling that the Eagles beat Greece 2-0 in 1994.
“We have done it before and that was in the U.S. at the 1994 World Cup finals.
“ If you look at the fact that the Eagles played well in their last match, you have to believe that.
“There is nothing that can stop us from being optimistic that a win will come our way on Thursday,” he said.
Hajiya Rahmatu Kabir, a housewife and football enthusiast based in Bwari, a suburb of Abuja, told NAN she was also sure of victory against Greece on Thursday.
“ I believe our Super Eagles will win. I am confident of that,” she said, supporting her contention by pointing at recent changes in the team’s performance.
“It is clear that since Lagerback took over, there has been an improvement in the team’s performance and I believe such an improvement will push them further against Greece,” she added.
Another Abuja-based youth corps member, Adesina Adetokunbo, predicted a 2-1 win for the Eagles, saying he was hinging his prediction on the fact that the team had been doing well so far.
“I am expecting Nigeria to win 2-1 because of what they displayed in their last match.
“Moreover, we all know that it is when people don’t expect much from the Eagles that they perform so well,” he said.
NAN reports that the Eagles, who have no point from one match just like the Greeks, are placed third on the group’s table ahead of the European side.
A win on Thursday will still place them ahead of the Greeks and keep them in good positioning for their final group game on June 22 against present group leaders, South Korea.(NAN)
