It was a big day on Friday, 22nd June, 2018, in Volgograd Arena, Volgograd, Russia, for hundreds of Nigerians, among whom was Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Honourable Bamaiyi Anangba, who witnessed a remarkable comeback from Super Eagles’ 2-0 defeat to Croatia in their opening Group D Match – seeing the Eagles beat stubborn Iceland 2-0, courtesy of Ahmed Musa’s second-half goals.
The result immediately catapulted Nigeria to the 2nd position following the 3-0 drubbing of Lionel Messi’s Argentina by Croatia having earlier been forced to a 1-1 by European debutants, Iceland, as the hope of Nigeria making it to their second consecutive FIFA World Cup round of sixteen – was re-awakened.
The sports commissioner was held and kissed on the head by two Russian officials after Nigeria’s victory against Iceland.
The FIFA 2018 World Cup is the sixth appearance for Nigeria after qualifying for the first time back in 1994.
The team featured in four other World Cups afterwards in 1998, 2002, 2010, and 2014.