- Title: NIGERIA: SOCCER/FOOTBALL: Niigeria fans unhappy after France World Cup defeat
- Date: 30th June 2014
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (JUNE 30, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF STADIUM WITH SIGN READING (English): "TESLIM BALOGUN STADIUM" BALL WITH BANNER READING (English): "WORLD CUP MATCHES LIVE VIEWING" CROWD OF PEOPLE WATCHING SOCCER MAN WATCHING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BUSINESSMAN, ONOTOLA ADEBOWALE, SAYING: "As we are going now people thought that Nigeria is going to cover them all over Africa, as giant of Africa, but now we are not proving it at all, it's so bad, what are we expecting, as fans, we are not here for nothing, we are here for glory, to support them with all of our heart, but what is going on now, what is the result they are giving us. This is not a football." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BANKER, VICTOR IKENOMIA, SAYING: "Of course like every Nigerian, I was expecting a victory, I was expecting a victory, the match was actually good in the first half but the second half is nothing to write home about, it's really terrible, so it's a bad day for us in Nigeria today." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING THE MATCH (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT IN LAGOS, FINNI AFOLABI, SAYING: "If Nigeria wins that means there will be massive sales for me, but right now I have to pack my goods back home." PEOPLE WALKING OUT
- Embargoed: 15th July 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA4HIH17B05R79Y9CRB6PNW022L
- Story Text: Nigerian soccer fans were expecting a win but instead were shocked with a 2-0 loss to France during the knockout stage at the 2014 World Cup tournament in Brazil on Monday (June 30).
Seeking to make up for their humiliating early exit four years ago, the French left it late in Brasilia to break down a hard-working Nigeria team, scoring twice in the last eleven minutes.
'Super Eagles' goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who had been excellent until then, flapped at a corner in the 79th minute, leaving Paul Pogba an open goal to head into after French pressure had been steadily building in the second half. France wrapped up the win when Joseph Yobo turned a low cross into his own goal in stoppage time.
Soccer fans in Lagos expressed their disappointment.
"As we are going now people thought that Nigeria is going to cover them all over Africa, as giant of Africa, but now we are not proving it at all, it's so bad, what are we expecting, as fans, we are not here for nothing, we are here for glory, to support them with all of our heart, but what is going on now, what is the result they are giving us. This is not a football," businessman, Onotola Adebowale said.
"Of course like every Nigerian, I was expecting a victory, I was expecting a victory, the match was actually good in the first half but the second half is nothing to write home about, it's really terrible, so it's a bad day for us in Nigeria today," said Victor Ikenomia, banker based in Lagos.
Africa's most populous nation are often held up as the team most capable of making a breakthrough at international level and becoming regular contenders for major honours but after a mediocre showing in Brazil that wait will last longer.
Lagos resident Finni Afolabi said if the Super Eagles had won, it would have resulted in his business experiencing a boom.
"If Nigeria wins that means there will be massive sales for me, but right now I have to pack my goods back home," he said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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