Twice, Argentina has denied Mikel the chance of writing his name in gold letters. On both occasions, the Nigerian midfielder played subservient to the Lionel Messi inspired teams.
This reporter witnessed live the pains Mikel went through when Nigeria lost the 2005 FIFA Under-20 World Cup trophy to Argentina at the Galgenwaard Stadium in Utrecht on July 2, 2005. Mikel also played second fiddle to Messi in the Most Valuable Player of the tournament standing. Mikel got consolatory silver for all his efforts.
Three years later, at the final of the 2008 Beijing Olympic men football event final, it was the same Argentines that also stopped the Coach Samson Siasia led Dream Team from winning the gold.
For Mikel, today’s clash is time to put an end to the jinx that Messi and Co have become for him, personally.
On Head-to-Head with Argentina at the World Cup, Nigeria has never won any game with the team. It is a 3-0 in favour of the Argies.
When they first met at USA ’94, Eagles lost 2-1 with Claudio Cannigia scoring the brace. The story was not different at 2002 Korea/Japan when Gabriel Batistuta scored the lone goal of the clash. At the last edition in South Africa, it took the heroics of a Vincent Enyeama to end the game 1-0. After frustrating all of Messi’s efforts, Gabriel Heinze stole in to snatch all three points with that lone goal.
This feeling of ending the fear of Argentina, has become a matter of concern for this present generation of the Super Eagle as they take on the Albeceleste for a place in the Round of 16 of the Mundial here in Brazil.
The players believe it is not mission impossible. After all, Argentina was one of the countries that Nigeria defeated to win at the 1996 Olympic Games. Alhough a depleted side, Eagles had famous defeated the Argies in an international friendly in Abuja few years back, even though they retaliated at the reverse fixture in Bangladesh.
A board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Emeka Inyama, who watched the Dream Team defeat Argentina en-route to winning the gold told THISDAY here that the South American are beatable.
``The Argentines are beatable. We have beaten them once at the Olympic Games -- the 1996 Games in Atlanta. We believe that now that the team had risen to the occasion and performed creditably, they should continue and make it into the round of 16,’’ observed Inyama in his preview of today’s game where a draw is enough to earn Nigeria a place in the second round.
The President of NFF, Aminu Maigari, who is marking his birthday today similarly believe that Eagles will go all out against Argentina to ensure the qualification of the team into knock out phase.
``My birthday is on the day we are playing Argentina, and I will feel special if we defeat the Argentines.
``But more than that, a place in the Round of 16 will bring joy to the Nigerian delegation here in Brazil as well as to our people back home. ``We have so many reasons to go all out on Wednesday for victory.
``The Argentines have always beaten us at the FIFA World Cup, though narrowly each time. We also need to show our true strength as the champions of Africa,” concludes Maigari.
Source: Thisday
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