ENUGU – A cross section of Enugu residents have hailed the Super Eagles for qualifying for the round of 16 in spite of the 2-3 defeat to Argentina at the World Cup in Brazil.
Some of the residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday at the end of the match said they were proud of the Eagles’ performance.
The Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the South East, Mr Chris Isiguzo, said he was happy to see the Eagles approach the match with eagerness.
“We did well in spite of the defeat because the Nigeria players stood their ground against the likes of Lionel Messi and the Argentine studded team.
“Besides, 3-2 was not a bad result for the Eagles against the Argentines. So I am happy we were not humiliated as the Argentines expected.
“From their reaction after the match, you can see disappointment in their faces because the result could not go the way they expected,” Isiguzo said.
In his reaction, a director in the state sports council, Mr Edwin Eze, said he was satisfied that the players were able to march the Argentine one on one in spite of the loss.
“The players proved themselves and their attitude and zeal to score goals showed that we have arrived and will go far if the tempo is sustained.
“Our next match will be better because Stephen Keshi has shown us that his teanm is always a slow starter in tournaments but grows as the tournament progresses,” Eze said.
The police spokesperson in the state, Mr Ebere Amaraizu said the match was an exciting encounter, which showed the players could withstand any team in the tournament.
“The players showed that they can score goals in a match and that established the fact that we can go far.
“For a player of Ahmed Musa to have scored a brace against a team like Argentina signified good things to come in our next match in the tournament.
“We are going to give good account of ourselves in the next match,” Amaraizu, a deputy superintendent of police, said.
Nigeria finished second in group F with four points behind Argentina with nine points and will face the winner of group E. (NAN)
