Group B – Nigeria Analysis

Another team from the tough Group B, Nigeria is hoping that a balanced team (although lacking in big names) and the advantage of playing on home soil will be enough to help them advance in the World Cup. To top it off, Nigeria will face off against the projected 4th place winner Argentina on June 12th. History does not favor the Nigerians. In the two previous games where Argentina and Nigeria played against each other in the World Cup, Argentina was the victor in both with a goal margin of 3-1 (2-1 1994, 1-0 2002).

Currently, Bodog is agreeing with predictions by offering -1.45 odds on Argentina to win during their match up against Nigeria. Nigeria is being given 5.25 odds by Bodog to be the winner of the match. Finally, a tie between the two teams is listed as having 3.50 odds. Bet365 is currently hosting better odds for a tie at 3.60 but their odds for Nigeria taking the match are the same at 5.25.

Nigeria has also been given odds by Ladbrokes for the entire tournament. The odds of Nigeria winning the World Cup championship are currently set at 81.00 which are the same as South Africa, the hosting country of the event. This means that, if you wager $1.00 on a Nigerian World Cup win, you stand to win $81.00.

Nigeria – Beyond Group B

For their very first match, Nigeria is up against World Cup experience. Although Nigeria has taken part in three World Cup championships, Argentina leads Group B with fourteen World Cup showings. Should Nigeria at least tie Argentina, they still have to post some points against another experienced team, Korea Republic. If Nigeria can get past Group B, there is no doubt that they have a good shot at finishing highly in the final 16.

Results of Nigeria’s Qualifying Stages:

06/01/08 – Nigeria – 2:0 – South Africa
06/07/08 – Sierra Leone – 0:1 – Nigeria
06/15/08 – Equatorial Guinea – 0:1 – Nigeria
06/21/08 – Nigeria – 2:0 – Equatorial Guinea
09/06/08 – South Africa – 0:1 – Nigeria
10/11/08 – Nigeria – 4:1 – Sierra Leone
03/29/09 – Mozambique – 0:0 – Nigeria
06/07/09 – Nigeria – 3:0 – Kenya
06/20/09 – Tunisia – 0:0 – Nigeria
09/06/09 – Nigeria – 2:2 – Tunisia
10/11/09 – Nigeria – 1:0 – Mozambique
11/14/09 – Kenya – 2:3 – Nigeria

The Nigerian Team

Most of the eyes will be on Nigeria’s top performers Obafemi Martins and Aiyegbeni Yakuba, especially as they face off against Argentina’s Lionel Messi. The Nigerian team is well balanced, however and there is a healthy mix of experience and blooming talent. This same team was very successful in African Zone qualifier matches and, if they can post some solid numbers in Group B, they will be well prepared to face off against the teams on the last 16.

Nigeria World Cup History

Although Nigeria lost to Argentina in 1994 World Cup first round play, they defeated both Bulgaria and Greece to advance to the second round. Nigeria went on to lose to Italy in an overtime game.
In 1998, Nigeria once again failed to pass the second round after a loss to Denmark.
The 2002 World Cup was worse for Nigeria as they posted 0-1, 1-2 and 0-0 games for the first round.

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