Football-loving Nigerians have commended Super Eagles forward, Ahmed Musa, for his superb performance against the Argentina team in the ongoing World Cup in Brazil.
The 21-year-old footballer, who plays for CSKA Moscow, Russia, made history on Wednesday by becoming the first Nigerian to ever score two times in a World Cup match.
Although the Super Eagles lost the match – which ended 3-2 – to their opponents, Musa scored Nigeria’s fastest goal at the World Cup in the fourth minute.
Impressed by the player’s performance, the management of the Kano Pillars, where he held the enviable record for the highest number of goals ever scored in one season in the Nigeria Premier League until November 2011, sang his praises.
The Nigerian club described him on Twitter as a good ambassador doing his country proud on the global stage. It said it could wait for the Nigerian international to do more expoits at the World Cup.
“We are very proud of our own Ahmed Musa. We knew he can do it. We wish him all the best in future games with the Super Eagles at the World Cup,” Kano Pillars tweeted.
Nigeria international and Académica de Coimbra player, John Ogu, attributed Musa’s performance to his determination to make a mark.
He posted the mugshot of the chat he had with Musa hours before the game in which he reportedly promised to give his best to the game and net a goal.
“We made it to the second round. I am proud of these guys. Awesome performance from the lads. In my chat with Ahmed Musa before the game against Argentina, he promised to score a goal. He believed and he made it,” Ogu tweeted.
Ogu described the Super Eagles as “the 23-man soldiers” doing Nigeria proud in Brazil and he urged Nigerians to support the team in order to encourage them to spring surprises in the global competition.
The Super Eagles have also thanked fellow Nigerians for keeping faith with them through their trying times in the ongoing tournament.
Writing on their official Twitter page, the Eagles said they were happy to be the first African team to advance to the second round of the competition.
The players said they were looking forward to receiving encouragement from football fans back home as they advance to the round of 16.
“We are through to the Round of 16. We’re proud of ourselves. And to the fans, we say thank you for being there all the step of the way Thank you to all our fans. Please do send in your well-wishes,” the Super Eagles said.
Meanwhile, Nigeria international and France’s AS Monaco left back, Elderson Echiejile, who was dropped from the 23-man World Cup team list after suffering an injury in a friendly match, has expressed satisfaction with the performance of his colleagues.
Echiejile asked his teammates to remain focused and to keep the fighting spirit alive as the tournament enters the knockout stage. He urged Nigerians to support the team rather than write them off.
“Congrats guys; It was a good fight. Keep the spirit alive. Up Super Eagles,” the message on his Twitter page on Thursday read.
Also, singer Waje, who could not hide her joy over the performance of the Super Eagles, was full of praises for Musa and his teammates. She noted that though the Super Eagles lost the game, Musa’s style of play was exceptional and the players worked as a team.
“We qualified! My boys played a good game, we lost the game but we gave them good play. Argentina sef respect I sure. France, see you soon
Nigerians should see why all ethnic groups and tribes need each other? Either from the north, east, west or south. Remember, it was Musa who did us proud today. I love you Musa,” Waje wrote on Twitter.
But President Hassan Rouhani of Iran has heaped praises on that country’s national team, even as they crashed out of the World Cup in the group stages without winning a single match.
“Well played to our Persian Cheetahs! It might not be the result you deserved but great effort and heads held high! No matter the result, you boys have made us proud!” he tweeted.
