Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by driand(m): 2:45pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
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Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Tajbol4splend(m): 2:45pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
aishapmbtoto: Nigeria and England no be mate for football. We've had more honors than them |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by pyro62(m): 2:45pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Nigeria match na high bp |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Bojack(m): 2:45pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
hmmmmnn |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Rexmy(m): 2:46pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Nice analysis! |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Magnifico2000: 2:47pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Like for chuwkweze share for zaha 2 Likes |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Sanchez01: 2:47pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Jarus disappointed me with this. How did South Africa make top 3? What happened to Senegal ![](/faces/huh.png) We have played Senegal in competitive football (18) than South Africa (14). Why then is South Africa considered as one of Nigeria's top 3 ahead of Senegal ![](/faces/huh.png) What happened to Ivory Coast? 1 Like |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by quickly: 2:48pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
We only have 2 main rivals Ghana and Cameroun.
Cotedivore used to be a headache for the 94 team
South Africa, Argentina and England r not our rivals.
Argentina na our husband 4 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by etrange: 2:49pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Wealthierboy: We no go hear word with this little achievement All we need now na prayer not comparing here and there o... Mr rivalry Don't be too serious nah This is informative and entertaining in the spirit of statesmanship. It's all fun. Praying, are other countries from the devil? ![lipsrsealed](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/lipsrsealed.png) |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by AbuuBilaal(m): 2:50pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
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Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by quickly: 2:50pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Jarus: 1. Cameroun
Cameroun is Nigeria’s biggest rival on the African continent. If you doubt, check how sad Samuel Eto’o was the day Nigeria dumped Cameroun out of Egypt 2019. Cameroun takes matches against Nigeria very seriously with their players giving their best. The rivalry started in 1984 when Cameroun beat Nigeria 3-1 in the final of the 1984 Nations Cup. Four years later, in 1988, Nigeria had the opportunity to revenge but fell to Cameroun again in same stage – final – in controversial circumstances. Although Nigeria had upper hands in the meetings between the countries after than period, it was not in final matches. The two countries met again in the most critical stage of the tournament, final, at the 2000 edition hosted by Nigeria and Ghana, and, for the third time, Cameroun still gave the Eagles a bloodied nose in, again, controversial circumstances. This means, 3 out of the 5 times Cameroun has won the Nations Cup, it was at the expense of Nigeria. Although Nigeria has better head to head against Cameroun, Cameroun always got result in very crucial matches. Any game between Nigeria and Cameroun is war.
Head to Head Record Nigeria wins – 12 Cameroun wins – 4 Draw – 7
2. Ghana
This West African derby is arguably the oldest rivalry in African football. The biggest defeat Nigeria has suffered in its national football team history was against Ghana (then Gold Coast), a 7-0 loss in 1955. That was when the rivalry started. In fact, Nigeria lost all, conceded 10 goals without scoring 1 in their first 4 encounters with Ghana. Although Nigerians take games versus Cameroun more seriously than versus Ghana, Ghana sees Nigeria as its biggest rival. Any match between the two countries is war, especially in the golden age of Nigerian football when footballers take national team assignment very seriously. The economic ties between the two countries, with citizens of each of them living in large number in the other, also fuels the rivalry. There is nothing friendly in any game between Nigeria and Ghana, even if it is called a friendly match. If you doubt that, go and watch the “friendly” game between the two countries in London in 2007, the first defeat Nigeria suffered in the hands of Ghana in 15 years prior to that game, and see how Ghanaians celebrated it. Another notable stunning clash between the countriesise the 3-0 loss by Ghana in Benin in 2001 in the Korea/Japan World Cup qualifiers. Ghana “pepper dem” Nigeria by dumping the Super Eagles out of Nations Cup in two consecutive editions – 2008 and 2010 – in quarter and semi final respectively, embarrassingly with 10 men in one of the clashes. Ghana has continued to have the upper hand against Nigeria in recent years, having not lost to Nigeria since 2006.
Although older Nigerians that witnessed the peak of the rivalry could relate more with the Ghana-Nigeria football rivalry, Internet has rekindled the rivalry among younger generation, especially the fans, in recent years, with fans of each country trolling each online.
The fact that Nigeria had gone to World Cup three times before Ghana made its first appearance also “pained” Ghanaians in the 1990s, but they have since been consoled by the fact they now have better world cup record, having gotten to quarter final which Nigeria never got to.
Head to Head Record Nigeria wins – 10 Ghana wins – 21 Draw – 18
3. South Africa
Nigeria was absent in the 1996 and 1998 Nations Cup tournaments due to political reasons and South Africa has good outing in both tournaments, winning one. Many Nigerians believed that South Africa would not have won that Nations Cup if Nigeria featured given the squad Nigeria had at the time – winning Olympics in 1998 and topping a group that had Spain in France 1998. Not a few people believed Nigeria would have been unstoppable if they featured in those two Nations Cup. South Africans believed such utterances are a disrespect to them, that they would still have won the tournament even if Nigeria was there. The press and the people of both countries began to trade war of words over superiority. Thankfully, both countries met at the semi final of the 2000 Nations Cup and Tijani Babangida’s 2 goals for Nigeria settled the matter. Nigeria subsequently began to have upper hands over South Africa and South Africa went down in Nigeria’s rivalry consciousness, with several defeats. But the resurgence of the South African team in recent years, not losing to Nigeria in 5 encounters and even winning one in Nigeria, even stopping Nigeria from qualifying for AFCON in 2015, boosted their confidence and rekindled the rivalry, which made yesterday’s game a high octane one. Nigeria got the result.
Head to Head Record Nigeria wins – 7 South Africa wins – 2 Draw – 5
Honourable mentions
4. Argentina
Although Argentines will laugh at being classified as a rival to Nigeria in football, Nigeria has an axe with that team after beating Nigeria in 5 meetings at the World Cup. To make it more painful for Nigeria, one of the wins was extremely convincing. Nigeria lost by a lone goal margin in each of the 5 encounters. Other than the game in Korea/Japan 2002 where the Argies dominated Nigeria from start to finish, even if they were able to score only 1 goal courtesy Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina have beaten Nigeria unconvincingly in the other encounters. Although Argentina’s traditional rivals are Brazil, Germany and England (in fact will see Nigeria as “customer dada ni”), Nigeria still has a score to settle with that country.
Head to Head Record Nigeria wins – 2 Argentina wins – 6 Draw – 1
5. England
Nigeria has very long history with England being Nigeria’s colonialists. The fact that the English Premier League is highly followed in Nigeria, and many Nigerian players have played in their league also made England a very familiar country to Nigeria. Add the fact that there are many Nigerians living in the country and there are several footballers of Nigerian origin who have featured for the youth teams and you will understand the football relationship. There is a popular belief among Nigerians that England national team is crappy like Nigeria’s. Many Nigerian soccer fans will swear that the Three Lions are as bad as the Super Eagles and always looking forward for the opportunity to meet. Like Argentina, England does not see Nigeria as a rivalry the way it sees Germany or Argentina, many Nigerian football fans have an axe to grind with that country. Although Nigeria has only played England 3 times, the performance of the Super Eagles at the 1994 friendly between the two countries in Wembley gave Nigeria a lot of confidence. Many Nigerians are still not convinced England is bettter than Nigeria in football.
Head to Head Record Nigeria wins – 0 England wins – 2 Draw – 1
We only have 2 main rivals Ghana and Cameroun. Cotedivore used to be a headache for the 94 team South Africa, Argentina and England r not our rivals. Argentina na our husband , Argentina rival is Brazil England is not our rival, England rival is Scotland,Germany etc not Nigeria 2 Likes |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Starboytwo(m): 2:50pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
I don't consider Xenophobians as rivals at all....we are simply not d same level.....we saw it yesterday with no shot on target and a VAR goal....abeg remove them.... |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Sicilyjoe: 2:50pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Tajbol4splend: Cameroon haven't defeated Nigeria since 1989 Akpamu what happened in afcon final in Lagos year 2000 ? 1 Like |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Andersonjr(m): 2:51pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
England and Argentina are never the Super Eagles rivals |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by StillX10(m): 2:53pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Tajbol4splend: Cameroon haven't defeated Nigeria since 1989 Who told you? |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by ehemwhy(m): 2:54pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Ghana and not Cameroon are Nigeria's biggest rival , we have had more more wins on a head to head basis against the indomitable lions ....they have had more significant wins over us though , three of their nations cup wins were against us . Ghana are our biggest rivals 4 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by quickly: 2:55pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Tajbol4splend:
We've had more honors than them Which honors- they have won World Cup. That one supercedes anything. Also their league is heaven to Nigerian players 1 Like |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by blowjob: 2:56pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Cool ![grin](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/grin.png) |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Lordjb: 2:56pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Na so |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by chloride6: 2:57pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Where is Senegal? |
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Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by toprealman: 3:05pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Wealthierboy: We no go hear word with this little achievement All we need now na prayer not comparing here and there o... Mr rivalry and prayer without work according to the Bible is what? |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by selemo: 3:06pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
AbuuBilaal: That Ghana stats pain me ![embarassed](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/embarassed.png)
BTW
The margin is too much... ![angry](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/angry.png) 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by samcus(m): 3:12pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Somewhere right now,
A yet to be married lady is sleeping with a useless married man. |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Freelanceona100(m): 3:24pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Naija my contiry |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Tajbol4splend(m): 3:27pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Sicilyjoe:
Akpamu what happened in afcon final in Lagos year 2000 ? Mr man the match ended 2-2 if you didn't know |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by MiddleDimension: 3:27pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Tajbol4splend: Cameroon haven't defeated Nigeria since 1989 they won the nations cup here in lagos at our expense |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Tajbol4splend(m): 3:27pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
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Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Magnifico2000: 3:29pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
We are a force to be reckoned with In African football.. we are amongst the top ten footballing nations in africa.
1. Egypt 2. Cameroon 3. Ghana 4. Nigeria 5. Senegal 6. Ivory coast 7. Algeria 8. Mali 9. South Africa 10. Tunisia 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by lasmile(f): 3:29pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
Kudos |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Tajbol4splend(m): 3:29pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
quickly:
Which honors- they have won World Cup. That one supercedes anything.
Also their league is heaven to Nigerian players Nigeria have won 3 trophies at the senior level but they have won 1, so what are you arguing about |
Re: Nigeria's Top 3 Football Rivals by Tajbol4splend(m): 3:30pm On Jul 11, 2019 |
MiddleDimension:
they won the nations cup here in lagos at our expense On penalties, the match full time ended 2-2 |