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Remembering the events from Porto Alegre in 2014, when the Super Eagles wide attacker threatened to outdo one of the sport’s greatest players when Nigeria did battle with Argentina.
Nigeria facing Argentina has become a theme at World Cups, with both nations battling in 1994, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018.
The Super Eagles have never triumphed against familiar foes, losing by a goal on each occasion. The West African nation have tended to score in those games, finding the back of the net through Samson Siasia in 1994, Ahmed Musa in 2014 and Victor Moses at the Russia finals four years later.
However, Musa’s brace in Porto Alegre arguably remains the standout performance by an outfield player against the Albiceleste at the global showpiece.
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Vincent Enyeama’s masterclass to deny Lionel Messi multiple times four years earlier remains one of the competition’s finest goalkeeping displays at the finals, despite Nigeria losing the game 1-0.
Enyeama upstaged Messi in Johannesburg in 2010. Musa threatened to do likewise four years later at Estadio Beira-Rio. But how did he nearly upstage the Argentina maestro?
The context
Nigeria went into that final Group F fixture with their qualification fate in their hands.
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The Super Eagles had accrued four points from an available six — drawing with Iran in their opening fixture and defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0 in the next round of games — and needed a point to advance to the knockout rounds.
There was a possibility of ending atop the section if they managed to put paid to their Argentina hoodoo in Porto Alegre, even if that was unexpected against one of the competition’s pre-tournament favourites.
The African giants would also advance with a defeat if Iran failed to beat Bosnia in the other Group F game played concurrently at Bahia.
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The latter scenario would play out — Nigeria losing and Bosnia defeating Iran — but Musa, not Messi, arguably stole the show with his brace.
Musa’s first goal against Argentina
Stephen Keshi’s team were stunned after only three minutes when Messi fired into the roof of the net after Angel Di Maria’s initial shot had been pushed onto the post by Enyeama.
That was the worst possible start the Nigerians could have imagined, but Musa was having none of it. Barely a minute after the Argentina talisman put the South Americans ahead, the wide attacker was pegging back the Albiceleste.
Efe Ambrose was the first to a loose ball on the edge of the Nigeria penalty area, and the defender slipped Michel Babatunde through, with the attacker having lots of room to run into with the ball.
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Argentina were surprisingly stretched despite just taking the lead and having six men in their half to the Super Eagles’ three on that counter-attack, but they could not prevent Musa’s equaliser.
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Pablo Zabaleta incredibly allowed the winger to chop infield onto his dominant foot to shoot at goal, but the Super Eagles did not care.
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They were level, and Keshi seemed pleased, even if he tried to appear unmoved. It was the first time in World Cup history that both sides had scored in the game’s opening five minutes.
It was all going according to plan…until Messi scored just before the interlude. But Musa responded…again.
Musa’s second goal against Argentina
Messi had won and converted a 25-yard free-kick to put the Albiceleste 2-1 up, once again beating his 2010 nemesis Enyeama. Once again, Musa was having none of it.
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The second goal to put Nigeria level was possibly an even better strike than his first.
Musa received Peter Odemwingie’s pass in the inside-left channel, turned goal side and played a forward pass into Emmanuel Emenike.
Not one to stand and watch his centre-forward pull a rabbit out of a hat, the wide attacker recognised where the space was, made a forward run around Fernando Gago and beyond the Argentina midfield and was slipped through by Emenike.
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Eyeball to eyeball with Sergio Romero, Musa steadied himself and finished with aplomb to make it 2-2 just two minutes into the second half.
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The Super Eagles had demonstrated their powers of recovery for the second time, with Musa undoubtedly carrying the can for the three-time African champions.
Messi was taken off at the hour with Argentina 3-2 ahead — Marcos Rojo netted three minutes after Nigeria’s leveller — and the African giants could not respond for a third time.
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Musa nearly netted his third after connecting to an Odemwingie cross from the right wing but was put off by Zabaleta as he connected to his teammate’s ball.
Nigeria progressed to the Round of 16 despite losing, and that encounter in Porto Alegre likely would be remembered for the Super Eagles winger’s showing.
A hat trick was not to be for Musa, who almost singlehandedly took on the eventual World Cup runners-up.
Nearly upstaging Messi on the global showpiece, that performance continues to live long in the memory.
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