Nigeria

July 5, 1994 – Italy 2:1 (aet) Nigeria, World Cup quarterfinals at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 54,367)

July 5, 2017 by frankdellapa@gmail.com

Robert Baggio’s 89^th-minute goal sent the match into extra time, then Baggio converted a penalty kick, his first goals of the World Cup. Nigeria controlled the tempo for much of the match, thanks to the midfield play of Jay Jay Okocha and Sunday Oliseh and the second-half ejection of Gianfranco Zola to a controversial red card. But the Super Eagles’ defensive tactics failed as Baggio finished past Peter Rufai, then broke the deadlock after Antonio Benarrivo went down, Mexican referee Arturo Brizio Carter awarding the penalty kick in the 100^th minute. [Read more…] about July 5, 1994 – Italy 2:1 (aet) Nigeria, World Cup quarterfinals at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 54,367)

June 30, 1994 – Nigeria 2:0 Greece, World Cup at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 53,001)

June 30, 2017 by frankdellapa@gmail.com

With Diego Maradona’s suspension announced on June 29, 1994, Argentina lost its edge and risked dropping out of first place in Group D of the World Cup. The Argentines needed at least a draw against Bulgaria in the final group game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, and they had a numerical advantage in a 0-0 match into the late going. Meanwhile, Nigeria held a 1-0 lead over Greece and coach Clemens Westerhof was monitoring things as Argentina fell behind to a Hristo Stoitchkov goal, the game concluding with the Bulgarians winning, 2-0.