‘Algeria Can Never Break Nigeria’s World Cup Curse’ – Orji Kalu
The outcome of the 2018 world Cup qualification clash between Nigeria and Algeria in Uyo this weekend goes far beyond tactical and logistical preparedness, according to Pillar of Sports, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.
According to the Kalu, Algeria’s World Cup dreams are over no thanks to the Eagles who will continue to punish them for ‘killing’ Nigeria’s Mundial ambitions on home soil in 1981, Vanguard writes.
“The Desert Warriors have come to the end of the road. The 1980 Nations Cup winning Eagles will never forgive them for that World Cup qualifier that sent Nigeria packing 35 years ago. It affected those Green Eagles negatively,” he said.
“That 0-2 loss to Les Fennecs in Lagos retired Christian Chukwu permanently from international soccer. Segun Odegbami was stripped of the Captain’s band. Tunde Bamidele lost the opportunity of playing professional soccer abroad, and for the very first time, Aloy Atuegbu, watched from the bench as an Eagle.”
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Nigeria has had the upper hand over the Algerians, also referred to as the Greens [El Khadra], ever since that painful ouster.
On the way to USA ’94, the Eagles beat them 4-1 in Lagos – Jay Jay Okocha scored his debut goal for the national team that day– before Finidi George’s late equalizer on Algerian soil earned the Eagles their first ever World Cup ticket.
Nigeria beat Algeria 1-0 in Abuja and went on to massacre their hosts 5-2 in the return leg in Oran during the qualifiers for Germany 2006, although Nigeria didn’t make the Mundial.
The former Abia State Governor also taunted Algerian veteran, Lakdar Belloumi, over comments that the Eagles will be under pressure in Uyo.
“Yes, Belloumi has forgotten so easily that the days of Rabah Madjer, Faouzi Mansouri, Nourrredine Kourichi and Mustapha Dahelb only blossomed after Eagles pounded them 3-0 to win the 1980 Nations Cup.
“They beat us black and blue a year later. Now, the Eagles have cursed Algeria not to beat them again in a World Cup match. And that curse cannot be washed away soon, not even by a veteran,” he added.
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