Nigeria became Africa’s first World Cup 2014 envoys to progress to the round of 16 despite a 3-2 defeat by Argentina.
The Super Eagles qualify to the next stage and will face 1998 World Cup winners France for a place in the quarterfinal. This is Nigeria’s best World Cup performance since 1994 when they reached the round of 16.
In an exciting group match, Argentina score twice through their most priced player Lionel Messi but the 2013 African champions twice replied through Ahmed Musa.
The Argentines went ahead and sealed the victory to qualify to the next round with a 100% record. It was the other group match between Bosnia and Herzegovina that helped Nigeria secure a place in the knockout stage despite defeat.
Bosnia beat Iran 3-1.
Africa has previously suffered World Cup heartaches as second round hopefuls Ivory Coast were booted out of the World Cup after being within a minute of qualifying.
A Didier Drogba led Ivory Coast joins Cameroon on an early flight back home after Greece stole the show albeit in controversial circumstances as the Ecuador referee Carlos Vera awarded Greece an injury time suspicious penalty.
With the score leveled at 1-all it was Ivory Coast who was on their way to the round of 16 but with the fans certain that Africa was going to have its first quarter final envoy Ivory Coast conceded a penalty that was calmly converted by Georgis Samaras with the final whistle going after that.
Africa will now await Nigeria who face Argentina in their final match with Ghana in a showdown with Portugal while Algeria will also have a final shot to give Africa some chance at second round glory.
Only three African teams have only ever made it to the quarter finals in Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010).
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