Nigerian Sports: The Excitement of Soccer

What is known to be called football in Nigeria originally but is considered soccer in the United States is one of Nigerians greatest sport pride. Sporting Events like the FIFA world cup, soccer, is one of the most anticipated and celebrated moments in Nigerian sports. The importance of soccer is that it brought many people in Nigeria together; it was a way for people to escape religious differences and embrace a competitive sports spirit within one another. The history of soccer came from the Nigerian Football Federation created in 1945, “It was the first year that a competition was organized bringing together clubs from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar.” Soccer is like a ‘do or die’ sport, so everyone goes hard when Nigerian soccer team, Super Eagles, play in the FIFA world cup games.  The Super Eagles are known to be one of African’s best soccer team and top ten in the world. In fact, according to the come to Nigeria website, they won their first world cup game in 1985 in China under the 16-category and then were in second place in the 1987 in Canada. This is why soccer became something Nigerians became excited about; it turned into a holiday festival celebration every time the Super Eagles played a game. During the occasion of a big game, young adults, parents, and kids go to a large outside field to watch the game live on a screen TV. The person in town that has the biggest TV would usually bring it to the occasion. Families bring food to cook on the side, while little kids play soccer in another corner, but all around everyone is anticipated and watch the game in excitement. Almost everyone dress in the colors of the Nigerian Flag which is green and white. Some people paint their faces for the festival and some wear jerseys of their favorite player in the soccer league. There is even music played on the corners of the field where people dance to celebrate whenever the team scores a goal or during the end if the Super Eagles Win. Also with the music, there is chanting of the team’s famous chant screaming super eagles. Overall, the whole area is crowded and loud so it is always super energetic and enthusiastic.