Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has narrated how he cried after scoring two goals against Iceland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Nigeria was condemned to win the showdown against the debutants in Volgograd as the African nation lost their first group game 0-2 to eventual runners-up Croatia.
The hero of the match against Iceland was undoubtedly Musa, who came alive in the second half and played superbly, scoring both Nigerian goals.
His first in the 49th minute will remain in the memories after he expertly controlled Victor Moses' cross, before rifling the ball into the net to put Nigeria ahead 1-0.
Musa sealed his brace in the 79th minute after he navigated around the Icelandic defence to slot home Nigeria's second to put the game beyond the Europeans who later lost a penalty late in the game. It ended Nigeria 2-0 Iceland.
"After that game against Iceland when we went back to our hotel, I went on social media to see everyone was talking about Musa and everyone was talking about that game," Musa told Legit.ng during a live Instagram chat.
"For me, it was an unbelievable feeling. I was even crying in my room and Shehu Abdullahi was like 'why are you crying'. I told him it is not that easy to make almost everyone in your country happy.
"I really cherish that game because I also called my mum and she told me how she had to switch off her phone at some point because people kept calling to congratulate her after that game."
However, Nigeria only needed a draw in their last group game against regular foes Argentina to proceed to the round-of-16 of the competition.
Lionel Messi had put the South Americans ahead in the first half, but Victor Moses slotted home a penalty kick in the 51st minute and there was hope for the Eagles.
Barely three minutes to the end of the encounter, Marcus Rojo struck to pierce the hearts of the Nigerians for an early exit.
"After the game (against Argentina), I and all my team-mates stayed on the pitch for like 6-7 minutes because we couldn't believe we would have conceded that late goal," the Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia forward continued in an interview with Legit.ng.
"In Brazil, the same thing happened, they scored a dying minute goal before the end of the game like this one too. We were just looking for a draw in the game and the referee also contributed to our defeat, but that's football; we don't have to keep saying all that."
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