The 2002 world cup competition, also called the Korean /japan 2002 kicked off with a match between the defending champions, France and the Senegalese national team from Africa. Nobody had given the Senegalese any chance against the star studded defending champions but the 1-0 score line in favors of Senegal showed that African football can no longer be taken for granted This shocking defeat of France had raised Africans hopes of going beyond the first round of the tournament so when the super Eagles of Nigeria filed out against Argentina on the morning of Sunday, June the second 2002, many Nigerians football enthusiast delayed attending the church services to watch the match live on television. As expected the super eagles put up strong resistance to the Argentina challenge and the day would not have ended on a somber note for Nigerians if the momentum had been sustained throughout the match. The hope of going beyond the first round, though precarious was very much alive as the eagle were expected to defeat their next opponents, Sweden and England. But some shortcomings in the Nigerian national team needed to be rectified to brighten their chances against their next opponents. First the defense needed to be strengthened to prevent the opponents from inaccessibly terrorizing the goalkeeper. Then the strikers also needed to overwhelm their next opponents in the opening rounds. Lastly, rather than gamble with unfit players a more creative use of the reserve would be necessary to smooth the way to the next round If world cup debutant Senegal could nurse the hope of praying in the next challenge then the eagles should soar instead of being intimated by big names for no team is invincible.
