WORLD CUP 2014: Brazilians backing Nigeria to beat Argentina – Ambassador

Super Eagles of Nigeria, last week, got a morale boost to excel in the Brazil 2014 World Cup when the country’s ambassa­dor to Brazil, Mallam Adamu Emozozo, revealed that Bra­zilians are drumming support for the Nigerians to beat their arch rival, Argentina, to lead the Group F in the preliminary round of the tournament billed for June.
Mallam Adamu who was at  the Nigeria Football Supporters Club’s meeting with the Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo, had told him (the minister) and the Supporters Club that Brazilians were eagerly awaiting Nigeria’s arrival because they believe that they share a a lot in common with the African giant.
According to the President General of the Supporters Club, Dr Rafiu Ladipo, who made this known to Daily Sunsports in a telephone chat, Super Eagles’ chances of getting maximum support from the Brazilian fans stemmed from the fact that they considered Nigeria as the stron­gest force in the group despite the country’s ranking by FIFA.
“The Nigeria Football Sup­porters Club had a session with the sports minister last week where we made pleas of as­sistance to enable us raise the N750m we need to take our members to Brazil to cheer the national team and I must tell you that it was a fruitful one.
In addition, we got great a assurances from the Nigerian ambassador to Brazil who told us how eager the host are looking forward to Nigeria’s arrival for the World Cup.”
“In fact, he told us and the minister how much he had interacted with the host and how they are prepared to join us in supporting the Super Eagles all the way. Our group game against Argentina, according to him, will see the Brazilians turn out in large numbers to back us. He also noted that the only time Nigeria would not get their sup­port would be if the Super Eagles played against them probably in the final.”
Ladipo recalled that in 1996 when the Olympic team cap­tained by Kanu Nwankwo played against Argentina in the final, the Brazilians turned their back against the Argentines and gave their total support to the Dream Team that eventually won gold.
“I recall how the Brazilians joined us to cheer the Dream Team back in Atlanta’96 against Argentina. That is exactly what they are going to do again in June, given the assurances we’ve gotten from our ambassador to Brazil.”
Ladipo, while thanking President Goodluck Jonathan for setting the ball rolling in their quest to raise funds with a dona­tion of N50m, called on captains of industry and chief executives of multinational firms to assist the club in their drive to raise the needed funds to be in Brazil.