{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Mathematical 7","provider_url":"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7","title":"Nigeria versus Swaziland - matters arising! - Mathematical 7","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"sSERs7ucDR\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/nigeria-versus-swaziland-matters-arising\/\">Nigeria versus Swaziland &#8211; matters arising!<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/nigeria-versus-swaziland-matters-arising\/embed\/#?secret=sSERs7ucDR\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Nigeria versus Swaziland &#8211; matters arising!&#8221; &#8212; Mathematical 7\" data-secret=\"sSERs7ucDR\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/nig_swaziland.jpg","thumbnail_width":270,"thumbnail_height":187,"description":"It was an unbelievable sight. Early this week, the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, erupted in an orgy of celebration immediately after the second-leg match between Nigeria and Swaziland. Nigeria won 2-0. The picture remains etched on my mind \u2013 at the head of a sea of spectators that rushed onto the pitch to hug and kiss their gallant heroes was a usually cool and taciturn Sunday Oliseh, jumping and pumping hands in an ecstasy of joyous celebration that spoke volumes about the present state of Nigerian football.   Until the first leg match in Lobamba, Swaziland, both countries had never met at any level of football, and the reason is simple - the southern African country has never really \u2018existed\u2019 as a football power. They have been so \u2018small\u2019 even in their southern African region of the continent in terms of football that to emerge from the sub-region and play against a team like the Super Eagles, one of the true giants of African football, is a very long shot indeed. In a sense, therefore, I agree completely with Sunday Oliseh that there are no more minnows in African football. Now, back to the match. The spontaneous ecstatic celebrations immediately after the match were more out of relief of surviving an ordinary but hardworking Swazi team determined to create a little bit of their own history by defeating the great Super Eagles on the hallowed ground of Port Harcourt than the nature of the victory itself. A few years ago Nigerians would have taken such a match as the appetizer before breakfast, an opportunity for Nigerian strikers to amass goals and add to their statistics. Instead, it became a heart-wrenching match that left Nigerians on the edge of their seats until it was settled in the dying minutes of the match with a second goal and a sending-off that reduced the Swazis to 10 men.   Haba, is it that bad for Nigerian football?  How did the country arrive at this low point in its football?  What is really happening to the game in the country?  What must be done to stem the present tide of things?"}