{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Mathematical 7","provider_url":"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7","title":"Nigerian football - what next! - Mathematical 7","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"CuZytpMzPH\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/nigerian-football-what-next\/\">Nigerian football &#8211; what next!<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/nigerian-football-what-next\/embed\/#?secret=CuZytpMzPH\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Nigerian football &#8211; what next!&#8221; &#8212; Mathematical 7\" data-secret=\"CuZytpMzPH\" 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\/2023\/04\/Super_Eagles_In_Limbo_865.jpg","thumbnail_width":865,"thumbnail_height":487,"description":"This is the world of sports.  Nigeria was once described as the \u2018Giant of Africa\u2019. The country was ranked 5th on the FIFA table, and the Super Eagles were hailed as the most entertaining national team during the 1994 World Cup.   European and South American countries that previously insisted African football was of a low standard, and would not agree to play friendly matches with National teams from Africa, started to accept matches with Nigeria and a few other African countries.   Even \u2018colonial master\u2019, England, came down from their high horse and eagerly hosted the Super Eagles on the hallowed ground of Wembley Stadium, in 1995. For the records, I negotiated with England and made that match possible from my position on the board of the NFA under late Air-commodore Emeka Omeruah.   In those years, African football gained respect and recognition, and Nigeria was a major catalyst and contributor to that development with the junior national teams at Under-16\/17 and Under-20 levels taking the world of football by storm.   The Nigerian style of football was different. It was a combination of its British roots, the Brazilian influence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the impact of exposure of some key players from Nigeria to wider European football of the early 1990s, and the infusion of a home-grown culture of exuberant showmanship, individual free expressiveness, uni-directional, all-out attacking style of football characterized by racing down the flanks with speed and power and sending telescopic crosses to waiting strikers. Added to these, was an uncommon fighting spirit driven by the lure of new opportunities, of Dollars, of patriotism, and other economic \u2018carrots\u2019 in football.   Nigerian football was very different, very colourful, very attractive, and very beautiful to watch. Even the great Brazilian legend, Pele, as well as England\u2019s first Manager, Walter Winterbottom, were caught in the web of great expectations. They predicted that an African country (particularly Nigeria) would win the World Cup before the turn of the last Century."}