Argentina is one of the major countries I can say Nigeria have faced many times at different team squad talking of under20, under23 and the Super Eagle. The last 3 world cup (2010, 2014, 2018) have this two countries in the same group. Other competitions where we they have faced each other include under20 world cup final in 2005 and Olympic final 2008.

In all of the cases one thing is come which is the subject of this post but before tendering the reason I think is responsible, I will like to analysis few of these past games.

In 2005 under20 world cup final, the Nigeria player there were Vanzekin, Taye Taiwo, Mikel, Dele Adeleye, Sani Kaita and prominent Argentina players then were Lautaro, Juan, Paletta. Zabaleta, Gago and Messi.

Argentina take the lead in the match via penalty that was duly converted by Messi after he was brought down my Dele Abeleye but the flying eagle then equalized through a flying header from Ogbuke to a cross from Olubayo but Argentina was again awarded a penalty when Aguero was fouled and Messi didn’t waste time in converting it to goal and the match thus ended 2:1.

In 2008 again, these two countries met again and there were a lot that happen in the match and part of was the re-hydration break in the first half due to the weather. The match was tilting towards ending as goalless draw beforeAngel Di Maria show himself as Argentina angel by converting Messi pass to a goal. This match also ended by A goal margin.

Di Maria tipping the ball over Vansekin

Two years later, that is 2010, the two countries met again at group stage of world cup and the early goal which Heinze headed home for Argentina at 6 minute was the only goal recorded in the match which still makes them defeat us by a lone goal.

One of Messi free kick which was denied

As if that wasn’t enough, these countries still met at 2014 world cup again but this time it was more tense because Nigeria were returning goal once Argentina but were unable to return the 3rd goal and match ended 3:2, making Argentina to still won by a goal margin.

Messi jubilation after his goal

The just concluded world cup was not left out too, Nigerians were already expecting a draw too before Rojo who give Argentina a win 2014 do the same at 86 minutes and the one goal margin still stand.

Jubilation after Rojo rescuing goal

All of these events make me think of why is that Argentina always defeat Nigeria and it is always by a goal margin. The answer I got was funny though and this is it;

Argentina is 9 letters word and contains letter A occurring twice, letter R occurring once, letter G occurring once, letter E occurring once, letter N occurring twice, letter T occurring once, letter I occurring once

Nigeria on the other is 7 letters word and contains letter N occurring once, letter I occurring twice, letter G occurring once, letter E occurring once, letter R occurring once and letter A occurring once.

If we look at the letters of both countries, we see that they both contain A, E, G, I, N, R in common, but Argentina have two letters occurring twice which are A and N which Nigeria has just a single letter occurring twice which is I.

So it is the difference in the number of letter occurring twice (2 minus 1 = 1) that I found as the reason for the one goal margin defeat.

Thanks for reading.