Argentina and France Begin Campaigns in Style
Anietie Udobit, Abuja
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already produced moments of brilliance, with football icons Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé dominating global headlines.
Argentina opened their campaign with an emphatic victory over Algeria, powered by a remarkable hat-trick from Messi that reaffirmed his enduring status as one of football’s greatest players.
France also made a powerful statement, defeating Senegal behind a record-breaking performance from Mbappé, who further strengthened his place among the country’s football legends.
For African audiences, Ivory Coast’s victory over Ecuador provided a significant source of pride, delivering the continent’s first win of the tournament.
Yet Nigerian fans continue to watch with mixed emotions after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the competition.
The absence of Africa’s most populous nation remains one of the major talking points of the tournament, reinforcing calls for reforms aimed at rebuilding Nigerian football ahead of future competitions.
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