Brazilian football fans adopt Nigeria as their second team ahead of World Cup

BRAZILIAN football fans in the coastal city of Porto have adopted the Super Eagles as their second World Cup team and begun asking tournament organisers to supply them with Nigerian memorabilia ahead of matches.

   On June 25, Nigeria plays its third group game against Brazil's South American rivals Argentina in Porto Alegre and local fans are backing the Super Eagles against the arch enemy. Argentina, Nigeria, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina are all drawn in Group F and local fans want to see the Super Eagles top the group at the expense of their continental rivals.  

 Nigeria and Argentina are favourites to proceed from the group and local fans believe the Super Eagles are the best equipped to cause their rivals problems. Salau Bello, an official at the Nigeria consulate in Brazil, who is the embassy liaison for the Super Eagles, said the team will not lack support  as the city of Porto Alegre will back Nigeria to the hilt.   Mr Bello added: “The people of Porto Alegre have adopted Nigeria as their second team and they have told us to bring a lot of Nigeria flags and jerseys so that they can show their support properly. Also, we have about 5,000 Nigerians in all of Brazil.   

"About 3,000 of those are in São Paulo alone and as I speak to you, about 1,000 have already been mobilized to travel to the venues to support the team. As the tournament gets closer, I am sure we will see a lot more.”   After playing Scotland in a friendly game at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground on May 28, the Super Eagles will fly to the US where they will camp until June 11.

 They will then fly to Brazil and spend five days preparing for their opening match against Iran in the city of Curitiba on June 16.   Meanwhile, Nigeria has been drawn alongside South Africa, and Sudan, as well as the winner of the two preliminary rounds between Namibia/Congo Brazzaville and Libya/Rwanda for the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers which begin in September. Nigerian Football Federation president Alhaji Aminu Maigari, who was at the draw ceremony in Egypt, said he believes nothing can hinder Nigeria from progressing from the group.