Sunday , 16 August 2026

Nigeria vs Argentina, Worldcup 2018 GROUP STAGE

FIFA World Cup · 2018
Nigeria
1 – 2
Full Time
Argentina
Tue 26 Jun 2018 · 18:00 UTC HT 45' · FT 45'
Leon Balogun 32' Y
Y 49' Javier Mascherano
Y 64' Ever Banega
John Obi Mikel 90' Y
Y 90' Lionel Messi

Overview

Match Preview

Nigeria vs Argentina — Worldcup .

Match Details

  • Referee Daniele Orsato
  • Referee Massimiliano Irrati
  • Referee Pawel Sokolnicki
  • Referee Bjorn Kuipers
  • Referee Sander van Roekel
  • Referee Cuneyt Cakιr
  • Referee Bahattin Duran
  • Referee Tarik Ongun
  • Referee Pawel Gil
4 games this season 🟨 4.3/game ⚽ 15.5 goals/game 🟥 1 total

Standings

# Team P Pts
1 Mexico 3 9
2 South Africa 3 4
3 South Korea 3 3
4 Czechia 3 1
5 Switzerland 3 7
6 Canada 3 4
7 Bosnia-Herzegovina 3 4
8 Qatar 3 1
9 Brazil 3 7
10 Morocco 3 7
11 Scotland 3 3
12 Haiti 3 0
13 United States 3 6
14 Australia 3 4
15 Paraguay 3 4
16 Turkey 3 3
17 Germany 3 6
18 Ivory Coast 3 6
19 Ecuador 3 4
20 Curaçao 3 1
21 Netherlands 3 7
22 Japan 3 5
23 Sweden 3 4
24 Tunisia 3 0
25 Belgium 3 5
26 Egypt 3 5
27 Iran 3 3
28 New Zealand 3 1
29 Spain 3 7
30 Cape Verde Islands 3 3
31 Uruguay 3 2
32 Saudi Arabia 3 2
33 France 3 9
34 Norway 3 6
35 Senegal 3 3
36 Iraq 3 0
37 Argentina 3 9
38 Austria 3 4
39 Algeria 3 4
40 Jordan 3 0
41 Colombia 3 7
42 Portugal 3 5
43 Congo DR 3 4
44 Uzbekistan 3 0
45 England 3 7
46 Croatia 3 6
47 Ghana 3 4
48 Panama 3 0

Head-to-Head

1
Nigeria 1 games · Avg 3.0 goals Argentina
Last 5 meetings
2018-06-26 Nigeria 1–2 Argentina

Recent Form

Nigeria
DateOpponentH/A ScoreResult
26 Jun Argentina H 1–2 L
22 Jun Iceland H 2–0 W
16 Jun Croatia A 0–2 L
21 Aug SV Drochtersen/Assel H 1–2 L
Argentina
DateOpponentH/A ScoreResult
26 Jun Nigeria A 2–1 W
21 Jun Croatia H 0–3 L
16 Jun Iceland H 1–1 D
20 Aug Karlsruher SC H 0–7 L

Key Stats

100% Both Teams to Score
H2H (1 games)
100% Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
25% Clean Sheets
Argentina this season

Goal Timing (This Season)

Argentina
0-15
1/1
16-30
3/–
31-45
2/–
46-60
1/3
61-75
–/2
76+
12/2
■ Scored ■ Conceded

Top Scorers (This Season)

Argentina
Lionel Messi 8 G 4 A
Lautaro Martinez 3 G 1 A

Events

Match Events

  • 0' Here we go! The referee blows the whistle and Nigeria launch into their encounter with Argentina.
  • 5' Nigeria are enjoying more possession but struggling to find a way through a disciplined Argentina backline.
  • 10' The teams are not in a rush to score plenty of goals. It might look strange considering Nigeria that had 4 games and scored 4 goals.
  • 14' Assisted by Ever Banega with the perfectly-timed delivery and Lionel Messi makes no mistake. 0-1!
  • 19' The Array continues to deliver drama. Both Nigeria and Argentina are desperate not to drop points on matchday .
  • 24' The 34-year-old Brian Idowu has been sensational this season — 0 goals and 0 assists is a remarkable return.
  • 29' It is a cagey affair so far. Nigeria in their trying to find a way past Argentina's compact .
  • 32' Leon Balogun picks up a Yellow card and will need to be extremely careful for the remainder of this match.
  • 37' With 0 assists to his name this season, John Obi Mikel is clearly more than just a goal scorer for Argentina.
  • 42' Argentina fans have not had much to celebrate tonight. Their side is struggling to get forward.
  • 46' Nigeria ring the changes. Kelechi Iheanacho has done his job and it is now time for Odion Ighalo to step up.
  • 49' It’s gonna be a Yellow card for Javier Mascherano.
  • 51' Victor Moses makes no mistake. The score reads 1-1 and Nigeria are in front.
  • 56' Nigeria are happy to let the opposition have the ball in their own half. The trap is set.
  • 61' The whistle greets Enzo Perez as he departs to be replaced by Cristian Pavon.
  • 64' The referee reaches into his pocket. Out comes the Yellow card for Ever Banega.
  • 69' A moment of individual brilliance could settle this. Both teams are waiting for that decisive action.
  • 72' A change in the Argentina ranks — Angel di Maria exits the field as Maximiliano Meza enters on 72.
  • 77' Nigeria seems to be on a short break. The game is mainly concentrated in the center. It’s high time they got back to action. Otherwise, it looks like a goalless game.
  • 80' Time for substitution for Argentina. Nicolas Tagliafico is replaced by Sergio Aguero.
  • 85' Cristian Pavon, a Argentina , has 0 bookings this season and will need to keep his discipline tonight.
  • 86' Marcos Rojo adds to his 0 season tally! Argentina lead 1-2 — and this changes everything.
  • 90' Controversy at the stadium! John Obi Mikel argues furiously but the Yellow card stands.
  • 90' The crowd applauds Kenneth Omeruo as he leaves the pitch. Alex Iwobi steps in for Nigeria.
  • The referee blows the final whistle. Sensational lose for Nigeria.

Lineups

Nigeria Lineups

Starting XI

Bench

Coach Gernot Rohr

Argentina Lineups

Starting XI

Bench

Coach Jorge Sampaoli

Predictions

Prediction accuracy
2 / 4
1.22 Nigeria xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
1.46 Argentina xG
I would bet for: Nigeria or Argentina 71%

Match Result

✓ Correct
Nigeria32% Draw29% Argentina39%
Actual: Argentina win

Both Teams to Score

✓ Correct
Yes55% 0% No45%
Avg goals/match: 2.68
Actual: Yes — both scored

Over / Under Goals

✗ O/U 2.5
Line Over Under
± 0.5 91%
9%
± 1.5 75%
25%
± 2.5 50%
50%
± 3.5 28%
72%
± 4.5 14%
86%

Double Chance

Nigeria or Draw
61%
Draw or Argentina
68%
Nigeria or Argentina
71%

Half-Time Result

✗ Wrong
Nigeria23% Draw47% Argentina30%
Actual: Argentina win at HT

Correct Score

✓ In top 12
1 – 1
13.1%
0 – 1
9%
0 – 0
8.8%
1 – 2
Actual
1 – 0
7.4%
2 – 1
7.2%
0 – 2
7.1%
2 – 2
5.3%
2 – 0
5%
1 – 3
4.2%
0 – 3
3.4%
3 – 1
2.9%

Asian Handicap — Nigeria

Handicap Nigeria covers Push Argentina covers
-2.5 4% — 96%
-2 4% 9% 87%
-1.5 13% — 87%
-1 13% 17% 70%
-0.5 30% — 70%
+0.5 59% — 41%
+1 59% 21% 20%
+1.5 80% — 20%
+2 80% 12% 8%
+2.5 92% — 8%

Clean Sheet

Nigeria keeps clean sheet
24% ✓
Argentina keeps clean sheet
30% ✓

Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.