By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
…Lionel Messi is Highest Scorer With 6 Goals. France is Highest Scoring Team With 10 Goals.
THE GROUP stages of the 23rd FIFA men’s world cup parading for the first time 48 countries from six continents came to an end Sunday 28th June morning Nigerian time with Africa scoring 9/10 which by mathematical translation is 90% a super first-class score for a continent deemed green horns in football powers.
Of the 10 slots given Africa, only Tunisia fell out from the casualty wards of 16 ousted teams across the 12 groups in the tournament hosted by three nations, USA, Mexico and Canada.
Behold the round of 32 fixtures involving the other African teams.
1. SAF vs Can 28/06 @ 8.00pm.
2. Ned vs Mor Tue 30/06 @ 2.00am.
3. CIV vs Nor Tue 30/06 @ 6.00pm.
4. Eng vs DRC Wed 01/07 @ 5.00pm.
5. Bel vs Sen Wed 01/07 @ 9.00pm.
6. Swi vs Alg Fri 03/07 @ 4.00am.
7. Australia vs Egy Fri 03/07 @ 7.00pm.
8. Arg vs Cvd Fri 03/07 @ 11.00pm.
9. Col vs Gha Sat 04/07 @ 2:30am.
A total of 72 matches were played with 215 goals scored and a total 4,644,549 fans on the stands which is an average of 64,508 fans per match.
Multiple Ballon D’Or winner, Lionel Messi of Argentina is the highest scorer at the group stages with 6 goals. Four players scored 4 goals each namely Vinicius Jnr of Bra; Ousmane Dembele of Fra, Kylian Mbappe of Fra and Erling Haaland of Norway.
There were 12 own goals scored, three from Egypt by Moh Hany against Bel; Ayman Hussein against Nor and Damyan Bobadilla against USA meaning that Egyptian players are most jittery.
France is the highest scoring team with 10 goals, Germany 9, Netherlands 8, Canada 7 and Sweden 6.
Tunisia and Iraq are the Basket teams collecting goals ‘wotowoto’ with 12 goals conceded each, Qatar 10, New Zealand 10, debutante Curaco 9, Ubeski and Haiti 8 each.
Fourteen players were suspended for either straight red or 2 yellow cards. Out of them were Themba Zwane against Mexico and Sphephelo Sithole also against Mexico with Teb Mokoena who got yellow carded against Mexico and Czech. Rebon Sulaka hot red against Senegal while Moh Lashaen got yellow against New Zealand and Iran; there were 2 red cards each for Paraguay and Qatar.
There were exceptional moments at this tournament like the political imbroglio between USA and Iran casting doubts on Iranian participation in America and some injunctions against individuals especially their alleged involvements with terrorism acts.
There was this incident during a heated group stage match between Paraguay and Turkey when Salvadorian Ref Ivan Barton dropped his wristwatch on the pitch while trying to settle a scuffle. Paraguayan Midfielder Maria’s Galarza picked it up strapped it on his wrist and handed it back later.
The eliminated 16 teams at the group stages will take $10m each; each loser at the round of 32 will have $11m; losers at the round of 16 will have $15m each; the losers at the quarterfinal stages will get $19m each; 4th place will get $27m; 3rd place Bronze Medalist will be compensated with $29m; runners-up will be given $33m while the champions will smile to the bank with $50m.
Nigeria was eliminated in group C African qualifiers by South Africa on goals difference.
#FIFA #2026WorldCup #CAF #AFC
#EUFA #SAFA #NFF.
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