VOLGOGRAD: Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa became ‘Lionel Musa’ on social media in Argentina on Friday after his two goals against Iceland which not only put the Africans back on course for a last 16 place, but also restored the World Cup hopes of the South Americans.

However, the Nigerian has warned his new-found hero status in Argentina is likely to end abruptly on Tuesday when the two countries meet in a decisive Group ‘D’ tie in St Petersburg.

“Whenever I play against Argentina, or whenever [Lionel] Messi is playing against me, I score. Four years ago, in Brazil when Messi was playing against me, I scored two goals,” said Musa, referring to the 3-2 win for Argentina over Nigeria in a group game in Porto Alegre where Messi also netted twice.

“When I transferred to Leicester City and we played against Barcelona and Messi was in the pitch too, I scored another two goals, so I think in the next game anything can happen. Possibly, I’m going to score another two goals.”

The 25-year-old’s brace for Leicester came in a pre-season friendly in Stockholm shortly after he had signed for the then English champions from CSKA Moscow in 2016.

Musa is now the first Nigerian to score at different World Cups and with four goals the country’s all-time record scorer in the finals.

“I’m very good at breaking records and I’m happy now to be the top scorer at the World Cup for Nigeria. It’s not easy but I have to thank my coach for his support because if he didn’t believe in me he wouldn’t put me in the pitch.”

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2018