Football
Associated Press 10y

Bombings sadden Nigeria coach

PORTO ALGRE, Brazil -- Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi says he is saddened by the deadly explosion at an Abuja shopping mall shortly before his team played at the World Cup, and that his team's progression to the second round is unlikely to offer any solace to the country as it suffers terrorist attacks.

He said Wednesday, "How much of a victory is football going to give for those lives?"

Last week, a bomb struck a World Cup viewing site in Nigeria, killing 14. Wednesday's explosion was blamed on Islamic extremists but it was unclear if it was timed to coincide with the match.

"What are they doing, these guys?" Keshi said. "They did it the first game, and they now they did it again, it is sad."

Nigeria became the first African nation to reach the knockout stages in Brazil despite losing 3-2 to Argentina.

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