Paraguay’s disciplinary milestone in their 2026 FIFA World Cup last-16 clash against France has revived a notable historical link to Nigeria’s 1998 World Cup campaign.
Paraguay suffered a 1-0 defeat by France in Philadelphia, a match defined by its physical intensity and defensive discipline.
Despite committing a high number of fouls, the South American side finished the contest without receiving a single yellow card, their first in a World Cup match since 1998.
That earlier occurrence came during the group stage in France, when Paraguay faced Nigeria in Toulouse on 24 June 1998.
In that encounter, Paraguay defeated the Super Eagles 3-1 in Group D, a result that remains part of Nigeria’s broader World Cup memory.
Nigeria had already secured qualification for the knockout rounds before that final group match, following earlier wins over Spain and Bulgaria.
Wilson Oruma briefly levelled the contest after Celso Ayala’s early opener, but goals from Miguel Ángel Benítez and José Cardozo secured victory for Paraguay.
Despite the defeat, Nigeria still finished top of the group, ahead of Spain and Paraguay, and progressed to face Denmark in the round of 16.
The Super Eagles’ campaign is still widely regarded as one of their strongest World Cup performances, combining attacking flair with group-stage dominance.
Nearly three decades on, the statistical link between the two matches has resurfaced, with Paraguay’s latest disciplinary record against France drawing an unexpected line back to their 1998 meeting with Nigeria.
Wale Adejumo
Photo Credit: apf.org.py
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