Five things we learned from last week’s international friendlies

Nigeria fans show their colours

Nigeria’s staggering backing at Wembley epitomised the progress for African football in recent years.

African fans have often been a distinctive addition to world football – adding to the spice that is the World Cup.

South Africa’s tournament in 2010 typified that, although the sound of the Vuvuzela grated…

It must have felt like a home game at times for the Super Eagles, whose colourful, fervent supporters made it an occasion to remember in the English capital.

Often drowning out the noticeable trumpet from the England end, the thousands of Nigeria fans ensured they were heard.

Nigeria put out an excellent performance in the second period, too, so they can take optimism ahead of their clash with Croatia. Alex Iwobi’s second half strike in a 2-1 defeat gave them brief hope, however it ultimately wasn’t enough to extinguish the deficit.

Plenty of singing, a typical African-flavoured dancing and a sweet amalgam of green-black in the terraces illuminated Wembley, and it was something unique the English stadium hadn’t seen in some time.

2011 was the last time the national stadium welcomed an African country, when Ghana visited for a 1-1 stalemate.

If Nigeria have that sort of fan-base in Russia, the Super Eagles needn’t worry about what goes on in the stands.

And in a difficult group, coined by some as the ‘group of death’ of the tournament, Nigeria will need to emulate their supporters’ glamour on the pitch.

The Super Eagles face Croatia in their opener, before taking on Iceland and Argentina to finish off their tough Group D campaign.