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LAGOS (Reuters) -- Nigerians remained confident on Sunday that the Super Eagles would qualify for the second round of the World Cup despite losing 1-0 to Argentina in their opening group F match. "I am not disappointed by the defeat because our boys gave a good account of themselves against Argentina," said Okechukwu Iheanacho, a Lagos street trader. "I am confident we will still qualify for the knockout stages by beating Sweden and England. Our boys are capable of doing that," he added. "It was a respectable result," another Nigerian fan, Albert Taiwo, said. "Most people thought Argentina would humiliate Nigeria but we held our own against the favourites. Certainly the next matches will be different." Nigeria were the first of the African teams to lose at the finals in South Korea and Japan. Debutants Senegal upset defending champions France 1-0 in their opening match while Cameroon and South Africa drew with Ireland and Paraguay respectively. "The England v Sweden 1-1 draw is good for Nigeria," former football administrator Tony Nnachetta said. "It means there is no outright second-placed team in the group because only one point separates Nigeria from the two teams." He forecast that if Nigeria beat Sweden on Friday they will qualify ahead of England. "A win against Sweden will place Nigeria second because I don't see England getting even a draw against Argentina." "I am not scared of England. Nigeria will beat them in the last group match and move ahead," he said.
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