• Achilles the cat, who lives in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, chooses Nigeria while predicting the result of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. Reuters
    Achilles the cat, who lives in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, chooses Nigeria while predicting the result of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. Reuters
  • Achilles the cat, who lives in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, chooses Nigeria while predicting the result of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. Reuters
    Achilles the cat, who lives in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, chooses Nigeria while predicting the result of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. Reuters
  • Achilles the cat, who lives in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, chooses Nigeria while predicting the result of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. Reuters
    Achilles the cat, who lives in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, chooses Nigeria while predicting the result of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. Reuters
  • Achilles the cat, who lives in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, chooses Nigeria while predicting the result of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. AP
    Achilles the cat, who lives in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, chooses Nigeria while predicting the result of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. AP
  • Achilles the cat, who lives in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, chooses Nigeria while predicting the result of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. AP
    Achilles the cat, who lives in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, chooses Nigeria while predicting the result of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. AP
  • Achilles the cat, who lives in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, chooses Nigeria while predicting the result of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. AP
    Achilles the cat, who lives in St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, chooses Nigeria while predicting the result of the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria. AP

What next for Achilles the cat after error with Argentina victory over Nigeria?


Ian Oxborrow
  • English
  • Arabic

If you didn't believe in the "psychic" World Cup cat Achilles before the Argentina versus Nigeria match, then you certainly have no reason to now.

He may have successfully chosen Russia to beat Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Iran to beat Morocco and Brazil to emerge victorious against Costa Rica, but the world of psychic animals predicting sporting results came crashing down as the ball connected with Marcus Rojo's right boot with just four minutes remaining of the Group D encounter.

Achilles, who is deaf as well as allegedly psychic, resides at the St Petersburg Hermitage museum, and follows a host of other animals from around the world who, it is claimed, have a sixth sense when it comes to predicting the outcome of matches.

In this instance, Achilles had two bowls of food placed in front of him with a flag of Argentina and Nigeria standing above each. He went for Nigeria, who lost 2-1 and are now out of the World Cup.

It remains to be seen whether Achilles will continue with his World Cup predictions.

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Gallery: Emotions run high during Argentina v Nigeria

  • Diego Maradona celebrates Argentina's victory over Nigeria at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Alex Morton / Getty Images
    Diego Maradona celebrates Argentina's victory over Nigeria at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Alex Morton / Getty Images
  • Nigeria's Odion Ighalo cries at the end of the group D match between Argentina and Nigeria. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo
    Nigeria's Odion Ighalo cries at the end of the group D match between Argentina and Nigeria. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo
  • Argentina's fans celebrate after the match in a subway car. Anton Vaganov / Reuters
    Argentina's fans celebrate after the match in a subway car. Anton Vaganov / Reuters
  • Nigeria players react at the end of the group D match between Argentina and Nigeria. Michael Sohn / AP photo
    Nigeria players react at the end of the group D match between Argentina and Nigeria. Michael Sohn / AP photo
  • DiegoMaradona shows his support to Argentina prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina. Julian Finney / Getty Images
    DiegoMaradona shows his support to Argentina prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina. Julian Finney / Getty Images
  • Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina. Alex Livesey / Getty Images
    Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina. Alex Livesey / Getty Images
  • Fans react at an Argentinian restaurant during the match. Paulo Whitaker / Reuters
    Fans react at an Argentinian restaurant during the match. Paulo Whitaker / Reuters
  • A Nigerian supporter cries in Lagos on June 26, 2018, as he watches the Russia 2018 World Cup football match between Nigeria and Argentina. Segun Ogunfeyitimi / AFP
    A Nigerian supporter cries in Lagos on June 26, 2018, as he watches the Russia 2018 World Cup football match between Nigeria and Argentina. Segun Ogunfeyitimi / AFP
  • Argentina's fans react as they watch a broadcast of the World Cup Group D Argentina vs Nigeria match, at a public viewing area at a square in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Martin Acosta / Reuters
    Argentina's fans react as they watch a broadcast of the World Cup Group D Argentina vs Nigeria match, at a public viewing area at a square in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Martin Acosta / Reuters
  • An Argentina fan reacts as he watches a broadcast of the World Cup Group D Argentina vs Nigeria match, at a public viewing area at a square in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 26, 2018. Martin Acosta / Reuters
    An Argentina fan reacts as he watches a broadcast of the World Cup Group D Argentina vs Nigeria match, at a public viewing area at a square in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 26, 2018. Martin Acosta / Reuters
  • Marcos Rojo of Argentina celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi after scoring his team's second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina. Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
    Marcos Rojo of Argentina celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi after scoring his team's second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina. Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
  • Fans of Argentina celebrate as they watch the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 match between Argentina and Nigeria on a giant screen at San Martin square in Buenos Aires. AFP
    Fans of Argentina celebrate as they watch the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 match between Argentina and Nigeria on a giant screen at San Martin square in Buenos Aires. AFP
  • Fans of Argentina watch the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 match between Argentina and Nigeria on a giant screen at San Martin square in Buenos Aires. AFP
    Fans of Argentina watch the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 match between Argentina and Nigeria on a giant screen at San Martin square in Buenos Aires. AFP
  • Diego Maradona during the match. Henry Romero / Reuters
    Diego Maradona during the match. Henry Romero / Reuters
  • Diego Maradona reacts in the stands. Sergio Perez / Reuters
    Diego Maradona reacts in the stands. Sergio Perez / Reuters
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi embraces with teammate Javier Mascherano after their 2-1 win over Nigeria during a group D match. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo
    Argentina's Lionel Messi embraces with teammate Javier Mascherano after their 2-1 win over Nigeria during a group D match. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo
  • Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain cries after the group D against Nigeria. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo
    Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain cries after the group D against Nigeria. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo
  • Argentina's Marcos Rojo celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates. Henry Romero / Reuters
    Argentina's Marcos Rojo celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates. Henry Romero / Reuters

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Read more:

Achilles the cat ready to make his World Cup 2018 predictions as he looks to be the new Paul the octopus

Lionel Messi's birthday party - in a Russian village field

'I am fine': Diego Maradona reassures fans after health scare in Argentina World Cup thriller