Purpose:
The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of pre-event massage on anxiety among Nigeria national team football players during the World Cup matches. As secondary outcomes, the effects of massage on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were analysed.

Methods:
Overall, 17 World Cup players had massage both less and more than 24 hours prior to matches. Holey and Cook massage protocol was used. The Mental Readiness Form version 3 (MRF-3) was applied to assess anxiety level while an electronic BP monitoring kit served to monitor BP and HR before and after massage. Inferential statistic of paired t-test was carried out for the effect of massage on BP and HR.

Results:
The result of the study showed a significant difference in anxiety after massage with p < 0.05 at periods less and more than 24 hours before the matches. There was also a significant difference between the pre- and post-massage BP and HR at a period less and more than 24 hours before the matches (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:
Pre-event massage before World Cup matches reduced anxiety among Nigeria national team football players.