Winning the Nations Cup is enough incentive to send the winner into ‘cloud nine’ but what is the point winning the tournament and missing out on the big stage “ The World Cup?”
Nigeria will on Saturday in Calabar host the Harambee Stars of Kenya,looking to capitalize on home advantage to take all three points, and consolidate on top spot in Group F.
History suggests that Kenya have never been an obstacle to Nigeria,as a matter of fact,Nigeria secured its last World Cup ticket for FIFA 2010 World Cup,defeating Kenya 3-2 in Nairobi.
But at the same time,history does not play football,and there is a maxim that says “beware of the underdogs,” surely they have no point to prove.
Super Eagles coach,Stephen Keshi,succinctly buttressed the point,when he said that,he is wary of the threat other African countries poses to Nigeria,by virtue of its current status “African champions,” knowing that they would definitely flex their muscles,when they come up against Super Eagles.
No doubt Nigeria is would be basking in the euphoria of winning the Nations Cup,but still dwelling on it could have an ‘ambivalent effect.’
Nigeria have four points from two games,but it wasn’t a walk in the park. Struggling hard to defeat Namibia 2-0,and not holding on to a lead against Malawi,to draw 1-1 in the last minute of the game in Blantyre,suggests that the road to Brazil is going to be tough.
Prior to this game against Kenya,so many distractions have engulfed the build-up to the match,like every other typical Nigerian game.
Definitely the coach’s choice of players was always going be scrutinized,but leaving out Joseph Yobo from the team,looked justified;after all he was not even starting in South Africa.
Keshi diplomatically said that he was not systematically retiring Yobo,and assured that the Fenerbahce defender is still in his plans. Well I believe that,but if Yobo is truthful to himself,he will know that making the team, will be by the grace of God.
Another catchy one was the omission of Ikechukwu Uche,who responded to his exclusion from the team by scoring two goals for Villareal.
But weren’t we all bewildered watching IK Uche play in South Africa? He was not the Nigerian darling,you can bank on to nick in the goals during the qualifiers,but was just a shadow of himself.
The biggest of the distractions came from the stunning revelations made by Nigeria’s top striker at the Nations Cup,Emmanuel Emenike,who without mincing words said that he was abandoned,after he copped a hamstring injury in the game against Mali.
Emenike blew the lid,when he said that not even the coach or any member of the NFF contacted him to know how he was faring.
If Emenike’s utterances weren’t startling enough,it further revealed a wide gulf that existed between the triumvirate of Coaches, Players and Officials.
Keshi admitted that he has not called Emenike,but cited that the player changed numbers,which raises the question, ‘ on what premise does he even draw his list of players from,’ from hearsays?
Further remarks,by the media officer of the Super Eagles,Ben Alaiya,has it that the technical crew were in touch through Ahmed Musa,who equally plies his trade in Russia with CSKA Moscow.
Bottom line is that,in Emenike we have a disgruntled player who felt let down by his country,despite leading the chase for the enemies at the battle ground and being left unattended to, in the wounds he sustained after helping his Nation win the war.
We should be wary not send the wrong signals to the minds of the players,in the sense that some would be playing with caution,with a hindsight to the fate that might befall them,when they take to the pitch and gets injured for Nigeria,as they could be ditched for other players.
Well that has been the trend with the Nigerian team,hope this Emenike’s incident nips it in the bud.
Another depressing thing that happened in the build-up to the game against Kenya was the lamentation by the Football Kenya Federation(FKF) that they were abandoned by the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) upon arrival in Lagos for the qualifiers; with the pictures circulating around the internet,suggesting they trained in a community primary school in Oshodi,Lagos State,without any security.
NFF in their defence said that there was a breakdown in communication,and they were not duly informed about Kenya’s itinerary.
Don’t know who is saying the truth here,what could be gathered here is that African Football Federations are not professional enough.
I appreciate that teams will do everything possible to win and qualify for a major tournament,but can you imagine that any European country would indulge in such antics about hoarding their schedules,in other to have a perceived edge over the other?
Really such backward acts does no African country any good.
Nigeria will be facing a Kenyan side that will want to prove a point,but the Super Eagles know fully well how fickle their fans could be,should they fail to defeat Kenya.
Though winning the Nations Cup is still fresh in our minds,the bigger picture is qualifying for the 2014 World Cup,and the step to getting closer to Brazil is a victory on Saturday against Kenya.
In the words of Wole Soyinka: “ The road to success is always arduous, but ultimately rewarding.”
Hopefully the Super Eagles, will do just about enough to board a plane next year to Brazil as African champions.
Do you know : That the NFF denied allegations that some senior Super Eagles players led by John Obi Mikel,planned to boycott the game against Kenya,following the non-payment of their match bonus,for defeating Burkina Faso at the finals of the Nations Cup?
“There is no smoke without fire
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