The setting is the second leg of the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier between the two countries, and the UJ Esuene Stadium, in the ancient city of Calabar, capital of Cross Rivers State will provide the platform for the epic soccer duel.
A lot of takings have been made by both countries, which at a point degenerated into war of words between Coach Stephen Keshi and Saintfiet of Malawi, who went further to report his Nigerian counterpart to world football governing body, FIFA.
Also players from the two camps, football administrators and supporters have been talking tough ahead of today’s decisive duel.
But the time for verbal war has ended, as players will take to the field of play to showcase their football prowess on the field of play and make victory possible for their fatherlands.
In one of such talks, Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi said that he would quit his job should the team lose to Flames of Malawi in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Calabar and Nigerians request that he leaves.
Nigeria is yet to lose to Malawi at full international level as the Eagles have claimed victories four times from previous meetings including a 1978 All Africa Games clash and the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations Cup qualifier in Blantyre and Coach Keshi believes the Eagles will extend the record on Saturday.
Keshi has said that he was ready to throw in the towel if it would make the country’s football better. He noted however that such a development would not mean the end of his career.
“If I leave, it is going to make Nigeria do better, why not. Nigeria is not the end of the world to coach or to work as there are a lot of countries out there that looking for coaches so leaving the Nigeria job is not a big deal.”
Also Nigeria and Brescia forward Nnamdi Oduamadi has boasted that the Eagles will go all out to silence the Malawians.
“We are not underrating them, I know they have been preparing for the game even playing pranks on us. Their coach has been boasting they will come to Nigeria to upset us, that’s just his wish but we are more than ready to silence them,” he said.
“We are taking the game as a cup final. They will have nothing to say by the time we hammer them big time.
“I am not disputing their potentials, I am not underrating them, but we deserve some respect. If they think they want to come to Calabar to embarrass us, we are ready to disgrace them and we will prove that on the pitch,” he said.
The outside-the-field confrontations also continued with the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) demanding that the venue of the September 7 game be moved from Calabar to another place over security concern.
The mind game has also seen FIFA demand an explanation from Nigeria over comments attributed to coach Stephen Keshi about their Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, who incidentally was appointed Nigeria technical director but never got to take up the job because of local opposition.
FAM also expressed their unhappiness with the appointment of Hamada el Moussa Nampiandraza as referee for the match.
Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, who volunteered to lead the Flames against the Super Eagles, told local media that he is not comfortable with the match being played in Calabar.
“Nigeria would like to play in Calabar because it is close to Cameroon in the south-east of Nigeria, not so easy to reach with the only connection via Lagos and Abuja but with no international flights,” he said.
“There are not so many hotels available so it will be very difficult to get there. I have one question also about security because the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office says it is a no-travel area.
“FIFA say they may have to think of shifting the match either to Abuja or to another place outside Nigeria because Calabar is obviously not the capital and it is not a big city. The accommodation is not good for such a big game.
“But I think it is also a plan by Nigeria. They try to disturb their opponents on and off the pitch. So in all the ways we must be prepared as top professionals to try to find solutions and make good plans.”
FAM’s letter to FIFA states: “There is security risk in Calabar where the match will be played, as reported by the Commonwealth Commission. The venue of the match is risky to our delegation and we would like FIFA to shift the match to Abuja or to a neutral country where our delegation will be safe.
“Calabar has been flagged as a high-risk security area and this alert cannot be taken lightly. Our Minister of Sports will be part of the travelling delegation and we do not want to take security risks by travelling to Calabar.”
FAM also protested the appointment of referee Nampiandraza, who it believes gave a “below par” performance at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
But Keshi quickly replied Saintfiet, saying the venue for the game should not be changed.
“The Malawi coach cannot tell us where to play our matches. He can say whatever he likes, that’s his own opinion and problem. We have no problem and he is not qualified enough to make that call or request.
“This is where we play our games and other countries are fine with that. Someone cannot say to Nigeria to take the game elsewhere because he feels too important. Please tell him (Saintfiet) the game will take place in Calabar, he can choose not to come, we have no problem with that,” Keshi said.
Beside the verbal war, the southern African nation has also offered their players a special bonus to beat the Super Eagles.
Nigeria hold a two-point lead going into the final group game, and need only a draw to reach the play-offs, while Malawi require an outright win.
And the Malawians have been talking tough, now Football Association of Malawi President Walter Nyamdilu Manda says everything will be done to ensure victory.
“We are making all efforts to ensure that our preparations for the game against Nigeria go on smoothly,” he said.
“We are making arrangements that will help our players to travel safely and also not be affected from any tricks that the hosting country may apply before the clash.”
In their first meeting in Blantyre, the two sides settled for a 1-1 draw, with Nigerian drawing the first blood through Reuben Gabriel, who was then playing at home with Kano Pillars, while Malawi drew level through John Banda with the last touch of the game.
To say that today’s match is a must-win one for both countries is not an overstatement, as a win for any of the two countries would guarantee the winner outright passage to the final phase of the World Cup qualifying campaign and an ouster for the loser.
A draw would be fair deal for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who will end the campaign with nine points and a ticket to the next round, but that same result cannot book the final phase passage for the Malawians, who will end the qualifiers with seven points to remain in the second place.
While Nigeria leads the Group F pack with 8 points from four matches, Malawi are second on the log with 6 points from the same number of matches. The other two countries in the group, Namibia and Kenya have four and two points respectively, which means a win for any of them will have no effect on the group’s standing.
Malawi’s only win in five matches in this campaign was away to Namibia, as the Flames have drawn all their three home games. In their home tie against Kenya, Malawi led twice at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre only for Kenya to get a last-minute reprieve when Chimango Kayira scored an own goal.
On their part, the Super Eagles have won two matches against Namibia at home and away to Kenya, while the draws were draws were recorded at home to Kenya and away to Namibia in Windhoek.
Going by their ranking in world and African football, pundits will predict a walk-over for the Nigerian team, more so as they (Super Eagles) are playing on home soil, but as it is always said, football is not mathematics, and that is why the Coach Stephen Keshi-tutored team should not expect victory on a platter of gold, but work hard to achieve it.
Looking at the list of players invited by Keshi for the match, there is no doubt Nigeria would unleash a squad that would make Calabar hellish for the Flames.
From the goal area where Vincent Enyeama, who missed the Mandela Challenge would lead Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim to the defence where Elderson Echiejile, Godfrey Oboabona and Efe Ambrose are ready to wade off opposing forays, to midfield where John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Victor Moses and Sunday Mba are in commanding form and attack that parades Emmanuel Emenike, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi and Obinna Nsofor -some of the best sharp shooters on the continent, it is clear that the Flames will be in for their worst football confrontation in history.
However, the Super Eagles should be wary of the Flames, who also have in their fold players that can weave a win against the home side.
Goalkeeper Owen Chaima who play for Big Bullets will provide cover from the rear, while Moses Chavula, Harry Nyirenda, John Langesi and George Nyirenda are capable of providing stiff resistance against any team on the continent.
In the midfield Foster Namwera of Ferroviaro de Nampula, Mozambique, Chimango Kayira, Robert N’gambi and Dave Banda, Tawonga Chimodzi who pays in Greece; while the attack has Chiukepo Msowoya, Robin Ngalande, Gabadinho Mhango and John Banda who scored in the first leg of the qualifier.
Both the Nigeria Football Federation and host Cross River State have assured that they are ready to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, as the state government says the playing pitch and the atmosphere around the match venue have been made safe for the teams to enjoy their stay and do the battle on the field.
The two countries are braced up for the battle of Calabar, as Coaches Stephen Keshi and Tom Saintfiet have called up their best to prepare for the decisive duel.
From all indications, the stage is now set and after 90 minutes of gruelling soccer battle, one country will advance to the final phase of the qualifiers where the last five will book their places to Brazil 2014 World Cup.
