I remember the first time we qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals. I mean, the FIFA World Cup finals, as different from age-grade World Cup championships. Way back in 1983, the U-20 team, known as Flying Eagles, became the first Nigerian team to participate in a FIFA finals, when it played in Mexico. But the senior event eluded us.
I still remember that day in 1977, when we needed only a draw against Tunisia at the National Stadium, Lagos, only to lose by an own goal powered in by defender Godwin Odiye. Heartbreaking!
Four years later, it was not much different. After overcoming Tunisia, Tanzania and Guinea, the Green Eagles reached the final round and were matched with Algeria. Something happened and the authorities, for reasons best known to them, brought back a couple of players who had voluntarily retired 18 months earlier following triumph in the African Cup of Nations in 1980. The bottom fell from the campaign and we lost home and away.
Again, four years later (1985), it was Tunisia. We won by a lone goal in Lagos and all hope was high that we could sneak past the Carthage Eagles this time. There were high expectations as the team flew to Tunis. But alas, things fell apart. The other Eagles ran riot from the first blast of the whistle, ran rings round our boys (who notheless gave their best), and scored two goals within the first 30 minutes. The match was over.
The brightest chance we ever had came in 1989. On August 12, 1989, petite midfield ace Sam Okwaraji slumped and died during the penultimate Italia 1990 World Cup qualifier against Angola. We won the match and three points but we lost a gem and the result counted for little.
However, the win meant we were in good stead for qualification for the World Cup and the mourning group vowed to win the ticket for late Okwaraji. It was not to be. We lost 0-1 in Yaounde and once again, only saw the ticket from afar.
This brings us to October 8, 1993 when the Super Eagles fought like Trojans, dug their feet into the ground and enabled a 1-1 draw with Algeria in Algiers – which was what we needed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time.
We have been there at the FIFA World Cup finals three more times since then (1998, 2002 and 2010) and tomorrow begins another journey to get to football’s highest table.
Fittingly, the man who led the Trojans that glorious day in Algiers in 1993, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi will be in charge and will issue instructions from the sidelines to his charges at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar as Mr. Clemens Westerhorf did at the July 5 Stadium that day. The only difference is that this is just the beginning of the qualification race.
Keshi himself has called on ball fans and Nigerians in general to support the team with prayers and for those in Calabar and environs to troop out to the U. J. Esuene Stadium on Sunday to cheer the Super Eagles to victory.
On our part as a Federation, we call on all Nigerians, from the high and low places, to support the team with prayer, while those within the environs of Calabar and within Calabar itself should please turn out en-masse at the U. J. Esuene Stadium.
This is also an opportunity to call on those coming to the Stadium to turn out in white and green attires in order for appropriate aesthetics at the stadium, and to underscore our pride in the colours of the National Flag.
Surely, there are so many things to hope for. We want the three points and the NFF is confident that the Super Eagles can deliver tomorrow. The team has been training hard since coming back from Peru and wishes to banish the memories of defeats to Egypt and Peru. The only way to do that is by winning well against the Namibians.
Up Eagles! Up Nigeria!!
Not ‘Coach’ Maigari…
I was somewhat amazed at reports during the week that one Aminu Maigari, who is the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, was now pretending to be a Coach, by interfering with the work of Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi.
A statement was issued from the NFF Media Office on Wednesday to debunk this, but it is important that I reiterate that at no time did my person or any person within the Executive Committee or Management of NFF decided to interfere with or put any undue pressure on Mr. Keshi.
Persons in their individual capacities might have made observations at informal level one way or the other, but it is important to state here that the NFF as a corporate body or my person or any other person as individuals would benefit nothing from putting Coach Keshi and his team under pressure. Our responsibility is to provide the conducive environment and the incentives for the team to succeed in the task of winning the 2013 African Nations Cup and 2014 FIFA World Cup tickets.
In November last year, the NFF signed a contract with Mr. Keshi and we respect that contract and will give him the freedom to do his work the best way he believes to do it. The NFF is to provide support services and keep impressing it on him that Nigerians want their team back to the top.
The NFF and Mr. Keshi started the re-building programme together and we have been together on this project. No one is putting him under any pressure. The only pressure will come from Nigerians from all walks of life who want to see their team back at the top in quick time.
Since starting his work in November last year, Keshi has had the free hand to invite players he wanted for matches and pick his team for those matches. No one is interfering, and no one will interfere with his assignment.
Nsekera breaks the ice…
Alongside the 1st Vice President of NFF, Chief Mike Umeh, I was in Budapest, capital of Hungary to attend this year’s FIFA Congress which took place 24th-25th May.
It was, as usual, a stimulating experience and this year’s Congress was particularly thrilling for the endorsement of the first woman to sit on the FIFA Executive Committee and the admittance of South Sudan as the 209th Member.
Nsekera, who had been President of Burundi Football Federation since 2004, was elevated in a proposal brought by the FIFA Executive Committee for her adoption. The calm and humble woman is also a member of the International Olympic Committee and member of FIFA’s Strategic Committee on Good Governance.
I am happy also for South Sudan (which capital is Juba) for the fortune it has had to be admitted into FIFA with less than a year as member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). A new proposal made that possible.
Congrats to Lydia Nsekera and South Sudan.
Come One, Come All, In Green And White…
A special appeal to all Nigerians who will at the U. J. Esuene Stadium on Sunday to come to the venue wearing white and green T-shirts or attires as the case may be.
It is a culture in so many other countries and it would be useful if our people can start to imbibe this from Sunday’s match.
Here is wishing the Super Eagles victory tomorrow.
NEXT WEEK: Battle of Blantyre
