CHAN: Will Home-based Eagles break the jinx?

Since the inception of the championship which the Confederation of African Football introduced in 2009 for players who are based in their countries, the Home-based Eagles have not made any appearance at the finals. Twice they tried to qualify but twice they failed.It will be recalled that the inaugural edition of the developmental championship was […]

Since the inception of the championship which the Confederation of African Football introduced in 2009 for players who are based in their countries, the Home-based Eagles have not made any appearance at the finals. Twice they tried to qualify but twice they failed.
It will be recalled that the inaugural edition of the developmental championship was staged in Cote d’Ivoire and was won by the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Black Stars of Ghana stopped the Eagles from qualifying.
Sudan hosted the second edition which was won by Tunisia and Nigeria was not in attendance having been eliminated by the Republic of Niger. Eagles were defeated 1-0 in Niamey and could only manage a draw in the return leg in Kano.
Consequently, the failure of the Home-based Eagles to appear in this championship is gradually becoming a jinx that has cast a huge shadow of doubt on the strength of the domestic league.
However, for close followers of the re-building process embarked upon by the current handler of the Eagles, Coach Stephen Keshi, the team is better prepared now than ever before to pick a ticket to feature at the next edition of the championship in South Africa.
The team that will file out today for Nigeria is filled to the brim with quality which is high enough to inspire confidence in the hearts of Nigerian football fans. One thing that is going for the present squad is that the players have been together for a long time and most of them have seen competitive action at the top level along with the foreign based stars.
It is worthy to note that the team is made up of Sunday Mba, Godfrey Obaobana, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Chigozie Agbim, Solomon Kwambe,  Benjamin Francis, Emeka Eze and forward, Muhammad Gambo who were part of the Eagles team that represented the continent of Africa at the just concluded FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.
 Heartland’s goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, Kunle Odunlami, Obinna Nwachukwu and Gomo Onduku, who were part of the team’s training camp in Germany ahead of the international friendly with Mexico in Texas, USA as well as Chibuzor Okonkwo, Bassey Ezekiel, Eteboh Oghene , Ayo Saka, Dele Olorundare, and  Olufemi Oladapo are among the players in the present squad.
A look at some of the names certainly evokes confidence that if they will put their acts together this evening, the team would start the qualifiers for the 2014 edition of CHAN on a winning note. Most of the players are adequately exposed and should be able to perform optimally, if fielded.
For instance, a member of the squad, Sunday Mba is the hitherto unknown lad who scored the winning goal that eliminated Cote’d’Ivoire from the 2013 AFCON in South Africa. He would go on to score the golden goal in the final match against the Stallions of Burkina Faso to hand the Super Eagles their third AFCON title. Sunshine Stars’ Godfrey Oboabana who combined effectively with Kenneth Omeruo to frustrate and keep Ivorian’s talisman Didier Drogba at bay in the 2013 AFCON semi-final clash is also in the present squad.
Although Agbim, Egwuekwe, did not see action at the 2013 Nations Cup, they were part of the victorious squad. They were also part of the 2013 Confederations Cup squad. And having been part of several training camps and friendly matches played by the senior national team, players like Solomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis, Emeka Eze, Muhammad Gambo and Chibuzor Okonkwo cannot be said to be new to action at the top flight.
Even as Dele Olorundare, the leading goal scorer in the Glo Premier League is coming to the Super Eagles camp for the first time, he boasts of international exposure having been part of Sunshine Stars continental campaigns.
On paper the Eagles look good enough to run away with victory in today’s encounter. Already the Nigeria Football, NFF, has said it is doing everything possible to make the Eagles fly over the Elephants.
General Secretary of the NFF, Barrister Musa Amadu is therefore confident the class of 2013 Home-based Eagles will triumph. “We failed to qualify for the inaugural edition hosted by Cote d’Ivoire after failing to beat Ghana in Calabar, and in the qualifying series for the second championship staged in Sudan, we lost to Niger Republic in Niamey and could only draw with them in Kano.
“In both instance, our players lacked requisite exposure. Now, I can tell you that the situation is much different. Eight of the home boys were in Coach Stephen Keshi’s team to the FIFA Confederations Cup, five of them were in the team that triumphed at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa and 14 of them were at the training camp in Germany preparatory to the FIFA Confederations Cup and the World Cup qualifiers that preceded it.
“So, if you compare the various teams, the present class is stronger and Nigeria would be third time lucky. We have the team to conquer Cote d’Ivoire and reach the finals being staged in South Africa early next year.”
Coach Stephen Keshi is also optimistic that although the team did not have enough time to prepare, it will certainly do Nigerians proud.  While the match offers Keshi the opportunity to re-launch another unbeaten streak, it is a chance for the Home-based Eagles to further justify Keshi’s confidence in them as they seek to shoot past the Ivorians and get Nigeria into the CHAN for the first time. Team captain, Chigozie Agbim has said the time to break the jinx is now. “It’s nice to be back and I’m sure we are ready for the task of qualifying Nigeria for the first time for the tournament.