Eagles battle Elephants in grudge match

The two countries have a long history of football rivalry so anytime they meet at any level, it is usually intriguing. Consequently, tomorrow’s match has generated so much interest in different quarters with most pundits tagging it the grudge match of 2013 AFCON.For Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, there is so much to play for as […]

The two countries have a long history of football rivalry so anytime they meet at any level, it is usually intriguing. Consequently, tomorrow’s match has generated so much interest in different quarters with most pundits tagging it the grudge match of 2013 AFCON.
For Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, there is so much to play for as they have scores to settle with each other. Therefore, when the two teams take to the battle ground in Rustenburg tomorrow, two historical incidents will set the tone for the do- or die battle.
On the way to winning their second AFCON title in 1994 in Tunisia, the Super Eagles inflicted a deep wound on the Elephants who came to the tournament as defending champions. The star-studded Eagles of 1994 came from behind twice to send the Ivoriens packing from the championship at the semi-finals stage.
It was a highly explosive game which was indeed the final before the finals. Michel Bassole put the Ivoriens in front twice but Eagles’ Ben Iroha and gangling Rashidi Yekini of blessed memory cancelled out the goals to take the match to extra time.
The extra time of the match failed to provide a winner and the resultant penalty shoot-out was nerve wrecking. But it was at that stage that the Eagles’ calmness gave them victory over the Elephants. Apart from Samson Siasia who missed his kick, Findi George, Daniel Amokachie, Ben Iroha and Rashidi Yekini who emerged the highest goal scorer of the tournament converted their kicks to take Nigeria to the finals. Elephants two goals hero Michel Bassole and Amani could not convert their kicks. Eagles won 6-4. For the Ivoriens, it was indeed a bitter pill to swallow.
But in 2006 in Egypt, it was the turn of the Ivoriens to take their pound of flesh from the Super Eagles. At the same stage of the AFCON, the Elephants inspired by Didier Drogba kicked Eagles out of the championship but controversially. What happened on the night still lingers in the minds of Nigerian football fans who felt cheated by the Drogba goal. How it happened? A long pass by Koffio Ndri inside his own half of the field beat Nigeria’s Enakarhile and Drogba who had been threatening the Eagles defence collected and scored the back breaking goal.
Although the Ivorien completely outplayed the Eagles in all departments of the game, the talking point after the semi-final match was the goal which the Nigerian team claimed was scored from an offside position. The Coach of the team, Austin Eguavoen said “He was at least seven meters offside before he scored…yet the referee gave the goal”.
It is against this background that when the two countries meet tomorrow, there will be some moments to savour.  However, one thing that football fans across the world will certainly miss will be the fireworks. It will not be as exhilarating as it was back in 1994 when both sides paraded formidable teams.
But this is not to say it is going to be a completely drab encounter because hungry Elephants are desperate for their second title since 1992 and unconvincing Super Eagles would like to silence those who had written them off.
Even before Eagles qualified for the quarterfinals, there were reports of mounting tension in their camp. The moment the Eagles failed to beat Zambia on the night Burkina Faso crushed Ethiopia 4-0, it was evident that Cote d’Ivoire will be Nigeria’s opponent in the quarters. And that started the talk about the end of the road for the Eagles.
Consequently, football pundits have tipped the Elephants to crush the Eagles. Even incurable supporters of the Eagles are speaking with their cheeks in their tongues because they are not sure of what will happen tomorrow against a star studded Ivory Coast.
 Going by the strength of the Ivoriens, those who have written off the Eagles have a point. The Elephants will be coming to the party with Didier Drogba, reigning African footballer of the year Yaya Toure, Salomon kalou, Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure, Didier Zokora, Arthur Boka, Siaka Tiene, Cheick Tiote, Arouna Kone, Gervinho and Abdul Rasak. These are the names that have made Cote d’Ivoire the team to beat.
On the other hand, their opponents, the Super Eagles have so far been unconvincing. While the Elephants were the first to qualify for the quarterfinals, the Eagles endured another round of permutations to qualify.
Talking about quality, the Eagles cannot stand up to the Ivoriens. Apart from John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses from Chelsea, Emmanuel Emenike, Moscow Spartak, Ahmed Musa, CSKA Moscow, and struggling captain, Joseph Yobo from Fenerbahche, the Eagles are without the needed names to intimidate any opponent.
However, the Eagles have a history of rising up to the occasion when they are not given a chance. Against the Elephants, the fumbling and wobbling Eagles might find their rhythm and cause the Ivoriens unexpected problems.
Interestingly, the Eagles have embarked on self motivation which is key to success at this crucial stage of the competition. The moment Eagles beat Ethiopia to pick the quarterfinal ticket, coach Keshi in his post match conference said the Ivoriens are not a threat to his team. His source of confidence may be hard to find but he believes his team stands a chance against the Elephants.
The players themselves are not lying low and have declared that they are equal to the task. Mikel and Moses are confident the Eagles can soar over the Elephants but such optimism has not changed most Nigerians football fans who feel strongly the mountain is too high for them to climb.
Former international, Jonathan Akpoborie said the Eagles need a miracle to survive against Elephants. He is not alone as a former NFF presidential aspirant, Lumumba Dah Adeh is also not sure of what will happen tomorrow. He told Daily Trust that for Eagles to beat Cote d’Ivoire, an unprecedented miracle must happen on Sunday.
“You see most people are saying the 2-2 draw the Elephants played against Algeria in their last group game is a morale booster for the Eagles but this is not correct. There is no amount of motivation or support that can make a team offer what it does not have. There is a limit to which motivation can take a team.
“It is not going to be easy for the Eagles. Although one cannot rule out the surprise element in a contest of this nature, the Elephants appear so solid that only a miracle can see the Eagles through. Let us wait till the end of the match on Sunday”, he advised.
The odds are indeed against them but Eagles have no choice but to fight the battle of their lives. They have to surmoun the resilient spirit Nigerians are known for and confront their opponents who are not ready to take chances again.
In 2012, this same squad of Ivory Coast was highly favoured to win their second trophy when they were pitched against Zambia in the finals of the 28th edition of AFCON. In the end, they lost the golden opportunity, maybe due to what many considered to be complacency. This time, they may not like to take such chances again especially against familiar and tricky foes like the Eagles.