Extraordinary valour and gallantry

I must, first and foremost, express heartfelt appreciation to all members of the NFF delegation to the championship, for the wonderful surprise they gave me on my birthday (day of the match versus Argentina) as we flew to Porto Alegre. For me, the match against the Argentines (which would determine our progress in the competition) […]

I must, first and foremost, express heartfelt appreciation to all members of the NFF delegation to the championship, for the wonderful surprise they gave me on my birthday (day of the match versus Argentina) as we flew to Porto Alegre.
For me, the match against the Argentines (which would determine our progress in the competition) was much more important than the personal occasion of a birthday, but the good people marked it for me in a significant way before the Super Eagles also marked it on the field of play.
I say very big ‘Thank You’ to all those who were on board the TAM Airline flight from Sao Paulo to Porto Alegre that morning, for the surprise birthday cake, prayers and songs. On board were His Majesty, King Edward Pepple of Bonny Kingdom; former chairman, now Member of Senate Committee on sports, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Chairman of the House Committee on Sports (Hon. Godfrey Gaiya); AFN President, Chief Solomon Ogba; 10 members of the NFF Executive Committee; NFF General Secretary; some NFF Staff members; Alh. Asari Dokubo; Sports Commissioners from Katsina, Kano, Bayelsa; Federal Legislators; former WAFU President (Chief Jonathan Ogufere); former NFF Board Members (Dr. Peter Singabele, Alh. Abubakar Ladan and Mr. Dominic Iorfa); former NFF General Secretary Fanny Amun; Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly (Rt. Hon. Otele Amachree); Uban Doma Jamaare, Alh. Gidado Muazu; Members of LMC led by Salisu Abubakar; Executive Chairmen of Delta and Yobe Sports Commissions; club administrators; officials of the National Sports Commission including Dr. Muazu and Engr. Ibrahim Shehu; esteemed Members of the NFF Congress (Chairmen and secretaries of State FAs); presidents of coaches and referees’ associations; top officials from federal agencies, ministries and departments; former Nigerian coaches James Peters, Christian Chukwu, Shaibu Amodu and Samson Siasia; former Nigeria captains Olusegun Odegbami, Garba Lawal, Victor Ikpeba and our Ambassador Nwankwo Kanu (Chukwu and Siasia also in this category); Professor Ojeme of NAPHER.SD; special advisers/special assistants, Nollywood actor Charles Awurum, leaders of Nigeria community in Brazil, media representatives and other stakeholders.
They truly made it a day of fond memories, but the Super Eagles’ performance gave us all greater joy as we returned to Sao Paulo in the evening of the same day.
Indeed, Almighty Allah has been with the present NFF administration, and He alone has made the achievements we have recorded possible, and we will continue to give Him praise and honour for those achievements.
Last year, our administration recorded the first Africa Cup of Nations title for Nigeria in 19 years, and third in the entire history of the competition. As we flew to Porto Alegre, the NFF Assistant Director (Communications), Ademola Olajire also reeled out several other records, including the fact that the Super Eagles had won their first match at the World Cup in 16 years by beating Bosnia-Herzegovina some days before; that the Super Eagles were the ONLY TEAM in the 32 –nation tournament not to have conceded a goal in the championship in Brazil as at that morning; that the Super Eagles were the only African team in the competition to have earned four points from their two matches in Brazil and; that our goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was rated the best goalkeeper in the tournament so far.
On board was Siasia, who scored Nigeria’s only goal in the first FIFA World Cup clash with Argentina in USA exactly 20 years earlier, and who as Coach led Nigeria to her only win over Argentina at senior level (4-1 win in an international friendly in Abuja on 1st June, 2011).
However, by the time we were flying back, Siasia’s record of one goal against Argentina at the FIFA World Cup had been broken!
Ahmed Musa hit the Argentines hard by equalizing twice and coming very close to a hat-trick, and his efforts has put his name in a special place in Nigeria’s FIFA World Cup history.
The journey is just beginning, and as the Super Eagles insist on taking it ‘One Match At A Time,’ I believe we really, really have a great chance against France in Brasilia on Monday.
One thing we have all collectively noticed is that the African champions have been improving with every match. They have picked up in form and ready to set sail for a glorious finish.
What they need is the support and prayers of all Nigerians to get there. They will certainly get there!   
Next Week: FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 (3)