FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 (1)

Sao Paulo was also the venue for the 64th FIFA Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the experience was, as usual, unique. The gathering of the world’s football administrators at the highest level discussed a number of innovations for the beautiful game. Here we are, in Brazil, the land of Pele, who called football the […]

Sao Paulo was also the venue for the 64th FIFA Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the experience was, as usual, unique. The gathering of the world’s football administrators at the highest level discussed a number of innovations for the beautiful game.
Here we are, in Brazil, the land of Pele, who called football the beautiful game, and the land of Samba, and the land of the only country to have won the World Cup trophy FIVE times. For Brazilians themselves, hosting the FIFA World Cup for the second time ever, and after 64 years, has come with mixed feelings, but what cannot be taken away is the ecstasy that is bound to be generated in 64 matches over the period of 32 days that the house-party will last.
From Montevideo in Uruguay (the inaugural edition in 1930) to Soweto in South Africa (the 19th edition which was Africa’s first turn, four years ago), the FIFA World Cup has evolved in a big way and become perhaps, the biggest extravaganza in the universe.
While there is no doubt that the Olympic Games retain its unmatched quality of diversity and variety, and the unquantifiable experience of an ‘Olympic gold’, the show that gets everyone going off the burner is the FIFA World Cup.
You could see the whole athletic valour and sportsmanship, plus the incomparable excitement, all over the Arena do Sao Paulo on Thursday, and until the final match in Estadio de Maracana on 13th July, it will roll on and on and gain in volume and momentum.
Football’s unpredictability, couched in its dazzling conclusions and sometimes unimaginable results, has made it the sport for all.
Receiving the Super Eagles in Sao Paulo on Tuesday night, my confidence soared and I told a couple of the players that ‘this is the time.’
To some persons, the idea of an African country winning the World Cup is simply exotic, but in truth, the setting in Brazil, plus the several advantages that are bound to come the way of an African team, as well as the superstition of playing in the country of Pele (who predicted that an African country would win the World Cup some years ago) could make things happen.
Going up against Iran on Monday, the Super Eagles will not be thinking of being the lowest –ranked team in Group F. With Argentina clashing with Bosnia-Herzegovina in the group’s first match, at the Maracana, tomorrow, the Eagles will be condemned to go all out and fire from all cylinders.
The high expectations of Nigerians back home, the Government of Nigeria and the entire African football family would push the Super Eagles hard as they seek openings against Team Melli. And as the champions of Africa, Nigeria would be expected to pick up the three points, but not too easily.
All the 32 teams that have made it down to South America for this fiesta must be respected, without exception. I am not in the group that believes some things are pushovers simply because they don’t have the name or are assumed not to have the ‘mettle’ of doing well at major tournaments.
The clash between Honduras and Ecuador in Curitiba could turn out to be as gripping as the match between Uruguay and Italy in Natal, while Algeria against Korea Republic in Porto Alegre could turn out to be as captivating as the session involving Spain and The Netherlands in Salvador.
Bosnia-Herzegovina against Iran in Salvador could turn out to be as memorable as Spain against Chile in Rio de Janeiro, and the people of Manaus may not find the match against Cameroon and Croatia more boring than the clash between England and Italy.
Germany against Portugal in Salvador may not be necessarily be more enrapturing than the game between Japan and Greece in Natal, and Uruguay and England in Sao Paulo may not be as eye-popping as Russia against Korea Republic in Cuiaba.
Back to the Super Eagles’ camp, the boys are presently ensconced in their Team Base Camp and loving it, and today (Saturday, 14th July), they are on their way to Curitiba for the first game against Iran on Monday.
From the schedule, the team will fly out to match venue two days before each match and return to Base Camp immediately after every match. The same will happen for the games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina, in Cuiaba and Porto Alegre respectively.
Go ahead, boys. You can do it! Up Eagles, Up Nigeria! 
 Next Week: FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 (2)