Nigeria’s soccer fortunes

The expectation that the Super Eagles would overrun the Syli Stars gave way to a somber realization that our millionaire soccer stars may not live up to their billings. And when the Syli Star scored, even the most inveterate optimists became convinced that the game was now beyond us. The Guineans had not only seized […]

The expectation that the Super Eagles would overrun the Syli Stars gave way to a somber realization that our millionaire soccer stars may not live up to their billings. And when the Syli Star scored, even the most inveterate optimists became convinced that the game was now beyond us. The Guineans had not only seized control but also confirmed their dominance in the race to Gabon and Equitorial Guinea. With the deadlock broken immediately after the first half, the Eagles suddenly realized that the situation had gone from serious to desperate and critical. The usually boisterous Nigerian fans were dumbfounded and the drums fell silent as an eerie air of foreboding took over the stadium, presaging an unpalatable inevitability.

The prospect of losing at home which could take some shine from their super stardom made the Super Eagles to rally; they replaced their lackadaisical attitudes with an urgent and spirited effort which resulted into an equalizer. At this point, many fans, including this reporter started breathing a little easily and when they added another one bringing scores to 2-1 in favour of Nigeria, the fans in the stadium became delirious with joy which they displayed in wild drumbeats and intricate dancing footsteps. So these boys could do it, if so what were they waiting for when the whole thing could have been rapped up in the first half? At 2-1, the two teams were level on points, at worst Nigeria would go through as one of the best finishers. But it will be better still if another goal could be scored in order to clinch the ticket.

Time went by and the most important goal remained elusive. Hard as they tried the goal did not come as wave after wave of Super Eagles attacks were contained and repelled by the Syli Stars defensive line. And then the unthinkable happened. Just about a minute to go, the Syli Stars rallied, at first they looked like they were contented with merely keeping possession and playing for time to expire, then as if possessed of a sudden burst of energy, they surged forward and in one last ditched effort a Syli Star player on the left flank dribbled past two and slotted the ball at the far left corner of the Super Eagles goal keeper. The resulting goal buried every ambition Nigeria harboured for Gabon and Equitorial Guinea.

Football— in Nigeria goes beyond being a very popular sport. Over the years, it has served as a rallying point for everyone across the nation and in a nation hard pressed in finding a united front on anything whatsoever; this should not be toyed with. Of course, the same thing applies to many countries, like Nigerians everyone is gripped by patriotic fervor and heady nationalistic sentiments when he sees his country’s national team decked in national colours participating in the biennial African soccer contest or the quadrennial world cup tournament. These patriotic and nationalistic sentiments so evoked have caused many countries to take football very seriously and have used it to reinforce and replicate such success in other areas of development. As a result, any below par performance by teams of other nations elicits most times resignation of not only the coach and his technical crew but also other top government functionaries. Brazil for a long time commanded so much respect as an accomplished soccer nation because it developed its brand of football that was good to watch and provided results.

So much so, that many people across the world supported Brazil, sometimes against their own countries.  This is why it will be unthinkable for Brazil not to participate in the Cupa America—the equivalent of our own Nation’s Cup nor the World Cup tournament. The excellence Brazil displayed on the soccer pitch has since been transferred to important areas of its national life. Surely, Brazil is an emerging industrial powerhouse placed in the same league as China, South Korea and India. Anthropologists and sociologists would be able to find a link and draw insights from Brazil’s soccer prowess and its resurgent industrialization.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles inability to qualify for the 2012 Nation’s Cup should therefore not be taken with levity; it evokes a serious disquiet and melancholy in many Nigerians who having invested huge emotional goodwill now find their expectation of seeing their country represented on the Pan- African soccer stage dashed.  Of course, any number of reasons could be proffered for the despicable and shameful result which range from mal-administration of football by the national bodies charged with the job, constant replacement of coaches, the infernal corruption that has permeated football bodies and the uppity attitude of the so-called stars who pick and chose the games they play thereby holding the nation to ransom. And when they decide to play, they report to camp long after the date stipulated and still succeed in picking a shirt even when their fitness level is doubtful.

Nigeria lost the ticket right at the first kick of the qualifying campaign because it went to Guinea with a ragtag of players composed of a handful of aspirants to the national team. The more experienced and established players did not report for the match. Nigeria lost by 1-0 in Guinea, and this slim victory was sustained to the very end by the Guineans who held on to it with everything in their power—including determination, hard work and guile-yes a cunning slyness and craftiness which they displayed at the Abuja stadium. At one point with the scores at 1-1, the Guinean goal keeper collided with a Nigerian player then went prostrate on the turf, feinting and play acting—all in an attempt at ‘’killing time’’ and taking the bite from the relentless attack of the Eagles.

It is trite therefore to say many of the issues raised should be looked into and addressed to change the fortune of football for better.