Our expectations for third quarter

The 4-1 win clearly demonstrated, as I had assured on the day of the match, that we have a home-based squad to be proud of, and which is capable, and is continuously being supported and motivated by the NFF.When millions went to town to castigate Coach Keshi for his daring to trust the home-based professionals, […]

The 4-1 win clearly demonstrated, as I had assured on the day of the match, that we have a home-based squad to be proud of, and which is capable, and is continuously being supported and motivated by the NFF.
When millions went to town to castigate Coach Keshi for his daring to trust the home-based professionals, keeping them in camp, mixing them with the foreign-based professionals and giving them a level-playing field to earn shirts, the NFF gave the coach full backing and told him to shun the critics.
This, as a result of our faith in the domestic League and the products thereof, and our belief that the boys at home also have the talent, the skill, the discipline and the commitment to fight hard in a Nigerian shirt.
The victory in Kaduna was the opener to a new quarter and it is our determination to ensure that the Super Eagles Team B qualify for the African Nations Championship for the first time.
Despite so much support from the NFF, our teams failed to make it to the first two editions, losing to Ghana 3-2 aggregate ahead of the inaugural tournament in Cote d’Ivoire in 2009 and then failing to make it to Sudan 2011 after losing on aggregate (2-0) to Niger Republic.
With Ghana, Libya and Morocco having already qualified for the 16-nation championship that will take place in South Africa in January next year, all eyes are on Nigeria, champions of the continent in the full Afcon, to join the party by coming out unscathed in Abidjan next weekend.
The Nigeria Football Federation has been commended by several commentators and even Coach Keshi for the immense support for the home boys, who resumed camping in Abuja on Monday for next weekend’s duel in the Ivorian capital.
With our domestic League rated so high in the African continent, it is  unthinkable that we have not played at the African Nations Championship. Cup holders Tunisia were booted out of the race to the finals last weekend when drawing 0-0 with Morocco in Tangier, after losing 0-1 at home to the Atlas Lions.
The expectations of the NFF for this third quarter also include include preparing the Super Eagles (Team A) adequately to give good account of themselves and do the nation proud at the Nelson Mandela Challenge game against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
That match, coming up in Durban on Wednesday, August 14, is not one that we can afford to take lightly considering our status as the champions of Africa and the rivalry between our two nations.
It is a friendly match alright, but certain indices show that the Bafana Bafana would throw everything into the game not only to honour the ailing Dr. Nelson Mandela but also to show that they have learnt a number of tricks since Gordon Igesund took over the team.
After the match in Durban, all attention will shift to the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Malawi here at home, with our Super Eagles needing only a point from the match to reach the final elimination play-off for the finals in Brazil next year.
Yes, we know that the final elimination play-off is still there in October and November, but we will first ‘take care’ of the Malawi and then wait for the September 16 draw in Cairo that will reveal to us our opponents for that final elimination round.
On Monday, the Golden Eaglets will return to much-familiar Calabar to start in earnest, preparations for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, taking place in the United Arab Emirates between October 17 and November 8.
The coaching crew spent two weeks in Abuja screening new players and I have been assured that they were able to discover a couple of good legs, who will now go through the mandatory MRI tests to determine that they are truly within the age.
My appreciation once more goes to the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, CON for his readiness to listen and assist the Nigeria Football Federation by camping our teams every time we go to him. He has shown severally he is truly a father figure and lover of the youth of this country.
The Technical and Development Committee has also assured that they are leaving no stone unturned to appoint new coaching crews for all the women National Teams (Super Eagles, Falconets and Flamingos) so that the team can begin real preparations for major competitions happening next year.
NEXT WEEK: National Technical Centres