Sigh of relief for Super Eagles

Following the result of the last match between the two sides in march, the battle of Nairobi generated so much tension for Nigerian fans. It will be recalled that when the kenyan’s came to Nigeria few weeks after the 2013 AFCON in South Africa  where Eagles were crowned champions of the continent, it took substitute […]

Following the result of the last match between the two sides in march, the battle of Nairobi generated so much tension for Nigerian fans. It will be recalled that when the kenyan’s came to Nigeria few weeks after the 2013 AFCON in South Africa  where Eagles were crowned champions of the continent, it took substitute Nnamdi Odumandi’s late equaliser to deny Kenya a first victory over Nigeria in 12 encounters. Francis Nyambura had put the visitors in the lead with 35 minutes played in the tension soaked encounter in Calabar.
 The 1-1 draw in Calabar set off another round of permutations among Nigerian football fans. But for many, it wasn’t a new development because the team had always waited till the final round of matches to qualify for the four editions of the FIFA World Cup the team has attended so far. The same scenario played out before the Eagles qualified for USA 1994, France 1998, Korea-Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010.
It will be recalled that the Eagles started the ongoing campaign on a shaky note with a less than convincing 1-0 home win over Namibia before they were held to a 1-1 draw by the Flames of Malawi. Eagles stand in captain, Vincent Enyeama gifted the Malawians that crucial point and that set off another round of permutations. The draw in Malawi and the one in Calabar left the Eagles on five points from a possible nine. The reigning African champions were a point better than Malawai who trailed them with four points.
Consequently, Wednesday’s match against Kenya was a must win because a defeat for Eagles and a win for Malawi would have left them in a precarious place on the table. Luckily enough, while the Eagles went to Nairobi and showed stuff champions are made of, the Flames of Malawi were held to 0-0 draw by the Brave Warriors of Namibia. Now the Eagles are three points clear on top and would clinch the group with 14 points if they can beat Namibia and Malawi in their remaining two matches.
Already the Eagles are in Windhoek as they prepare to take on the Brave Warriors of Namibia in another crucial World Cup qualifier. The players and their officials are in high spirit. This is not surprising because the victory in Nairobi is a big boost.
From every indication, this may be the first time the Eagles would qualify without putting their teeming fans through any form of psychological torture. Indeed, things are looking really good for the African champions who have shown that they are ready to atone for the pains they had caused Nigerians.
For most Nigerians, credit for the team’s resurgence should go to the head of its technical crew, Stephen Keshi. It is an open secret that before the former Super Eagles captain was appointed, the team’s confidence was at its lowest ebb. There was total breakdown of discipline as his predecessor, Samson Siasia had running battles with some key players in the team. Things came to a head when the Eagles could not qualify for the 2012 AFCON hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
However, it is now an open secret that the return of the ‘big boss’ was the turning point in the team’s fortunes. He saw reason with Nigerians who had always clamoured for the team to be built around home based players and so it was a quick return to the days of Dutchman Clemence Westerhof when local players like Daniel Amokachie, Thompson Oliha, Moses Kpakor, Bright Omokaro, Yisa Sofoluwe, Barnabas Imenger, Finidi George and a host of others played integral roles in the team.
At the moment, keshi has brought back the lost confidence in the Eagles just as he has made the local players to also believe that they have a future with the senior national team. In so many years, the Eagles attended the 2013 Nations Cup with a record seven home based players. Today, home based lads, Godfrey Oboabana and Sunday Mba are super regulars in the team.
Apart from giving chance to the local players to stake claims for shirts in the team, Keshi has also given opportunity to some of the youngsters like Kenneth Omeruo, Onazi Ogenyi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, and Brown Ideye to blossom. Furthermore, the coach brought back to life players like Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa, Elderson Echijiele, Efe Ambrose, Vincent Enyeama, and Austin Ejide who were on the verge of being thrown overboard.
In addition, Keshi has won accolades in many quarters for giving opportunity to almost every known Nigerian football player to feature for the Eagles. While some may have fallen by the way side, he is still trying more with the singular aim of creating fair competition in the team. For most pundits, this is the secret behind keshi’s success so far with the same Eagles previously written off as ‘super chickens’.
Former international, Moses Kpakor is in the camp of those who believe the coach has built a team that is not based on individuals. Speaking to Weekly Trust after Eagles victory over Kenya, the former BCC Lions captain said “It has not changed my opinion that Keshi has built a team that is not based on individuals but a team that anyone can come into it and play to win.
“I think finally we have silenced the noise, fears, anxiety and impatience about Kenya and Nairobi match. I think this victory will now give many other Nigerians confidence in Keshi and the Eagles. I think they still believe Keshi and Eagles won the Nations Cup by luck”.
Another former international, Tijani Babangida said “I want to first and foremost congratulate the Super Eagles on their victory over Kenya. I know the victory did not come easy for the team. They actually fought from the blast of the first whistle to the last.
“I am not surprised by the result because as true champions of Africa, I did not expect anything less than that from the team”.
Even as celebration continues in the camp of the Super Eagles, Babangida believes it is not yet a sealed deal as far as Brazil 2014 is concerned. “They have done well but if you ask me, it is not done yet. They still have two more matches to play so there is every need to remain focused. However, it is imperative to say here that Eagles will qualify without the usual permutations”.
Such is the level of optimism among Nigerian football fans and going by the recent performances of the Eagles, there is no doubting the fact that come 2014, Nigeria’s flag will be hoisted in Brazil. So for now, it is a deep sigh of relief for the Super Eagles and their teeming fans.