Squash The Wasps!

On Monday, when I met with the coaching crew of the Super Eagles, I had repeated the same message, though it was important that I also add that the match is a must-win. The truth, at the end of the day, is that we can only get to that final qualifying round if we win […]

On Monday, when I met with the coaching crew of the Super Eagles, I had repeated the same message, though it was important that I also add that the match is a must-win. The truth, at the end of the day, is that we can only get to that final qualifying round if we win this one.

Several times in the past, so-called big teams have been tumbled down from their high horse simply because they under-rated opponents. Our own Super Eagles team was a victim at the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals in France, when, instead of focusing in the immediate second round match against Denmark, players were already looking forward to a ‘tantalizing rematch’ with Brazil in the quarter finals!

‘Rematch’, it was called, because it would have been the first time the two teams would meet after Nigeria stunned Brazil 4-3 in the semi finals of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, USA. Nigeria went ahead to win gold while a stung and ‘offended’ Brazil pummeled Portugal to take bronze.

But at the end, there was no ‘rematch’. Brazil did its bit to reach that ‘tantalizing’ quarter-final sector but Nigeria overhauled by Denmark, whose precocious striker Brian Laudrup, said afterwards: “Nigeria should learn to count one before four.” Of course, he was aware of the talks of a ‘rematch’.

Seriously speaking, Nigeria is at a level in world football that we should lose no sleep over Rwanda. Even at the worst of times, the Super Eagles should be able to beat Rwanda sleep-walking. But footballhas changed, dear compatriots.

Thoughts of how much football has changed went through my mind severally as I sat in the State Box at the Kamuzu Stadium, Blantyre on Saturday watching the Super Eagles against The Flames. The amazing thing was that, on matchday, Malawi newspapers had come out with bold and confident headlines, truly believing their team stood a chance against the Super Eagles.

One paper had a banner headline: Eagles Come For Roasting. I stood bemused in the lobby of Sunbird Hotel Mont Soche as I read the body of the story. The Malawians actually had confidence that their team would shock Nigeria. Where did the confidence come from?

“Your team did not qualify for the African Cup of Nations,” began a top official of the hotel. “We also did not qualify for the Cup of Nations, so we are equal. We are in the same boat.”

The match was tough, with the Malawian boys running at the Eagles without any regard, from kick-off. Football is no longer the same. There are no longer small teams in international football, people usually say. You need to watch matches like Malawi-Nigeria to become convinced.

However, there are jobs that must be done and they have to be done. Today, the Eagles simply have to do the job and get us into the final round of the qualification series.

For the new team that Stephen Keshi is building, this is another opportunity to tell Nigerians that the process is worth it. For the Nigeria Football Federation, we are ready to continue to support the process of rebuilding.

Today’s encounter at the U. J. Esuene Stadium is one match that we should go all out for and show what we can do. I am happy that Coach Stephen Keshi and his players know that.

All through the week, it has been a lot of tough talking and that is good for buoying the spirit. While overconfidence is bad in the football business, go-go spirit and self-belief also help to prepare the mind for contest.

I am happy that the Honourable Minister/Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi as well as the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji M. D. Abubakar will be at the Stadium to cheer the Eagles, alongside the Chief Host, Governor Liyel Imoke, CON who deserves a national applause for the warmth and magnanimity extended to the NFF and the Super Eagles over the past three weeks.

Several times, in matches like this one, people talk about early goals. It is important, but sometimes when the goals don’t come early, teams do run out of their well-laid plan and begin to press the panic button. I believe we would have no reason to do that today.

It is the general belief that the Super Eagles’ strike force has not been at its most menacing and effective in the last two matches. But we have to get it right today. Against Namibia at the same venue, we created a lot of chances but only one went in. Against Malawi, we also created chances but the opponents’ goalkeeper was marvelous.

Today, we must ensure that neither of these factors deny us ‘goalsrain’, as Stephen Keshi has called for. The rain of goals must fall.

As we did on June 3, I wish to call on our wonderful compatriots coming to the U. J. Esuene Stadium to wear their green-and-white. I marveled at the Malawians as they turned out in red at the Kamuzu Stadium. We are a bigger nation and can do it even better.

Please come to the Stadium dressed in green-and-white and let’s fill the place with NIGERIAN. Victory is certain.

NEXT WEEK: The Third Quarter and Our Expectations