The Battle of Addis Ababa (II)

Last week, I had spoken extensively about the well-known and acknowledged fact that there are no longer small teams in international football, with the likes of Montenegro giving England a run for their money in the European section of the race and Ecuador posing problem to two-time winners Uruguay in South America.Football, more than any […]

Last week, I had spoken extensively about the well-known and acknowledged fact that there are no longer small teams in international football, with the likes of Montenegro giving England a run for their money in the European section of the race and Ecuador posing problem to two-time winners Uruguay in South America.
Football, more than any sport, is capable of incredible passion, palpable tension, anxiety of a high magnitude and dazzling conclusion all at once. Anything, and everything, is possible. In fact, everything has happened before in football, and can still happen.
While talent, skill and experience constitute advantage, awareness and lack of airs, plus discipline, firmness and taking-no-prisoners, are the very important determinants when the game is on.
I loved what I saw over the past couple of days at Super Eagles’ training sessions at the National Stadium, Abuja. The NFF remains appreciative of the kind gesture of the National Sports Commission in giving out the mainbowl for the team’s training sessions. That has helped a lot, as the boys will be playing on grass in Addis Ababa tomorrow.
Back to the players and the training sessions. On a couple of occasions, I watched the sessions and I saw a lot of promise. Through training sessions, it is easy to see a team determined to achieve victory.
I saw grit, guts and fireworks, and the message of Coach Stephen Keshi was always clear: no complacency. Yes, Nigeria is 36th in the FIFA world ranking while Ethiopia is 93rd, but at the end of the day, it is eleven players on each side when the referee’s first whistle sounds.
All the players, minus one or two who had genuine reasons, had arrived in camp early Tuesday. They showed at the training sessions that they are in good form, fully aware of the task at hand and alert to expectations from their own fans and the world at large to always put on a show whenever they take the field – as per champions of Africa.
Let me now say a very big THANK YOU to our football-loving President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR for his being ever-ready to support all the National Teams. The President’s magnanimity has resulted in a situation that we will have a high number of Nigerian supporters in Addis Ababa to support the Super Eagles on Sunday.
Support is always when any team plays in Ethiopia. The Ethiopians support their team with everything on match days and a small number of away fans is always easily intimidated and shouted to submission. This will not be the case for our team on Sunday.
Apart from the supporters leaving from Nigeria, a the sizeable Nigeria community in Ethiopia, and the efforts of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club to get people from their chapters in neighbouring countries to Addis Ababa will mean good presence for Nigeria inside the Addis Ababa Stadium.
The interest of the Nigeria Government is impressive. During the week, President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator David Mark wrote to the team: “This World Cup in Brazil is very important to Nigeria. We need to be at the World Cup. Whatever we can do to earn the ticket must be done without delay.
“If we must maintain our status as the giant of Africa and a major player in the global community, we must have a stamp of authority in sports especially soccer. Our officials and players must appreciate this fact and do the needful to make the nation proud.” Of course, Distinguished Senator Mark is aware of the efforts of the Nigeria Football Federation to always make the team happy and take the country’s game to new heights.
I have also been reading verbal expressions of confidence by most of the players, as well as by Coach Keshi. Hear Keshi: “We are going for the result that will make Nigerians proud as long as we do not lose our match. We will just keep our calm right from the airport, we have come through many hostile environments and it will not be something new to us in Ethiopia.
“We will just concentrate on the game for us to carry the day. We will intensify our game with high concentration. That is the only way we can come out of Ethiopia the better team. We need to have high concentration to come out on top.”
Indeed, concentration for the duration of the game, and discipline, dedication and commitment, allowing the barest minimum of unforced errors and taking half chances will matter on Sunday.
As you read this, the delegation of Super Eagles’ players, coaches, backroom staff, officials of National Sports Commission, members of the National Assembly, members of NFF Executive Committee, NFF Management, Secretariat Staff, stakeholders, media representatives and supporters have arrived in Addis Ababa, set for Sunday’s match.
Up Eagles! Up Nigeria!!