The road to Rio (4)

One difference perhaps, would be the five years that the 1994 team had to stay together, and through that period under the same Coach (Dutchman Clemens Westerhorf). The group had enough sessions to learn its lessons and perfect its act, through losing 5-1 to Algeria in the opening match of the 1990 Africa Cup of […]

One difference perhaps, would be the five years that the 1994 team had to stay together, and through that period under the same Coach (Dutchman Clemens Westerhorf). The group had enough sessions to learn its lessons and perfect its act, through losing 5-1 to Algeria in the opening match of the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, to eventually winning silver medal at the same competition and then winning bronze medal at the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
However, it is my sincere contention that the 2014 squad has not done badly either. Though, Stephen Keshi’s boys have stayed under him for only two-and-half years, and played in only one Africa Cup of Nations.
The gap has been reasonably breached by the number of international friendlies available to the teams of today. Now, there are several FIFA windows and the present NFF administration has worked tirelessly to ensure we don’t miss any FIFA window.
Over the past two-and-half years, Keshi’s boys have played friendly matches against the likes of Botswana and Zambia (Keshi’s first two matches, which were friendly encounters hosted in Benin City and Kaduna respectively), Angola, Liberia, Egypt, Peru, Venezuela, Catalonia, Cape Verde, Mexico, Burkina Faso and Italy. These matches have been played across four different continents, a wide enough canvass to test might against great sides and in different regions.
Take the match against Egypt for instance. Both African teams played in Dubai (Asia) and with largely home-based sides. Egypt has almost always played with home-based players anyway, with very few of their players ever venturing outside the country. It was a very interesting game and the Egyptians edged the tie 3-2 with only few minutes left.
In Peru, a game also largely prosecuted by our home boys, we held firm but they prevailed by the odd goal, but there were plenty of lessons learnt in South America.
Twice, we have played Mexico in the United States of America, next door to the Mexicans, and both matches ended in draws. The last game was especially enthralling with large crowds of both nations adorning Atlanta, Georgia in bright shades of green. It ended goalless – just a couple of months ago.
The Eagles also played in the Middle East against Jordan, just before that country played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup play-offs against Uruguay, and it was also the odd goal that separated the Jordanians from our home boys.
Playing in the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa (and winning it in such spectacular fashion) and at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil have helped tremendously in the maturity process of our players, and those were two competitions of immense stature that asked several questions about technical and tactical discipline and adaption.
Take the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations for instance. We started with a pace but ended up drawing against Burkina Faso (late equalizer by the opposition) and then against Zambia, we started without a natural right back (Efe Ambrose having bagged a red card against Burkina Faso) and had to adapt, with someone like midfielder Ogenyi Onazi even having to cover up from that side at a point time. In that match, we went ahead only to draw after conceding another late equalizer.
The red lights were everywhere and the team was naturally under pressure going into the final group phase match against Ethiopia in Rustenburg. The NFF believed in the team and knew we can do it, and the players and the technical crew also went all out. We won 2-0. The spirit was back and against favourites Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter final, the determination was so huge the Elephants could not climb.
Mali was only a sitting duck in the semi final and the Burkinabes were never going to be able to pull any stunt in the final.
At the FIFA Confederations Cup, there were injuries here and there and to all intents and purposes, our team was depleted. Yet, the losses to Uruguay and Spain were in no way humiliating and Coach Keshi certainly returned home with some lessons.
Considering the number of friendly matches and the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA Confederations Cup of the same year, certainly, our team has quality experience and exposure going to Brazil.
The list of 30 players that Coach Keshi released on Tuesday, following a meeting with the NFF Technical Committee, is satisfactory, and only seven will be dropped from that list for the FIFA World Cup squad to emerge, after the friendly with Scotland in London on May 28.
Next Week: The Road To Rio (5)