The road to Rio (5)

It was the Super Eagles, champions of Africa come to town again, and again it is at the Craven Cottage which has hosted perhaps more Eagles’ friendlies than any London ground over the past decade. Against Scotland, one of the nations making up the United Kingdom, we were definitely going to be somehow outnumbered in […]

It was the Super Eagles, champions of Africa come to town again, and again it is at the Craven Cottage which has hosted perhaps more Eagles’ friendlies than any London ground over the past decade.
Against Scotland, one of the nations making up the United Kingdom, we were definitely going to be somehow outnumbered in the stands, though the Nigeria community in London and environs itself is substantial.
But what we are surely never going to be able to take away from Wednesday’s match is the friendly atmosphere that existed even in the stands, and the beauty of supportership that was demonstrated by both sections at the Fulham ground.
I had arrived well ahead and was able to watch the enthusiastic Scottish fans and enthusiasts mill round the frontage of the grounds as they arrived from different directions, and their passion was palpable as always, decked in their unmistakable deep blue colour.
You may begrudge the Scots of so many things but you can never take away the passion they have for their National Team and how they give one hundred per cent support.
However, Nigerians anywhere in the world don’t lag behind either and surely, our people showed them one or two things both outside the ground and in the stands.
The Scots thought they were quite loud until our people got into the spirit in the stands, and even with their slightly higher number, the Scots realized that they did not have the monopoly of making it ‘loud’.
From the moment the stadium announcer urged the fans to “Be Loud, Be Proud and Get Behind the Teams,” both sets of supporters were deafening and that added to the whole excitement of the evening.
It was so interesting that even as the Scots went into an early lead, our people in the stands did not relent and when the equalizer by Michael Uchebo came, the din was something else.
 Coach Keshi decided to rest some players, but it only gave opportunities to other players on the fringes to show what they can do and certainly, one or two of them showed up strong and good enough for the FIFA World Cup.
A Scotsman seated right behind me said something like “Scotland is the best”, after the Tartan Army got their second goal, off an own goal by our own defender. That amused me somewhat, because it really is a long time since Scotland qualified for the finals of any competition!
However, the fact that they are not going to the World Cup did not in any way affect the output of the Tartan Army, who rather saw the match as their own ‘World Cup’ and gave their all on the night.
When Nigerians were thinking that this is one match they had lost, Uche Nwofor came up with that equalizer that proved him as a real poacher and kept our pride intact.
At the end, Scottish and Nigerian fans backslapped and all over the ground, the Scots were telling Nigerians: “Goodluck at the World Cup.”
On Thursday, the Eagles’ delegation arrived in Philadelphia, United States of America for the final training camp and two friendly matches before flying to the World Cup finals in Brazil.
On Tuesday, a day after the Coach would have named his final 23, the boys go up against Greece at the Philadelphia Union Stadium, ready to give the same that they are capable of giving at the World Cup.
Before the match against Scotland, I had told the boys about the imperative of developing a winning mentality even from the friendly matches and that spirit ensured the share of the spoils against the Tartan Army. After the Greeks on Tuesday, the African champions will then play USA in Jacksonville in their final game before the World Cup houseparty.
Well done Flying Eagles, Super Falcons, Eaglets…
I have only commendation for the Senior Women’s Team, U-20 boys and the U-17 boys for their good performances over the past week.
In Kaduna, the Flying Eagles dismissed their Tanzanian counterparts 4-1 in the second leg of a 2015 AYC qualifying match to qualify for the final round on 6-1 aggregate, and in Rwanda, the Super Falcons lashed their hosts by the same scoreline in the first leg of a 2014 AWC final qualifying round.
On Wednesday in Kaduna, the Golden Eaglets showed why they are reigning champions of the world by coming from behind to defeat the visiting U-17 National Team of Egypt 3-2 in the first of two friendly matches. Both teams clashed again yesterday at the same venue.
Congratulations also to Real Madrid, which came from behind to beat city rivals Atletico 4-1 in extra time to lift their 10th UEFA Champions League in Lisbon on Saturday.
Next Week: The Road To Rio (6)