You can do it, Eagles, just do it

Losing to Mali in their first ever match at the competition was most unexpected but as I told several people who called and sent text messages after that game on Saturday night, the defeat was a sharp, and timely, wake-up call for our boys and a big lesson that the African Nations Championship is not […]

Losing to Mali in their first ever match at the competition was most unexpected but as I told several people who called and sent text messages after that game on Saturday night, the defeat was a sharp, and timely, wake-up call for our boys and a big lesson that the African Nations Championship is not for the faint-hearted.
Those of us at the Nigeria Football Federation (myself inclusive, certainly) had ticked off the three points from the match against Mali and believed we would have qualified for the last eight before the clash with the host nation, South Africa come tomorrow (Sunday).
But as I have always said, football’s unpredictability is what makes it the most beautiful game of all and the dazzling conclusions and surprises all add to the enigmatic nature of the sport.
There is no doubt that we were wobbly in the game against the Malians, and the ease with which the Malian boys cut through our defence left much to be desired of those in that sector. But after the second goal, the boys themselves realised that things were going to the dogs and it certainly was not what they promised Nigerians.
Last week, I had written that surely, part of the motivation for the boys to perform would be the assurance that our dear President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR who has never failed to appreciate impressive outings of our National Teams at international championships, would reward them handsomely.
I sat at the VIP Box of the Cape Town Stadium during that opening day and was really saddened by the outing of our boys against their West African colleagues.
It certainly reminded me of how, against all expectations and predictions, the Flying Eagles, as defending champions, had lost their opening match of the 2013 African Youth Championship in Algeria to Mali.
It became a bunfight for them from then on, and even though they avenged that loss by beating the Malians to win the bronze medal, we all believed that opening day-loss was a huge setback and was a dampener to the team’s competition morale.
Personally, I have belief in the technical crew to swing things right when they appear to be going wrong, as they did at the Africa Cup of Nations (also in South Africa) early last year. And that was exactly what they did against Mozambique on Wednesday.
Surely, we could have won by a higher margin, to put us on a better pedestal somewhat, going into the last round of group matches, but that is a mute point now and we just have to go all out there and win against the Bafana Bafana.
I believe the Super Eagles can do it, because they have done it several times before against the Bafana, and all they need do is keep calm, play even a better game than they did against Mozambique, and just do it.
Only a few months ago, at the Mandela Challenge contest (the last one before the world statesman without compere left us), the Super Eagles grounded the Bafana right in front of their own fans at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Right there in Cape Town, on Sunday, the Super Eagles have the potential, the pedigree and the motivation to defeat the Bafana and reach the quarter finals of the African Nations Championship at our first attempt.
While historical results and data may not matter much in confrontations when the battle kicks off, it is correctly assumed that psychological advantage resides with the team that has the edge in earlier contests.
We have been able to beat South Africa so many times that I want to believe that Sunday’s match will not be any different. There is a school of thought that still holds fast to the belief that South Africa won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil because Nigeria, the Cup holders, were not there.
Certainly, Coach Stephen Keshi and his assistants will ring the right changes and send out a team that will show courage and character right from the first blast of whistle in this very important match.
As I mentioned two weeks ago, part of our high expectations for this first quarter, as a Football Federation, is to win the African Nations Championship, and present the trophy to President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR as we have done severally in the life of this administration.
The real battle starts tomorrow. It is no retreat, no surrender, as both teams will certainly go for victory, not knowing what would transpire between Mali and Mozambique, which match will start at the same time. Once again, I say, Super Eagles, Just do it!
Thank You So Much, Veterans…
On Friday last week, I was the guest of the respected Association of Sports Veterans of Nigeria, who conferred on me the award of Sports Achiever of the Year 2013, at an impressive ceremony in Surulere, Lagos.
The only way to honour that award and continue to justify the confidence reposed in my person and the NFF is for us to ensure, at all times, adequate preparation of our National Teams for international competitions, in order that they continue to fly our flag high around the globe.
I thank you very much, all Veterans, from the president, Chief Jonathan Ogufere, to all others that space does not permit me to mention, and the secretary, Mr. Paul Bassey. I really and truly appreciate this award. 
Next Week: Our Expectations for First Quarter (2)