It sure wasn’t pretty, but somehow Nigeria’s Super Eagles booked their place at next year’s World Cup with that 3-2 win after a topsy-turvy game in Nairobi – and after a topsy-turvy qualifying campaign. For Super Eagles’ fans, it a time to celebrate a return to the big time, and also a time to reflect, with the benefit of some perspective, on what has been an emotional rollercoaster for many.
While Nigeria’s performance at Nyayo Stadium was hardly mouth-watering, Tunisia’s last minute capitulation in Maputo added a rather interesting twist to the Eagles’ qualifying odyssey. It’s just seven months ago that they kicked off their campaign with a much maligned and heavily criticised goalless draw at the very same Maputo Stadium that’s just dealt the death knell to Tunisia’s Mundial hopes.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but that one point gained in Maputo – by the way, the only point gained in Mozambique by any visiting team in this group - sure turned out valuable, and in the final analysis, that draw wasn’t quite the disaster it had been made out to be back in March. Of course, had Tunisia managed the win they so badly needed on Saturday, this would be a different story.
It’s not only about hindsight though; it’s also about knowledge and expectations, and how the former should inform the latter. For instance, a little research would have revealed to the interested that Maputo hasn’t been the easiest of places to visit in recent times. Just over a year ago, Ivory Coast – a far better team than Nigeria, let’s face it – only got away with a 1-1 draw. But, of course, many Super Eagles fans – some in ignorance, some in arrogance - always expect a win AND a spectacular performance, regardless of opposition or venue, or else the coach has to go, and the team “overhauled”, whatever that means. It’s great to expect the most from your team – nothing wrong with ambition – yet it seems those expectations often stray into the realms of the unrealistic. Like when some fans criticise the team for getting “only” a draw in Tunis.
I will admit that the performance on the field hasn’t been impressive – and I’ll get into that later – but now that all the chips are down, we can reflect on what in my opinion has been a decent, if nerve-wracking, qualifying campaign. The goal was to qualify and that, despite some twists and turns, was accomplished. If there was one dark spot, it was the shocking inability to hang on to a lead in the 2-2 draw with Tunisia in Abuja. It was surely an opportunity lost in a game that seemed a must-win at the time, and it took our fate out of our hands. Yet it came after a well-deserved 0-0 draw in Tunis and surely didn’t merit the vile reaction of some fans who took to booing the team in the next home match against Mozambique. One would have thought the journey was over at that point, yet what would prove the pivotal point of the campaign came in that Mozambique game, when Victor Obinna scored the winning goal in the 3rd minute of added time to keep the Eagles in contention till the final round.
A year ago, after six wins from six first round qualifiers, I wrote commending Shaibu Amodu for a job well done – you can’t argue with results like that – and also to point out areas of concern. Now, given that I didn’t expect another 100% sweep, I again have to commend the coach and his team for another unbeaten run, and for grabbing the much wanted ticket. It might not sound like much, but only one other country – Ivory Coast - got through its 12 match schedule without a single loss. Contrast that to African champions Egypt, who’ve lost twice – to Malawi and Algeria; or Ghana, who lost in Gabon, Libya and Benin; or Cameroon, who lost to Togo and were then held goalless at home by Morocco, before winning four straight to secure qualification.
The truth is; it’s tough to get through World Cup qualifiers. There are no easy games anymore. Everyone is well organised and everyone has savvy foreign-based pros, and the fact that there are only a few days to prepare for each match is far from ideal, even for established teams like Cameroon, Egypt and Ghana. Nigeria, with a team in transition after the mess of the last Nations Cup finals, was bound to have some challenges too, and in that light should be commended for seeing the job through.
There are issues to resolve and I am not suggesting that the fact that qualification was achieved should paper over obvious cracks. I have my thoughts about this team, the coach and its chances at the upcoming Nations Cup and World Cup Finals. But those are issues for another day – and in the near future too. Today, I’ll like you to join me as I charge my glass and sip a toast in honour of Shaibu Amodu and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
See you in SA!
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