John Obi Mikel
“If
one considers the fact that the Super Eagles have failed to qualify for
two African Cup of Nations in a row, there will be no basis for
optimism.
“There is nothing on ground to inspire any hope. As we speak the federation is still looking for who will coach the team”.
The position of the sports analyst is shared by majority of Nigerian football fans who believe strongly that the Super Eagles as presently seen stand no clear chance of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia ahead of Algeria, Cameroon or Zambia.
Looking at the recent performances of the Super Eagles which culminated in their failure to qualify for the 2017 AFCON in Gabon, only a few incurable optimists can confidently say Nigeria will be in Russia come 2018.
Although the pessimism is thick enough to be cut with a knife, some Nigerians are still nursing the hope that the Super Eagles who had rode on the back of other countries’ misfortunes to qualify for international tournaments will again make nonsense of pundits’ predication.
Moreover, if past records were of any relevance in prosecuting World Cup qualifying matches, Nigerians would have had no cause to entertain any fear.
In the past, Nigeria had dominated Algeria and Cameroon in World Cup qualifying games. Unfortunately, it is the current performances of the teams that will determine who goes to Russia.
Although Nigeria will be meeting Zambia in the World Cup qualifying tournament for the first time, Cameroon and Algeria have met before.
Historically, Nigeria’s contest with Algeria in this regard began in 1981 when they met in the round four of the 1982 World Cup qualifying tournament. The Algerians proved the better side beating the then Green Eagles home and away.
It will be recalled that Algeria defeated Nigeria 2-0 in Lagos and finished up the job 2-1 in Algiers to deny the Eagles a place at the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
Then in 1993, it was the turn of the Super Eagles to reclaim their pound of flesh from the Algeria when they met again in the qualifying tournament for the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
The rebranded Super Eagles walloped Algeria 4-1 in Lagos before playing a 1-1 draw in the return leg. The Eagles would go on to make their debut at the 1994 World Cup where they dazzled the world. They reached the second round and were voted the most entertaining team of the tournament.
Although they failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Eagles ensured they maintained their supremacy over the Algerians as they defeated them 1-0 in Abuja and shocked their host 5-2 in Wahran.
So in all the Eagles have played six World Cup qualifying games against Algeria, winning three, drawing 1 and losing two in 1981 with the biggest win over the Algerians being the 5-2 defeat inflicted on the Desert Foxes in their back yard in 2005.
And even as the rivalry between the Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon began well back in April 26, 1960, the two powerhouses in African football had their first World Cup qualifying game in 1968 when they fought for a ticket to the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.
Nigeria piped Cameroon 1-0 in their first meeting and recorded a 3-2 victory in the return match played in Cameroon.
The two countries clashed again in the qualifying tournament for the 1990 World Cup which Italy hosted. This time, the Eagles defeated the Lions of Cameroon 2-0 at home but lost the return leg 0-1. However, they were the better side on aggregate.
So between Nigeria and Cameroon, four World Cup qualifying matches have been played with the Eagles proving to be the stronger of the two perennial rivals. They won two, lost one and drew one.
Consequently, Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon are well known opponents in the World Cup qualifying tournaments. However, the Eagles will be facing Zambia for the first time.
Although they have not been to the World Cup, Zambia also pose a serious threat to the Super Eagles. As former African champions, they would be serious contenders for the sole group ticket.
However, all eyes are on the Desert Foxes of Algeria who emerged the best African nation at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. It is therefore not a surprise that they are ranked 32 in the world and first in Africa.
They will be banking on immensely gifted players like Leicester City’s Riyah Mahrez, Yacine Brahimi (FC Porto), Islam Slimani (Sporting CP) and Sofiane Feghouli (Valenci CF) to wreck group opponents.
The Indomitable Lions also hold some threat but they share similar problems with the Super Eagles and may not be as formidable as the Desert Foxes. If their last World Cup show is anything to go by, they are not a major force in the group.
Already tagged the group of death, the Super Eagles will have to walk on a tight rope to get to Russia. Unfortunately, what is on ground does not inspire any hope. With few months to the commencement of the qualifying matches, the NFF is still searching for a coach for the team.
In addition, the present Super Eagles do not boast of the calibre of players who took the world by storm in 1994, winning the Africa Cup of Nations and exceeding all expectations at the World Cup.
Indeed the present events in Nigerian football have given Nigerians enough cause to doubt the chances of the Super Eagles who are gunning for their sixth World Cup appearance.
Immediately after the draws were made in Cairo, Egypt, a former Gombe State FA Chairman, Alhaji Shuaibu Gara-Gombe who does not speak with his tongue in his cheek was the first to ask Nigerian football fans to bury any hope of watching the Eagles at the 2018 World Cup.
“With the latest draws for Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier where Nigeria will be facing Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia in Group B, it is clear that Nigeria is out of the World Cup both officially and unofficially.
“Call Gara-Gombe anything, silly, stupid, unpatriotic, etc Nigeria will not be at Russia 2018 world Cup. Period!.
Any country that is willing to be at the World Cup has a coach by now and has qualified for the AFCON to further reinforce its team tactically and technically.
In a similar vein, Mgbolu who said he had participated in Super Eagles previous qualifying campaigns maintained that Nigerians like Gara-Gombe who have since written off the Eagles have enough reasons to do so.
“I would not want to blame those people who are pessimistic. There are enough reasons for them to doubt the possibility of the Super Eagles qualifying for the World Cup.
“It is now an open secret that there is complete anarchy in Nigerian football. There is mal-administration and ill-fighting that is killing Nigerian football.
“As someone who has seen at close range how the Super Eagles qualified for previous World Cup, I can say it has never been easy but this time around, it will be more difficult.
“Nigerian football is in tatters. There is nothing the Eagles can stand on to prosecute the qualifiers. So if Nigerians are pessimistic, they have enough reasons for such pessimism,” he reiterated.
However, the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi has allayed such fears promising that the football federation will do everything possible to ensure that Super Eagles qualify for Russia 2018.
“Nigerians should not entertain any fear. Although we respect all the teams in the group, we are not afraid of any of them.
“We would do everything humanly possible to ensure that the Super Eagles qualify for the 2018 World Cup. What we need is the support and prayers of all well meaning Nigerians.
“By the special grace of God, before the commencement of the qualifiers, the Super Eagles will have a substantive coach to prosecute the qualifiers and lead the team to Russia in 2018,” he assured.
Sanusi’s words may be re-assuring but the seeming inability of the NFF to hire a competent coach, local or foreign, to lead the Eagles in the qualifying tournament is said to be worrisome.
From all indications, the leadership of the NFF is bent on hiring a foreign coach for the team but it is an open secret that the football federation lacks the financial muscle to actualize its dream.
Furthermore, most Nigerians believe the choice of Le Guen by the NFF president Amaju Pinnick is not the best as they consider hiring a coach who was fired November last year by a lesser known football nation like Oman is nothing but beautiful nonsense.
Instead Nigerians like the president of Coaches Association of Nigeria, Bitrus Bewarang believe the interim coach Salisu Yusuf should be retained and given all the necessary encouragement to lead the Eagles to the World Cup.
For now, the Super Eagles are without a substantive coach and the qualifying tournament is billed to kick-off in October to run till November 2017.
Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/sports/russia-2018-dark-cloud-over-eagles-chances/153499.html#DqXR1PkPRAIVcl5V.99
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