With the 40th minute goal by Sunday Mba, Nigeria finally signed its name into the lore of the African Football world. This goal was so significant in many ways. It climaxed a 10 day period of surprises and upsets, of victories that were not only emphatic but were well deserved, it signified the rebirth of the Nigerian national team, vindicated Coach Stephen Keshi, announced the commencement of a new crop of superstars, and gave credence to the creativity of footballers based in Nigeria, and heralded a welcome to the new phase in the rebuilding process of the Eagles.
The laurels of this team and its achievements during the recently concluded African Nations Cup Tournament, South Africa 2013, will be sung for a long time, as they were never given much of a chance to reach the knockout stages, and winning the tourney was considered a bridge too far.
The Eagles showed Nigerians that they could collectively lift their gamesmanship, focus on set objectives, support each other and play good, entertaining football, whilst being deadly in front of goal. Nigeria's darling team, have finally restored faith in the national team, which has long been lost., after the superlative wins of 1996 Atlanta Olympic winners medal (our last major senior football achievement).
I remembered an encounter I had during the South Africa 2010 world cup, with a Turkish American journalist. Who, after watching our loss to Argentina, shouted at me, that "Nigeria has so much potential on paper, that the performance of your Eagles now, has just proven that your football, is not worth the paper the word "potential" is written on"!!!
I felt pained by this statement, and proceeded to verbally return his salvo, but was stopped by the realization that the man was right....The Super Eagles had failed to deliver on a lot of expectations and aspirations of Nigerians for so many years up until that match and well beyond it.
Keshi and his crew, found a way to create a bold new direction for the team, by utilizing MERIT and transparency to select the best players (available), and showcase a blend of local and internationally based footballers to make up the NEW SUPER EAGLES. Sentiments aside, the technical crew selected players that could execute the mandate that was assigned to the team. Albeit, 17 rookies were included in the squad, with up to 6 local Nigerian football players (NPL) in the team. In Oboabona, Mba, and Egwueku, our defense have been strengthened and Onazi, Moses and Emenike have also shown that the future of this team is really bright and has the potential to become world beaters.
For the first time in a long time, the Super Eagles lived up to the potential we know the players and team have. Playing free flowing football, coordinated and planned movements and a show of determined and composed play. In Stephen Keshi, we saw a man, who under pressure, stepped up and did what he had to do, to match words with actions, although not without some semblance of controversy, he kept his focus and protected his team, and made the objective of football remain the key focus of the team. He gave no excuses, but continued to drive the results as the mainstay of his assignment.
The team's performance was not always outstanding, but they did what they had to do to get the result. The focus of the team never wavered, and credit must also be placed on the feet of the NFF management, which for the first time, ensured that they managed the "administration" of handling this team and its needs.. Maigari, did not play the "media murdering" that is common of past administrators. The semblance of a seamless organisation gave a picture of a "united camp" even when results were not going Nigeria's way. Even when Keshi threatened to walk out, matters were handled behind closed doors and resolved within the football administration management, and not on the pages of newspapers as was usually the case.
Have we learnt from our past debacles?? it seems so. At least the players showed commitment, desire, a hunger to want to win matches, and played for the cause. It is on that realization that a justified conclusion can be made that we are and have turned the corner towards sustained success.
The Super Eagles and the NFF have justifiably defied the odds and lived up to the potential that is rightly being celebrated and applauded by millions of Nigerians, moreso, they have earned the respect, admiration of not only the Nigerian populace, but the football world in general, in the style in which they won the competition. Recording victories over more fancied opponents like Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and a stubborn underdog in Burkina Faso, they have proven that the rebuilding process and path is really on course.
I congratulate Nigerians, the Super Super Eagles, the NFF, the Federal Government of Nigeria. Success is the sibling of all...and sundry... While we share in this well earned success, we must be mindful that the Confederations Cup in Brazil is 4 months away, and the world cup qualifiers will continue... Let this team focus on Brazil 2014... It is beautiful to truly feel and merit being called "the GIANT of AFRICA"... How sweet the feeling, when it is earned.... Huuuuppppppp Eaaaagggglleeeeeesss................
