Eagles struggle to win over sceptical fans

Despite picking an important goalless draw in their last World Cup and Nations Cup qualifier against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in Rades, the Eagles are yet to win over most Nigerian soccer fans with their performance in the qualifying campaign.

Football followers in the country are still craving for the return of the exhilarating performances of the 1990s from the national team, a period that saw the Eagles winning the 1994 African Nations Cup as well as putting up an impressive performance at the FIFA World Cup in the United States same year. In fact the fulcrum of the players took part in the U-23 team’s victorious outing at the Olympic Football Tournament in Atlanta in 1996.

Amodu under pressure

Lovers of the game could give anything to see the Super Eagles in action back then. But now they prefer to savour the thrills and frills of European football, even when the national team is in action.

Current coach of the team, Shuaibu Amodu has been under intense pressure to produce a strong team that can rekindle such qualities but the national handler has only succeeded in impressing only a few fans despite having maintained an unbeaten run in the World Cup qualifiers after nine matches.

Many had criticised Amodu for adopting a cautious approach in Rades, saying the Eagles should have gone for the Tunisians’ jugular by beating the North Africans right in their backyard in order to put Nigeria in a more comfortable position in Group B.

Tunisia are still leading the group with seven points while the Super Eagles boast of five from three games.

Rades was tactical victory

Eagles defender, Olubayo Adefemi, believes the Eagles got their tactics right in Rades and says it was a good performance that deserves to be commended.

“I think we did a good job against Tunisia in Rades. We played against a team that is known with fast pace and good technical ability. But if you look at the game very well, we curtailed every possibility they could explore and left them frustrated.

“They could not really threaten our goal even though they enjoyed the support of their home crowd. Tactically, they ran out of ideas and I’m sure they were disappointed with the result because they knew very well they needed to win the game to consolidate on their lead in the group,” he said.

The Abuja clash

Both the Super Eagles and the Carthage Eagles will come face-to-face in what will no doubt be an important clash in deciding who picks the sole ticket for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and Adefemi admits his side’s destiny is now in their hands.

“We are now in a very good position to determine our World Cup fate,” said the Beijing Olympic Eagles silver medallist. “We have to win the game and it is probably the best chance we have to put us in a strong position to qualify for the World Cup and we can’t afford to throw it away from us. Tunisia will be coming to fight but I’m very confident we will beat them in Abuja. I believe we will continue to get better and I’m sure Nigerians will give us their support, because we need them to be behind us.”

My eagles breakthrough

The former Flying Eagles defender is happy to be playing for the national team but he says he is not interested in any rivalry with CSKA Moscow star, Chidi Odiah.

“I think it is always the joy of every player to play for his country, so I will say I’m naturally happy. But I don’t see myself as fighting for the position with Odiah because he is a very good player.

“It is not my decision but it is the coach who takes decision regarding selection. So I’m not comfortable when people try to talk about rivalry. I don’t like talking about that.”

Eagles’ future

“I believe we are building a team now as you can see and I also believe we will be stronger because a lot of talented players are in the team. It has been a good experience for me so far because I see that we have players who are willing to give everything to help the team.

“We have a group of players that can develop into a great team and I believe we will qualify for the World Cup I hope I can be a part of it.”