Eagles need divine intervention

There is indeed a god of soccer, which favours or does otherwise to teams, no matter their efforts, performances, preparations and pre-match rating.

If you are in doubt, look at the fate that befell Egypt and USA at the last South Africa 2009 FIFA Confederation Cup.

After a five star performance in the group stage, for inexplicable reasons, Egypt crashed out, and an American team, whose soccer pedigree is not only average, but looked good to crash out in the early rounds, not only made it to the semi-final, but almost beat almighty Brazil to the cup.

On last Saturday's English Premiership game between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford, the Gunners were clearly the better side, but the god of soccer was on the side of the Devils (can you imagine a god supporting the Devil against St. Gunners?), and they smiled home with three undeserved points.

Maradona's hand of God

Even players who succeed on the field with acts that could "bring the game to disrepute" (FIFA's favourite quote for offenders) sometimes credit the god of soccer for aiding and abetting them. When Maradona scored with his hand against England at the Mexico '86 World Cup, the goal was soccer with the hand of god.

As a card carrying member of the Nigeria Football and Other Sports Supporters Club, who has decided to join other members in fasting and prayer for divine intervention for our team to win since the beginning of the week, I'm praying that the god of soccer favours us the way it favoured the Americans at the Confederations Cup, Manchester United against Arsenal last Saturday and Maradonna against England.

Without the god of soccer on our side, we may fail to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa, just like we failed to qualify for the Germany 2006 World Cup. All the elements that made us fail to qualify for the last World Cup are feasible now.

Invited players

With all respect to coach Shuaibu Amodu, the man has not learnt any lesson from Christian Chukwu's failure, and if he has, we have yet to see evidence of it. Look at his refusal to play a friendly match when the whole world did a few weeks ago.

Amodu, within weeks, has forgotten that the friendly game he played against France enabled him to have options in the defence.

Ayodele Adeleye and Olubayo Adefemi showed the world what they can do in the friendly against France, thus giving him a rock solid defence in the match against Tunisia away which we drew 0-0.

The players Amodu invited for this game also show that he has not learnt anything from Chukwu's failure. Because how can he justify the exclusion of Dickson Etuhu and the invitation of Sanni Kaita. Or the exclusion of Joseph Akpala and the invitation of John Utaka.

Akpala, apart from scoring the goal that ensured we defeated France at home, has been in excellent form in Belgium.

How does our coach justify the inclusion of goalkeeper Austin Ejide who is clubless, or Obinna Nwaneri who is warming the bench in Switzerland, yet in form Bayelsa United Chibuzor Okonkwo who is arguably the best defender in the local league was ignored.

All must pray

But our opponent too are not perfect; they have shortcomings.

I know our weaknesses are self-inflicted, but that is not enough for us not support the coaches and the players with all we have got.

If, God forbid, the Super Eagles fail to qualify for the World Cup, it is not Sani Lulu or Amodu and the players that failed, but Nigeria. So this is a clarion call on Nigeria for prayer for divine intervention for Eagles so that they will land.