The Eaglets’ run in the ongoing Nigeria ’09 FIFA U-17 World Cup is as much of a shock as the Super Eagles’ failure to rise to the occasion in the South Africa 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
Trailed with controversies from the onset, nobody gave the Eaglets a chance. After the first of players and technical crew led by Henry Nwosu were sent packing, many of us thought the new coach will not have enough to build a team.
But no sooner had the coach started work that FIFA introduced the MRI test, to test the actual age of the players if they were below 17.
Majority of the players failed the test. With just a few days to the tournament, the team’s handler, Sam John Obuh, was saddled with the responsibility of raising a team. At this stage many believed it a mission impossible.
But after a shaky start in the opening game against Germany, the team has established itself as one of the favourites for the cup, winning over critics and those who believed nothing good will come out of the team.
As they play Spain today, Nigerians will not only the praying that the win and get into the final on Sunday, many of us will fast and pray for the success of the team in Abuja on Sunday.
Super Eagles, super flops
But same could not be said of the Super Eagles. After the team failed to qualify for Germany 2006 World Cup and the sloppy performance at the Ghana 2008 Africa Nations Cup, many of us believed that the boys will atone for breaking our hearts on many occasions by qualifying for the world cup.
What they had many extra motion; it will be the first world cup in Africa, and probably the last in our life time.
The drawn in relatively easy group that include Mozambique, Kenya, and Tunisia, many had predicted that the team qualification will be easy.
The team gave the first shock when they failed to win against Mozambique in Maputo. With Tunisia beating Kenya at home a day before, the Eagles need no other motivation to beat the Mozambicans at home.
But our boys played as if nothing was at stake. That escape from Maputo with a point was a miracle.
The same lackadaisical attitude with which they played against Mozambique characterized all their matches in the qualifiers.
Their worst performance was against Tunisia in Abuja when they threw away their lead twice to allow the Tunisia to leave Abuja with one point.
Against Kenya on Saturday
As they play Kenya on Saturday, a few of us who not only believed the Eagles can still qualify for the World Cup, but praying and fasting, will be watching two matches simultaneously.
I will tune a television set to the Tunisia versus Mozambique match, another to the Nigeria-Kenya.
With crisis rocking the Kenyan camp on all fronts. The football federation is fighting the coaches, the players and the coaches are having problems, this will no doubt work in our favour.
If our boys can adapt to the high altitude within 48 hours, all they need do is show some commitment and raise their game like they did in the friendly game against France, then will leave Nairobi with three points.
But my optimism is also built on the Mozambicans. They were unlucky to leave Abuja without a point, in fact; they deserve to win the match.
If they play against Tunisia the way they played against us, they will beat the North Africans.
I can hear many Nigerians saying we dreamt the same way in Germany 2006 World Cup qualifier when we were hoping that Rwanda will beat Angola, and we will beat Zimbabwe and qualify.
Yes, we did beat Zimbabwe, but Rwanda failed to beat Angola.
But the circumstances is different, unlike Rw anda who has nothing to play for, Mozambique has everything to play for.
A win for Mozambique means they will qualify for 2010 Africa Nations Cup which their neighbour Angola is hosting.
Between Eagles and Eaglets
If Nigerians are asked to choose between victory for the Eaglets in the U-17 World Cup and World Cup ticket. I have strong feeling that many Nigerians will queue behind the Eaglets, their argument, the players may disgrace Nigeria at the World Cup like they in Ghana when they lost to a ten man Ghanaian t eam in the quarter-final of the Nations Cup.
But as card carrying member of the Supporters Club for about two decades, and strong believer in our Super Eagles to rule the world given a coach with strong personalities, I will Baba God to give us the two.
With a good coach, Nigeria players can rule the world, so join me in praying for the success of the Eag lets, but more importantly, the qualification of the Super Eagles for the World Cup.
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