90 Minutes to Brazil

 

The Samba city, of Rio de Janeiro, the capital of carnivals globally and the home of football, where the legend Pele hails from beckons as Nigerians hope beyond faith, but with great confirmation and confidence of a fifth World Cup ticket at the greatest football festival on earth-the World Cup.

Welcome to Brazil I can confidently boast. The Eagles will fly past the Walya Antelopes this weekend at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Cross River State.
In an earlier piece just before the October 13 “Battle of Addis Ababa” encounter, I had stated that the worst result the Eagles would have in the first leg would be a draw.

Despite the challenges the team faced especially the pace of the team due to the altitude, the Eagles dazed the Ethiopians thanks to that wonderful brace by the team’s talisman and new goal King Emmanuel Emenike which has put Nigeria on leg (as we say in local parlance) in the final.

On Saturday, November 16, 2013, only ninety minutes will separate the African Champions as we seek a fifth World Cup ticket following the successful patterns in USA 1994, France 1998, Korea/Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010. The Eagles have arrived, ready to fly and ready to take on the world at Brazil.
Despite the scathing criticisms on the technical and tactical approach of the team’s gaffer, Stephen Keshi, like him or hate him as I usually tell my colleagues, the man just keeps churning out the results and walks on the path of history again to the World Cup as a former captain and now national team coach.
Ninety minutes to glory. Ninety minutes and the beginning of preparations of a likely appearance at the World’s prestigous Maracana Stadium in Brazil.

The game this weekend should be won in style. I am not writing this piece to offer any analysis, but to celeberate or perhaps kick-start the past match groove as I intend to storm the Canaan City of Calabar with my colleagues decked in my national colours to celeberate this wonderful outing.
When the team triumphed at South Africa earlier in the year as African Champions, they were duly reminded that such achievements would come to nought if they failed to pick a world cup ticket to be among Africa’s fore representatives at the world cup.

There were fears, anxiety, apprehension, somehow, the results kept squeezing in and the lucky draw against Ethiopian for the final fixture gave Nigerians hope that, yes, all will be well and possible at the end.
The boys have been fantastic, committed and focused despite the face-off with the older players and the Chief Coach. They have risen up to the ocassion on the continent as the Confederation Cup exposed the team as needing a lot of technical input.

Keshi has done well I must admit despite the challenges of no official car months after being engaged and the recent case of his unpaid seven months salary. He has proved a point, a strong point for our indegenous coaches if given the opportunity and platform and most especially the financial support, we would achieve results despite the lack of confidence most Nigerians have in our local coaches and the Nigerian league.
Keshi has set new standards and that is why I celebrate him. I have never liked his tactics and till tomorrow, I still clamour that he may not be the best for the job, but I admit that he gets the results right when it matters most. That is the hallmark of quality and I deeply commend him.

Ninety minutes to Brazil. Watching the first leg on television I realize the role the Nigerian football fan must play to cheer his team to victory even if the team fails to live up to expectations on the quality of play.
The Ethiopians fans swarmed the stadium all dressed in their national Jersies which made the stands a sea of red bodies and they never stopped supporting their team, even when the Eagles equalized and went ahead to sink them.

This Saturday, we need the magic of patriotism. We need the magic of a carnival. We need the magic of an undying spirit. We need the magic of a vociferous home support. We need that magic to intimidate the Ethiopians psychologically as they enter the pitch. We need that magic to tell the Ethiopians, other teams on the continent and teams that have qualified for the world cup that Nigeria has arrived and our expected victory this weekend in Calabar would be no tea party or excursion in Brazil. We must make a bold statement that we are African Champions.

Happily, the team will fly out immediately after the game to play Italy a stiff opposition in a friendly in London. The hallmark of champions does not still at the sight of any opposition and I am excited with the Italy fixture as it would further give the team more experience.

I must sincerely commend the Sani Maigari led board who have had a distinguished 2013 from the Nations Cup triumph, the Golden Eaglets exploits and the Super Eagles on the verge of history. The support to the national teams have been tremendous and the issues of match bonus (es) laid to rest.
The football body has shown vision and strong character in pasting Nigerian football to new heights of successes.
I must also commend the youthful, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, the Minister of Sports who has shown genuine commitment in revamping Nigerian sports.

Many Nigerians may not know that the sports minister played a great role which has resolved the related conflicts of match bonus(es) to the national team.
I must commend the Cross River State Government led by Senator Liyel Imoke for the support, warmth and hospitality to the Super Eagles and the Golden Eaglets.

Calabar has become a home to our national teams, a breeding ground for the success stories in Nigerian football.
I intend to make the trip to Calabar memorable to cheer our darling Super Eagles to victory.
Barring any injury concerns, Emmanuel Emenike should resume his goals onslaught as he chases Late Rashidi Yekini’s record and I believe the quality of the starting eleven would determine to what extent how many goals the Ethiopians would concede.

It’s a season of joy. A season of celebration. The ultimate task is the victory ahead this weekend. Ninety minutes to glory. Ninety minutes to victory. Ninety minutes to Brazil. Arise O compatriots!!!