The Road To Brazil

It was exciting on the first attempt in USA '94 where the Super Eagles soared so high,brought pride to the country and wrote African’s name in gold. A mirage of its replica happened in France ‘98 where the remnants of the historic Eagles of ’94 bided their final goodbye on the biggest stage in world football. Since then, things have fallen apart.

The modern Super Eagles have continued to degenerate both in rating and in stature, the quality of play have also decreased to a pitiable minimum, a level which continually brought down tears from the eyes of the Nigerian fans. Many after some heart breaking moments made a decision. They decided to ignore matches that the Eagles were involved in because they knew what the end result would be and in most cases, their predictions materialize.

Having lost their prestige on the African stage and made a fool of themselves on the world stage, it became obvious that there was a need for an urgent help. At a stage, even the president offered to ban all football activities in the country for a total over-haul and re-organization, a move which was kicked against by the world football governing body and other football enthusiasts. If that move would have made any significant change, it is left for history to decide.

It would be recalled that the Super Eagles have never been a free scoring side in the world stage, have never won a single world cup match and were always eliminated in the first round since 2002. 

In Japan/Korea 2002, they managed only a goal scored against Sweden, they were absent in Germany 2005 while in South Africa 2010, they scored only four goals and were dumped in the group stage as usual.

Turning the other side of the coin, a lease of life came the way of the Eagles when the big boss coach Stephen Keshi took over as the head coach. He rebranded the bartered image of the low flying Eagles and unclipped their tired wings to allow them fly high again. It was magical.

His first challenge was getting a good result in the African nation’s cup hosted by South Africa in 2013. He didn’t just get a good result, he excelled with the rejuvenated Super Eagles of Nigeria and rekindled the hopes of the fans again. Though they did not return to free scoring ways or amassment of high profile names on the pitch but a new sense of team spirit and discipline was developed and that made the difference.

Now, expectations are high, the Super Eagles fans are looking forward to a more mature and organized Eagles that should bring back the golden era starting from Brazil. The events of the confederation cup was put behind because everyone believed that it was a building process and now is the time to show that the Eagles are still super. 

But recent events are saying otherwise. Having drawn majority of their friendly matches and lost one against USA on their way to Brazil, the Nigerian fan becomes worried at the downward movement and wonders if there was any kind of growth in the first place.

It will be unfair to judge coach Keshi and the team with those friendly matches because of some factors involved which includes that many players were being careful not to get injured before the competition proper and the technical crew were also being experimental in their tactical approach so as to define the right method to use when they storm Brazil.

Though unsatisfactory at the moment, let conclusion not be made until the final stage arrives. All hopes are that the Eagles have perfected their strategy on the road to Brazil because it is assumed that they have come of age, “building process” will no longer be an excuse for both the players and the technical crew, when the world cup commences on June 12, they will not be judged by the exploits or mistakes of the past but by their performance at the mundial.Goodluck to the Super Eagles of Nigeria•