Now That The Eagles Are Loved Again...

The Super Eagles got bashed in all languages, most obscene, for notching just one ‘miserable’ point against Iran. The daggers were out, not minding that almighty Brazil labored to same result against Mexico while their over 100 thousand fans watched live in disbelief…

 

 

Not minding that in a pool of three World Champions in Italy, Uruguay and England that it is ‘minnows’, Costa Rica that has qualified with maximum points while England is home and either Italy or Uruguay would vacate the stage too. And believe it or not, Costa Rica, appearing in just their fourth World Cup finals, will most certainly top the group…

Not minding that Spain is already home…scoring just once and conceding seven in two group matches…

Not minding that Brazil, Germany, Italy, Uruguay, Spain – all World Champions, are either already knocked out or hanging on dear fingernails while approaching final group matches…

Not minding that the 2014 World Cup in Brazil has set out from the go to be a World Cup of shocks…

But Nigerians, acclaimed to be over 150 million in population, everyone a coach, do not pause before they reason, much less reason before they talk or comment on issues they know little or nothing about. Football is followed by anyone who can afford a TV set or get to any if you can’t…but the beautiful game we claim to love so much goes beyond what we see on screen.   

I watched the Super Eagles against Iran…and though they weren’t electric, they didn’t display as badly as most fans berated them for. Individually, there were unpardonable errors here and there but to put those into one blanket and label the whole team ugly is one act that has ignorance written all over. This is the World Cup and this one in Brazil has SPECIAL written all over every stadium in use!

Against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Stephen Keshi lads sparkled to life. In a winner-takes-all duel, the guys in green gave it out tit-for-tat. Within just first 20 minutes of football, I had witnessed more end-to-end action than most 90 minutes provided at the Mundial so far. Bosnia too were giving as much as they were getting that when Edin Dzeko riffled in that goal, my heart sunk…this was no match either of the teams could afford to come from behind. But thank God for refereeing error favouring dear Eagles for once in ages, the Man City striker’s effort was incorrectly called for offside. And that was a huge let-off for Efe Ambrose, who was guilty of not watching his other three defenders, despite being in perfect position to effectively do so.

Emmanuel Emenike then took over, combining with Osaze Odemwingie to use what Africans usually provided – raw strength! The Fanabache forward was so ruthless in waltzing past the Bosnia captain that the overwhelmed Europeans helplessly protested. A great effort by the Aguleri-born Eagle and a great finish by Odemwingie, who pushed home through the gapping legs of his Stoke City teammate.

The Eagles stood firm, defended very well, fought out the excruciating battle in midfield superbly and would have extended their lead if profligacy in attack and Begovic’s heroics were not stumbling blocks. But don’t think it was happening at just one end. Vincent Enyeama was solid enough to tell whoever cared to watch that he is truly one of the very best, if not the very best of keepers in Brazil. His last gasp reaction save, diving one side, instinctively stretching out with his legs to the other, deflecting Dzeko’s desperate strike to the right post seemed mere coincidence to neophytes…but it was experience and agility that directed the Lille of France goaltender to such amazing heroics. For unbelievers, note that Dzeko clearly handled the ball while trying to chest clear of hassling Kenneth Omeruo but then, who would blame the referee for trying to even out an earlier error? The man in black thought he could gift that one…he probably didn’t know what stuff Enyeama was made of!

 

 

In all, the Super Eagles were really super. Ogenyi Onazi was unlucky not to have scored after repeated bullets got parried by Begovic…so was Michael Babatunde, who clearly showed why Keshi picked him ahead of Victor Moses. Babatunde packs bullets in his left foot and he shoots accurately too, never shy to unleash them and never gave any breathing space to surprised Bosnians. ..Mikel Obi was more of the player we saw in Chelsea’s Champions League winning season, breaking up play, shielding the ball quite well, initiating attacks and even taking shots at goal. It seems Keshi’s instruction to the lads besides not giving an inch was ‘shoot at sight’. May the Big Boss continue to dish that out every day!

In defense, Joseph Yobo surprised me a great deal. Never knew the Eagles skipper had that much left in him to marshal that defense the way he did, limiting about the deadliest header of the ball in Brazil, Dzeko to just few harmless headers. He organized the far younger boys either side of him to an immaculate performance. Except for that poor judgment by Ambrose leading to Dzeko’s goal, the Celtic defender was effervescent, halting attacks and initiating ours on countless occasions…his understanding with Odemwingie was a delight to watch. Omeruo was at his battling best, beating Dzeko countlessly to headers that made me applaud ceaselessly. Juwon Oshinawa, the weakest link in this department, wasn’t that obvious, even though the Bosnians countlessly tried to exploit our rear guard via his wing. If there is anyone to be told to sit up, it’s probably the Israel-based left back.

What else can one say about Emenike? Odemwingie might have won it but Emenike was my man-of-the-match. Hardly have I witnessed such power being ruthlessly utilized in a backdrop of a referee who clearly understood physicality and football usually dined together. The Bosnian defense, particularly their captain, would forever dread any day h'd come across any African with the letter E starting both first and last names! Had Ahmed Musa been more calm and anticipating, he could have netted twice…but that’s not taking anything from the Russia-based speedster…he was full of running, scaring the daylights out of the Europeans’ rearguard.

And Keshi? Another one up your detractors faces.

 

Now that the Eagles are perching comfortably again, Keshi and his wards must not think the task for second round is accomplished…far from it. Only Argentina has qualified from this group and the South Americans must be interested in topping the group to avoid free-scoring France in the next round. All the Eagles need is a draw to get to the second round…and in his shoes as Keshi, I’d go for that draw, even if it means parking the bus. There’s no shame in parking the bus against a team led by Lionel Messi.

If we win, which is possible, we can top the group but the danger of toeing this winning line is losing while attempting it. Never mind their game against Iran, Argentina is still very dangerous. With Messi, any side is but they also have the compliments of Sergio Aguro, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, amongst others. Note that all Iran needs do is beat Bosnia and they may qualify, depending on our result against Argentina. So, we must not lose!

In all, it’s good work on Bosnia…let’s go grab that draw against Argentina.

Come On, You Eagles.