World Cup Qualifiers: Penalty Shoot Out as Metaphor for Super Eagles

 Soccer loving Nigerians had their expectations dashed last night in Morocco as the Super Eagles failed to advance to the intercontinental playoff of the 2026 World Cup.

The lackluster Super Eagles after huffing and puffing for 120 minutes- with stroke of fortune from officiating- lost 4-3 to DR Congo in the ensuing penalty shoot out.

Nigeria had raced into the lead in the 3rd minute when Frank Onyeka's effort was deflected into the net by a Congolese defender. Afterwards, the Eagles attack went dead. Talismanic Victor Osimhen ran himself ragged chasing lost causes as he never received needed services. He fired blank and was replaced at half time with a suspected injury. Adam Akor that replaced him hardly had any impact as the Congolese seized control of the game since Osimhen was subbed.

Nigeria's penalty was beffudling as Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi missed while the Congolese took their chances and advanced. Nigeria misses consecutive world cups for the first time since 1994. It was a disastrous outing from the beginning with the team winning just four points from the first 15 with Jose Peseiro and Finidi George in charge. Nigeria should qualify at a canter in a group that had minnows Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Benin and South Africa. But the poor start meant Nigeria got a playoff spot in the last minutes of the main qualifiers after CAF made adjustments to the rule following the withdrawal of Eritrea. Nigeria edged out Burkina Faso on goals difference in the last minute despite the Burkinabes having more points.

NFF AND THE SUPER EAGLES

It's not always been romantic between the Super Eagles and the top officials of the NFF, the country's football governing body. It is either a case of unpaid allowances or other misgivings. This time, the players with just few days to the crucial playoff, went on strike. Very inauspicious timing, some however, argued. But those who knew agreed with the players that it was the only time that their demands would be heard and met. It worked as the NFF, NSC and even the presidency had to wade in to get the matter settled. Now,  I believe some heads, players I mean, would roll for their audacity. 

The team only trained once before the semi final playoff agaisnt Gabon. It showed in the match as it was dragged to extra time before the team could overcome Gabon 4-1. The lack of concentration also showed in the DR Congo match Sunday night as the team laboured to break a more organised side that had earlier dumped Cameroun. Nigerians were a boastful lot.  We dismissed warnings and clung to faux patriotism or mere wish that God would help us. God indeed helped Nigeria through match officials but we failed to help ourselves!


THE PLAYERS AND WORLD CUP

The next set of people to be blamed for the 2026 World Cup fiasco were the players themselves. What were they thinking playing draws at home to Lesotho AND Zimbabwe and losing to Benin on neutral ground? Can the players look themselves in the mirror and say we bungled it? Despite South Africa being stripped three points and goals they still made it as top team from the group. Majority of these players lack the patriotic spirit and it showed in their performance. Apart from Victor Osimhen who played his heart out whenever available how many players could beat their chest to say we did our best?


COACHES

Peseiro started terribly before he got fired, but why blame him? We all knew his capabilities after watching the AFCON and i felt the NFF should have fired him and hired a competent coach. Even many of us felt Finidi George was not ripe enough for the Super Eagles job but he got it and could not navigate the team losing one and drawing the other. These results set the tone for the failure. Eric Chelle did wonders with the team but it came very late.


CONCLUSION

The NFF board should resign having failed woefully and a new board constituted to begin earnest preparation for the 2030 world cup.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Search for Common Ground Trains Journalists on Peace Building

Image
A two-day training focussing on conflict sensitive reporting and Digital  Peace Building has ended in Port Harcourt with a call on journalists to sustenance of peace ahead of the 2027 General Election. The training drew participants from the traditional media, print and electronic from Port Harcourt, who are mostly members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, attended. in his lecture, The  Mass Media  and Information Coordinator of Search for Common Ground, Mr Sunny Dada, expressed the need for the participants on the use of digital media, on the topic Digital Peace Building and Media Literacy. Mr Dada harped on the need for journalists to be up the date on the use of digital platforms in carrying out their job. He also urged everyone to be part of the peace process in Rivers State as the country moves to another General Election. He further noted that journalists are not just onlookers, but key actors in the electoral process. He added that journalists are transformative...
Read more

Nigeria Cannot Afford a One Party System

Image
  It is not a secret that the ruling APC is bent on destroying the opposition and coast home in the 2027 General Election. It has dismantled the the opposition PDP and the upcoming ADC that Nigerians fear that the 2027 elections might just be a coronation exercise despite their displeasure with the ruling party. Good for PDP, some people might say, as the then ruling party from 1999 till 2015 introduced impunity into politics. It was then a Behemoth that swallowed all-30 Governors and a trifecta majority in the House of Reps and Senate and the states. The then Chairman late Audu Ogbeh boasted of ruling for 60 years!  They were years when election results were declared in Aso Rock bedrooms and not the constitutionally empowered INEC. PDP started unravelling when the courts had the balls to cancel daylight robberies starting from Anambra State, where Dr Chris Ngige was removed for Peter obi to move in. Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Osun followed suit.  Today, we have staggered gover...
Read more

FIFA U20 World Cup: Argentina Await Flying Eagles Battle in Round of 16

Image
  The Flying Eagles of Nigeria will take on Argentina in the round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. The Nigerian lads finished third in Group  to earn a place as one of the best losers after a pulsating 1-1 draw against Colombia early Monday morning. Captain, Daniel Bameyi scored from the penalty spot for his consecutive penalty goal to rescue a point against Colombia, who had scored earlier. Seven-time African champions Nigeria put up an impressive performance against Colombia in the early hours of Monday to reach the Round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Chile.   Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt made big saves in the 23 rd  and 26 th  minutes to keep the scoreline pristine in Talca, but the Flying Eagles were the more adventurous side as they hit the upright on a number of occasions, with Tahir Maigana, Kparobo Arierhi and Suleman Sani in full flow for large swatches of the encounter.   Colombia went ahead in the 51 st ...
Read more