Russia 2018 | Eagles have 540 minutes at redemption

Just three years ago in South Africa, Nigeria beat Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter final of the Nations Cup and Mark Gleeson, acclaimed Super Sports commentator said at the end – “the Eagles are super again”.
The road to Russia 2018 was revealed on Friday in the ancient city of Cairo and the formation of Nigeria’s group, Group B, could not be tougher. It has Algeria (the highest ranked African team); perpetually abrasive Cameroon and Zambia, who are capable of playing against the best – they won the Nations Cup in 2012.

So here we are – the Super Eagles have no substantive coach, the team’s players are not really playing regularly and they are flung all over the world with an administrative body that is the definition for crisis. So what hope lies ahead for the Eagles after missing out on another AFCON tournament?
My colleague, Emmanuel Tobi summarily encapsulated the feelings of most Nigerian football fans thus on Facebook, “I’m very optimistic but with Cameroon and Algeria, I’m not sure! Lord, help my unbelief.”
That thought would have been echoed in the minds of millions of football fans all over the country and there were various memes posted of their exasperation and utter disbelief at the prospects of the Eagles in Group B.

As football people [we believe], we know that If qualification was mainly determined by seeding status, then Algeria ranked 32nd by FIFA in the world and No.1 in Africa would not need to compete against Cameroon ranked 58th in the world and 10th in Africa; Nigeria ranked 61st in the world and 12th in Africa and Zambia, who are the lowest ranked team in the group at 79th in the world and 20th in Africa. Well, there is the Leicester City story to embolden our weak hearts…
But this football! Every 90 minutes is clearly dependent on the mood, attitude plus the tactical preparation and interpretation of the players. Every team has a chance and Zambia, who many have already written could end up topping this group – but that is not our prayer as Nigerians.

I totally believe that this group scenario has paved the path for some players to become national icons and for the team to be great again.
This gives the team the chance to be ‘Super’ again after failing to qualify for two consecutive Nations Cup tournaments and the demise of the last two Nigerians to have seen the Super Eagles through qualification to the Mundial – Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shaibu and the qualification series starts in October against the Chilopolo of Zambia.
It is time to write another chapter in the life of the Super Eagles – ‘Arise O Compatriots’ – this is a battle we must win!