SUPER EAGLES SWOOP TO GARNER CONTINENTAL LAUREL

By Omoseye Bolaji


‘I go die oh!

Yeeh! Yeeh!! Yeeh!!!

I go die oh!

Yeeh! Yeeh!! Yeeh!!!

Today na today!

Today na today!

I go die oh!’*

This was the song, the ‘war cry” of proliferating raucous Nigerians in South Africa before the mammoth football match with Ivory Coast as the quarter finals of Afcon swung into gear. But despite all the braggadocio, most Nigerians knew only too well before the game that Ivory Coast were the favourites to win; with their star-spangled squad indeed.

Yet Nigeria won the game quite easily, 2-1 and it could have been more. Superstars (of Ivory Coast) like Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure produced remarkably little substance in the game. Nigeria’s Emenike who scored a stunning goal in the match should have scored even earlier before he finally did so. It seemed to be a shambolic performance from the fancied Ivorians. Hence Nigeria moved onto the semi final where skilful Mali awaited.

The Eagles’ performance against Mali was magnificent; nobody, no pundit could have imagined Nigeria leading by three clear goals by the end of the first half. It was almost surreal. Nigeria, at least in the first half took the game by the scruff of the net and the goals kept on piling it. Coach Stephen Keshi and his assistant Daniel Amokachi were in raptures.

As Nigeria made it to the final, it became crystal clear that the two “Chelsea boys” Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel, were pivotal. Regularly playing at the highest levels for their clubs and used to gleaming pressure and glare, they rose to the occasion again and again. Mikel, in his no-frills manner dominated midfield spraying the balls around with elan and defending excellently too; including a priceless last-ditch tackle against the Ivorians.

Victor Moses deserves special praise for pulling up trees late on against Ethiopia in the last group match; a game that could have ended in humiliating disaster for the Eagles as they sought a crucial goal in vain. Moses it was who essentially won and converted crucial penalties with ice-cool competency. It was a template for the team to build on.

Who could have imagined after such an insipid display that Nigeria would suddenly rise to the occasion, play out of their skins and put the likes of Ivory Coast and Mali to the sword? It was as if the team suddenly got its second wind, realized the pedigree of the country over the decades in football and began to play with pride, passion and flamboyance.

We have highlighted the significance of Moses and Mikel, but the whole team deserves praise; the free-scoring Emmanuel Emenike who provided a decisive cutting edge to the team’s play; and of course the superb goalkeeping antics of Vincent Enyeame. He was outstanding in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup, and back again on South African shores (Afcon 2013) Enyeama did much to help the Eagles to success.

Coach Stephen Keshi deserves praise for continuously protecting his players during the tournament and presenting them to the world as if they were still brandishing learners’ plates! Keshi admirably downplayed his “very young team…” “still developing squad” “they have a lot to take on board” etc…whilst the players marched on to a continental final! This speaks volumes for Keshi’s experience and savvy.

Indeed, Keshi is one of the all-time greats of African football. Even now, all over Africa he is still referred to as “the big boss” the man who opened doors for a medley of African players to ply their trade overseas over the last few decades. Those who still remember his playing career well – this columnist for one – will always relish his utter dedication and love for his country; his superb defending and blistering shots wherefore he scored so many vital goals for the Eagles in his heyday…

Sunday Mba. Very much under the radar when Afcon started; one of the unsung home-based Nigerian players. Now he is a superstar, thanks to his priceless two goals at the tournament. He seems to specialize in spectacular goals. Firstly he sank much-fancied Ivory Coast in the quarter finals with his fine individual effort. He repeated the trick in the Final – against Burkina Faso – winning the game, and the Cup for his country with an adroit flick and shot that found the net. Hence, Nigerians worldwide are celebrating…

• “Death” in the metaphorical sense; more like throwing the gauntlet as it were