In 2013, late former International and Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, led relatively unknown players to South Africa for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The team which had Joseph Yobo as skipper, started its campaign on a shaky note but eventually won the competition after beating tough opponents like Mali, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
It was expected that the country was on the verge of taking its rightful place in continental football, but it was a rude shock that the team crumbled almost into pieces under the same technical crew.
We observed that leadership problems and the in-fighting in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led to the problems in the team.
Till date, Nigeria is yet to fully recover from the crisis in the Super Eagles which came to the fore at the World Cup in 2014.
The effect is massive and it may affect generations of talented players. In 2015, Nigeria failed to qualify for the finals to defend the title the Eagles clinched two years earlier.
As if that was not enough, the team again crumbled in the AFCON 2017 qualifiers and failed to pick a ticket to the continental showpiece.
Sixteen countries including less fancied ones like Zimbabwe, Uganda, Guinea-Bissau and Togo made it to the finals while three-time champions,the Super Eagles, crashed out in the qualifiers. We strongly believe it is a shame to the country to record back-toback absence from the continental football fiesta.
Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal are the top teams expected to compete keenly for the ultimate trophy between January 14 and February 5 in Gabon.
The host nation, Gabon, with Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang as point man, are expected to provide excitement but where that will lead them is what followers of the game will find out in the weeks ahead.
It is important to state that Nigerians who love the round leather game will be experiencing mixed feelings at this period.
Many of them are yet to come to terms with the in-ability of the Eagles to make the finals but reality is here. We also believe that because Nigeria is not participating, lovers of the game will enjoy the matches without tension.
This could be a time some Nigerians will become Ghanaians, Senegalese or Ivoirians as the case may be.While blaming the NFF and the players for the back-toback absence of the country from the tourney, we make bold to say that Nigeria has the potential to be at the continental competition with ease in every edition if the right things are done.
Funding is an important aspect of sports and it is essential to always provide the funds before every match in future to avoid problems in camp. We frown at a situation where players are owed match bonuses and allowances.
The NFF should strive to get reliable sponsors for the national team so that all the needs of the players are met. Good results come with so much hard work before a match in term of preparations for all the logistics and a deliberate attempt to create an enabling environment for the players to thrive.
There should be good plans by the federation to also engage the team in quality friendly games during all the FIFA transfer windows. The employment of Gernot Rohr has been a big plus to the Super Eagles and the federation.
The German has won his first three competitive matches including two crucial Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying matches against Zambia (2-1) in Ndola and Algeria (3-1) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Rohr has brought renewed confidence and winning mentality into the Super Eagles. He has shown that he could take Nigeria back to the very top of African football but we believe the Eagles manager needs all the encouragement to keep the current momentum.
Only last week, Rohr challenged the federation to look for money and be ready to spend more on winning bonuses and allowances in the New Year.
Football is a strong unifying factor in Nigeria and it is only appropriate to fund the game well and have good plans for the players to enable lovers of the game to enjoy the performance of the national team at major continental and international competitions like the ongoing AFCON 2017.
We can as a nation work hard in concrete terms to avoid a situation where the ‘almighty’ Super Eagles will be disgraced out of AFCON in the future. Nigeria can conveniently raise two solid teams with the abundance of players in various top leagues all over the world.
It is also crucial for the players to put the interest of the country first in their decision making. They should always report early to camp and exhibit the same discipline they display in their respective teams so that Nigeria can regain her lost glory in football.
