TheCitizen - It's all about you
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
TheCitizen - It's all about you
No Result
View All Result

Nigeria and Brazil 2014 – The Sun

The Citizen by The Citizen
July 8, 2014
in Public Affairs, Uncategorized
A A
0
22
SHARES
734
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Before the commencement of the 2014 World Cup, most Nigerians never believed that the national team, the Super Eagles, would progress beyond the group stage. Their ouster in the tournament’s Round of 16 notwithstanding, the team performed well. What the African champions lacked was sheer technical sophistication. At the global football stage, soccer artistry alone, does not win the game anymore. Match-reading has become an indispensable component of victory.

The country’s 0-2 loss to France aborted our dream of moving to the quarter-final stage for the first time in the history of our participation in the Mundial. Previously, in the 1994 and 1998 editions of the World Cup fiesta, we had reached this same point and crashed out. Cameroon and Ghana remain the only African countries that had previously crossed the Round of 16 threshold.

For the first time in 10 years, Nigeria finished second with four points in the race to the Round of 16 behind Argentina while Bosnia and Iran dropped out. This confirms that the squad is getting better by each encounter. Therefore, even as we have been stopped at this stage, the momentum must be sustained subsequently with qualifying matches for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations event beginning in September.  This is also the time to start preparing for the 2018 World Cup holding in Russia. We must put behind us the World Cup and begin earnest preparations for defending the continent’s Unity Cup which we assiduously won in South Africa in 2013.

One of the enduring lessons to be learnt from Eagles’ performance at the tournament is the imperativeness of early preparations. The World Cup competition calls for serious planning, diligence, commitment, sacrifice and resolve to win. It is not solely a game of chance or luck.

We strongly believe that the country will do better in the 2018 edition of the World Cup if we start preparing now. Waiting for last-minute haphazard preparations had always been our drawback. The Nigerian mentality that we will somehow pull through at competitive events must be discarded in the light of present realities. The time to begin for the next World Cup is now. Poor preparation is a clear recipe for disastrous outing.

There is the need for African representatives in the Mundial to improve on their performances. The continent must continuously justify the additional slot given to Africa by FIFA making it five countries as against four previously. Apart from Algeria, Nigeria and Ghana that proved their mettle, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire were unimpressive all through the group stages as clearly demonstrated by their early exit. Such rare representational opportunities should not be wasted. Overall, Africa’s outing in the 2014 World Cup could be described as abysmal.

With regard to the Super Eagles, they need a team leader that will serve as a rallying hub for other members. The present squad does not have such a motivating character.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) should put its house in order. The issue of allowances for players and their managers is becoming a distractive and recurring decimal that always gets addressed by higher authorities anytime we have a match. This scandalous element need not be so. It portrays Nigeria in  bad light and affects the psyche and morale of the team. We laud  the Super Eagles for their fair performance and wish them success in subsequent soccer events.

Share9Tweet6
Previous Post

Soldiers take over Balmo forest, B'Haram strong hold

Next Post

Elevating electricity to statistics – Vanguard

Related Posts

Teachers in private schools – Thisday
Public Affairs

Teachers in private schools – Thisday

September 20, 2023
Reining-in boat mishaps in Nigeria – Vanguard
Public Affairs

Reining-in boat mishaps in Nigeria – Vanguard

September 20, 2023
Rising cultism menace should be crushed – Punch
Public Affairs

Rising cultism menace should be crushed – Punch

September 19, 2023
Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit needs attention – Punch
Public Affairs

Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit needs attention – Punch

September 18, 2023
Nigeria’s literacy rate still too low – Punch
Public Affairs

Nigeria’s literacy rate still too low – Punch

September 8, 2023
Pate’s mission to revamp healthcare system – Punch
Public Affairs

Pate’s mission to revamp healthcare system – Punch

September 5, 2023
Next Post

Elevating electricity to statistics - Vanguard

The report on Chibok abduction - Thisday

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Ondo senator appoints 100 PAs, awards N300k to each constituent

Ondo senator appoints 100 PAs, awards N300k to each constituent

by The Editor
September 20, 2023
0

...

Obasanjo laments insecurity on Nigeria roads, railways, airports

Yoruba Obas Forum insists on Obasanjo’s public apology

by The Editor
September 19, 2023
0

...

Cult clash: Sagamu LG imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on motorcycle, tricycle operations

Cult clash: Sagamu LG imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on motorcycle, tricycle operations

by The Editor
September 18, 2023
0

...

Rivers council boss bans commercial tricycle operations over insecurity

Rivers council boss bans commercial tricycle operations over insecurity

by The Editor
September 16, 2023
0

...

APPOINTMENTS

Tinubu nominates Cardoso as CBN Governor, names four deputies⁣

Cardoso assumes office as CBN confirms Emefiele’s resignation

by The Editor
September 22, 2023
0

...

Gov. Otti makes 14 new appointments

Gov. Otti makes 14 new appointments

by The Editor
September 20, 2023
0

...

Tinubu appoints Hakeem Baba-Ahmed as Special Adviser

Tinubu appoints Hakeem Baba-Ahmed as Special Adviser

by The Editor
September 18, 2023
0

...

Gov. Zulum appoints new Rector for Ramat polytechnic

Gov. Zulum appoints new Rector for Ramat polytechnic

by The Editor
September 18, 2023
0

...

ODDITIES

59-year-old man gets life imprisonment for raping two daughters

59-year-old man gets life imprisonment for raping two daughters

by The Editor
September 19, 2023
0

Guard allegedly impregnates three students in Anglican school

Guard allegedly impregnates three students in Anglican school

by The Editor
September 15, 2023
0

Gunmen attack Rivers TV, radio stations

Man kills father with pestle in Rivers State

by The Editor
September 8, 2023
0

State of the States

2023 presidency: Ogun Governor dumps Tinubu for Osinbajo

Gov. Abiodun directs payment of N1bn gratuity to pensioners

by The Editor
September 20, 2023
0

...

Subsidy: Delta governor approves palliatives for students

Subsidy: Delta governor approves palliatives for students

by The Editor
September 20, 2023
0

...

Plateau govt to reactivate rail transport in city masterplan

Plateau govt to reactivate rail transport in city masterplan

by The Editor
September 20, 2023
0

...

Insecurity: We’ll fish out killers of soldiers, policemen in Imo – Gov Uzodinma

Insecurity: We’ll fish out killers of soldiers, policemen in Imo – Gov Uzodinma

by The Editor
September 20, 2023
0

...

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
UK licenses 266 Nigerian doctors in two months

UK licenses 266 Nigerian doctors in two months

August 3, 2022
US govt reaches agreement with Niger junta, resumes drone aircraft, crewed aircraft operations

US govt reaches agreement with Niger junta, resumes drone aircraft, crewed aircraft operations

September 16, 2023
Coup: Russia warns ECOWAS, others against Niger intervention threats

Coup: Russia warns ECOWAS, others against Niger intervention threats

August 2, 2023
Fed Govt orders telcos to reverse hike in call, data rates

NCC sets record clear in alleged leakage of Obi-Oyedepo call

April 4, 2023

Air Peace begins operations, offers airfare to Armed Forces personnel

170

Diezani breaks silence, reveals side of story in 3-part exclusive interview

26

FG’s N4trn contractual debts under Jonathan – National Mirror

21

2015: Washington Post condemns Jonathan for campaign slogan

20
NCC extends submission of application for Hackathon

NCC extends submission of application for Hackathon

September 22, 2023
Kebbi govt bans mining, shuts down sites

Kebbi govt bans mining, shuts down sites

September 22, 2023
FG apologises for Tinubu’s NASDAQ closing bell error

FG apologises for Tinubu’s NASDAQ closing bell error

September 22, 2023
No Nigerian died in fire-gutted abandoned municipal building in South Africa – NUSA

NUSA raises alarm over fresh attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

September 22, 2023

GLOBAL NEWS

No Nigerian died in fire-gutted abandoned municipal building in South Africa – NUSA

NUSA raises alarm over fresh attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

by The Editor
September 22, 2023
0

...

Guinea junta leader tells UN to ‘stop lecturing’ Africa

Guinea junta leader tells UN to ‘stop lecturing’ Africa

by The Editor
September 22, 2023
0

...

Nguema swears in as Gabon transitional head of state

Coup: Gabon gets partial suspension from Commonwealth

by The Editor
September 20, 2023
0

...

Tunisia suffers nationwide power cut

Tunisia suffers nationwide power cut

by The Editor
September 20, 2023
0

...

Rwanda Pres. Kagame readies run for fourth term

Rwanda Pres. Kagame readies run for fourth term

by The Editor
September 20, 2023
0

...

EDITORIAL REVIEW

Teachers in private schools – Thisday

Teachers in private schools – Thisday

by The Editor
September 20, 2023
0

Reining-in boat mishaps in Nigeria – Vanguard

Reining-in boat mishaps in Nigeria – Vanguard

by The Editor
September 20, 2023
0

Rising cultism menace should be crushed – Punch

Rising cultism menace should be crushed – Punch

by The Editor
September 19, 2023
0

Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit needs attention – Punch

Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit needs attention – Punch

by The Editor
September 18, 2023
0

Nigeria’s literacy rate still too low – Punch

Nigeria’s literacy rate still too low – Punch

by The Editor
September 8, 2023
0

Opinion

Nigeria Immigration Service and hire purchase passports

Nigeria Immigration Service and hire purchase passports

by The Editor
September 5, 2023
0

...

Sudan crisis: Security threats and implications for Nigeria and beyond

Sudan crisis: Security threats and implications for Nigeria and beyond

by The Editor
August 30, 2023
0

...

Tinubu finds his own demons

Tinubu finds his own demons

by The Editor
August 3, 2023
0

...

Ali Pate: Long-awaited messiah of Nigerian health sector

Ali Pate: Long-awaited messiah of Nigerian health sector

by The Editor
July 23, 2023
0

...

  • UK licenses 266 Nigerian doctors in two months

    UK licenses 266 Nigerian doctors in two months

    129 shares
    Share 52 Tweet 32
  • US govt reaches agreement with Niger junta, resumes drone aircraft, crewed aircraft operations

    87 shares
    Share 35 Tweet 22
  • Coup: Russia warns ECOWAS, others against Niger intervention threats

    76 shares
    Share 30 Tweet 19
  • NCC sets record clear in alleged leakage of Obi-Oyedepo call

    67 shares
    Share 27 Tweet 17
  • Shake-up in army

    62 shares
    Share 25 Tweet 16
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2022 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2022 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.