The Nigerian Spirit – if an American ever gloated about the American dream it would be because the ethos of a so powerful nation that has se...
The Nigerian Spirit – if an American ever gloated about the American dream it would be because the ethos of a so powerful nation that has seen them strive through thick and thin.
Allow me to introduce “the Nigerian Spirit” which unlike the Americans who have theirs well defined, taught and proclaimed through the generations, ours goes almost unnoticed (sadly so). Nigerians, often victors from dis-vantage positions we have have always defied the odds even to our own dismay. This phenomenon I term “the Nigerian spirit”.
It was 2013, the Super eagles lifted their first African cup of nations in 19 years.
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| This seem like a long time ago with the current state of the team |
Yes we waited that long, maybe not so long to an 18 year old, but for some of us we never saw it coming. Talks of the “glass house” surfaced in effusive fashion, some went as far as proclaiming the Aminu Maigari led administration as the most successful to have ever graced Nigerian football.
Legacy – we all have our opinions on it, but unanimously it would be agreed that there’s always a legacy to leave behind, negative or positive. I saw a Super eagles team that looked as if all the pieces where finally falling into place after years of tinkering. They were going to represent the continent at the 2013 Cup of Confederations.
Pitfall
On the back of our defeats to Spain and Uruguay, I remember a supporter calling into a football talk-show gloating about the performance of Stephen Keshi and his players.
His opinion suggested that though the green eagles managed only 3 points from a tough group from a certain Tahiti, which with due respect were the weakest side in the competition. We were on course for a fantastic world cup in Rio.
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| The Eagles celebrating one of their goals against Tahiti |
Little did we know that bonus rows, weak team selections, and too often an over confident manager would see the downward spiral of the incumbent AFCON champions.
From there on there would be no positives in the Nigerian football scenery littered with burnt offices, maladministration, financial probes, unaccountability, and lack of respect for the laws and statutes meant to guide a football federation.
Mayhem
Calabar – a city that has endeared herself to the country’s football enthusiast, not to mention the annual record smashing tourist counts experienced by the city.
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| The view from the Calabar stadium |
I waited anxiously to witness what would turn out to be the height of selfishness by a self-acclaimed NFF president Chris Giwa.
One journalist a senior colleague who was on ground to witness tweeted ‘Chris Giwa blocked from joining pre-match formalities’. How could he have haboured such lofty thought of being allowed to conduct match proceedings? Imposter!
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| Giwa was reportedly blocked from the stadium on saturday. Photo courtesy ColinUdoh.com |
On the field the Super eagles picked off from where they left off in Brazil 2014, except this time no one refused to train prior to the qualifying tie against Congo. Infact it was reported that the players camp was at its liveliest in a long while. The result though will disagree.
Much has been made of Stephen Keshi’s contract snag with the NFF, much of it largely down to financial disagreements. One minute he was out of contract, the next minute he was selecting players to call-ups.
If the truth be told, in the 2-3 loss to Congo the players were flat, lacked ideas of their own and more disturbingly looked starved of tactical discipline, technical coaching and what not.
A lot has been said about the ripple effect of the ongoing mayhem in the federation and maybe rightly so. But in the end these players were not playing for their club sides, they were playing for their nation and should have given more. Thus they cannot be free of criticism themselves.
It is true that Stephen Keshi had only agreed to take charge of the Super eagles for qualifying games against Congo and South Africa. On the evidence of this and prior performances from the lads maybe it was time both Keshi and the federation part ways.
In a time where football federations and managers are focused on ushering in a new era of players and ideas ours looks out of depth. It may as well be that the Nigerian Spirit has been tested one too far.
The writer of this piece Yubbythepundit is the author of Counter Attack NG.
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