Calabar Bubbles As Eaglets Hosts KoreaU-17 World Cup Q/Final

Calabar, the Cross Rivers State Capital, is currently bubbing as the U.J. Esuene Stadium today hosts the crucial quarter final match between Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets and their Korean counterparts by 7.00 pm local time, in one of the two matches scheduled for today at the on-going FIFA Under – 17 World Cup.

Spain will take on Uruguary in the other match.

Before leaving her Abuja base for the encounter, the Eaglets coach, John Obuh had expressed confidence and assured Nigerians that his boys would not only beat the Asians, but also retain the trophy they won two years ago in Korea.

The question on the minds of close watchers is whether they can really do it, following their performances in this 13th edition of the championship?

It was a shaky start for the Nigerians, they had to come from three goals down against Germany to end the game at 3-3 with such fighting back spirit and determination that deserves commendation and encouragement.

They struggled to beat Honduras 1-0 in their second match in which but for poor marksmanship, they would have won by a wider goal margin. The Eaglets faced the same problem in their last group match against the Argentines who they beat 2-1, but one sure thing was that their pattern of play improved with each match.

With six points, the baby Eagles emerged winners of their group and so staged back in Abuja to host New Zealand, which had been quite impressive in their own group, beating world powers, Brazil on their way to the last 16 stage.

It was thus surprising that the Europeans fell by a whoopping 5-0 to the Eaglets at the end of 90 minutes, but not only did their coach accept the defeat, it was glaring that New Zealand was no match for the Nigerians as the defending champions dominated the game from start to finish, with an apparent hunger for goals all through.

It thus did not require a soothsayer to say that this final set of Eaglets were ready to fly really high to the apex of the championship.

Home advantage may also be an added advanatage for the Eaglets, though some sports analyst say it does not really matter when it comes to competitions like this.

Contrarily , this is not totally correct, when one considers, for instance, that England won their only World Cup when they hosted the world in 1966. South Korea, which is not recognised as a football power played semifinal when the country hosted in 2002.

Also, little known Burkina Faso, before now went as far as the semifinals of the Africa Nations Cup as host in 1998. So, it would still be a courage to the Eaglets playing on their soil.

Besides, records have also shown that Nigeria is the second best to Brazil globally and the best in Africa when it comes to football at this level having won the trophy three times, all in Asian countries, (1985 in China, 1993 in Japan and 2007 in Korea). The Eaglets were also semi finalists in 1987 and have played in several quarterfinals.

On paper, it is easy to give today’s match to the Eaglets, but modern football has gone beyond big names and the days of underdogs. Ask France what little known Senegal did to them in their opening match at the Japan/Korea 2002 World Cup as defending champions.

The Koreans have also proved that they are not on a jamboree in this World Cup judging by the manner in which they sailed through the group stage, capping their effort with a 5-3 win over more favoured Mexcio via penalty  shoot-out after full and extra time ended 1-1 at the group of 16 stage.

Moreover, coach of the Koreans, Kwang Jong Lee, has declared that his team has resolved to give Nigeria the fight of their life.

“Having come this far, my team cannot afford to allow themselves to be cowed by any team, no matter how highly rated and favoured.”

No doubt today’s game promises to be explosive and thrilling knowing that the Koreans also have the never give-up spirit in them, as well as determination and good teamwork which they have demonstrated in their previous games.

But 90 minutes, or, at worst, 120 minutes must determine a victor and a vanquished. Just as Nigerians would be backing the Eaglets all the way, the Koreans will have same, albeit in a less physical manner.

One thing is, however, certain, players of both teams will be prepared to do anything to be in the semi- final.

Tonye Orabere