Before The FIFA 2010 World Cup

Against all odds, the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles booked a ticket to participate in next year’s FIFA 2010 Senior World Cup, in South Africa, the first to be held on the continent. They did so, not just because they defeated host Kenya in 3-2 goal margin but mainly because Tunisia lost to Mozambique in the other encounter in that group.

Why is this clarification necessary? The Nigerian national side went to Kenya from a position of weakness not strength; of prayers for the failure of group leader, Tunisia and indeed in hope that Mozambique would hold her visitors to a draw, and that  way give sense to an eventual Nigerian victory against the Harambee Stars of Kenya.

The Super Eagles deserve the praise and congratulations of all soccer loving Nigerians for their sheer determination, courage and ability to check their hosts who showed better co-ordination, purpose and discipline in the first 45 minutes of play. Yes, it took the victory over Kenya to make meaning of the Mozambiquan valour because, had the Super Eagles lost to the Harambee Stars of Kenya as did group leaders – Tunisia, the worst fears of many soccer loving Nigerians would  have be confirmed.

However, it must be said that Nigeria does not yet parade the class of players to be depended upon to lift the first World Cup to be staked on the African continent. The Super Eagles on parade in Kenya lacked the co-ordination, goal mouth finish, soccer discipline and tactical direction to go far in the forth coming mundial.

The Tide agrees with the chairman, Presidential Task Force for Qualification of the Super Eagles for the World Cup and Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi that there is indeed an urgent need to take a critical look at soccer and soccer management in Nigeria.  And the right time to start is now, the Eagles’ victory notwithstanding.

Yes, it would have been yet another disgrace like that Nigeria suffered about four years ago, when, the Super Eagles failed to qualify for that year’s World Cup, but that we eventually did should not be misconstrued to mean that all is well with Nigerian football management.

The Tide believes that there is the need for a better technical and couching crew to be assembled to address the obvious weaknesses in the play pattern of our national soccer teams.

Such an ensemble should have as head, a very experienced tactician or manager with wide international exposure, experience and indeed respect. Nigeria indeed needs a foreign technical adviser that would be respected by members of the eventual Super Eagles squad no matter how rich or influential.

While we commend the current crew headed by Coach Amodu Shuaibu, it must be said that this is the time to end the long drawn debate on whether or not, a foreign technical adviser is necessary. It is, in our view.

We say so because in a country of well over 140 million people and nearly 10 million talented footballers, it is shameful that Nigeria cannot assemble her best for both the qualifiers and indeed  the World Cup. The duty of such a technical adviser will, in addition to his primary assignment, help identify budding talents for various age-grades and ensure their graduation to the top, as is done in countries like Brazil, Argentina and now, Korea.

This is why The Tide supports the enlistment of a highly exposed, experienced and well-disciplined foreign tactician in place of the present coaching crew which without doubt lack the required strength of character to check the excesses of some Super Eagles.

Congratulations Nigeria, but unless the right things are done, our Super Eagles, on parade in Kenya may not go far in South Africa.