Lessons From 2012 Africa Cup Of Nations

Against popular expectations, the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) of  Zambia reached the final of the 28th Africa Cup of Nations, which was co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, and defeated the star-studded Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire to win the trophy.

It was Zambia’s first title in the 55 years old competition and the second time a team from southern Africa would win the competition after South Africa hosted and won the 1996 edition.

The Zambian victory is significant in that prior to the championship, no pundit reckoned with the team which in 1993 lost a generation of footballers in an air mishap off the coast of Libreville, Gabon on their way for a World Cup qualifier in Senegal.

While star-studded teams, made up of mainly European-based players, like Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal were marked as favourites, Zambia was seen as merely making up the number.

Indeed, the Zambian team paraded mostly Africa-based players with only two, strikers Emmanuel Mayuka, who plays in the Swiss League and Jacob Mulenga, who features in the Dutch League, as their Europe-based players.

The qualities that stood the Chipolopolos out and saw them through the competition were determination, courage, discipline, commitment and patriotism. They were always willing to die for the cause.

Also, the team had a pragmatic coach in Herve Renard, who never stopped believing, as he saw opportunities even in the limitations of his team.

The coach, in acknowledging the special circumstances around his team admitted, “we are not the best team, but there was a certain force that made us champions”.

That the team was made up of mostly home-based players apparently turned out to be a huge advantage. According to the coach, not only did the availability of the players make long period of preparations possible, it helped in bonding team-spirit, attitude and sense of duty.

It was the same spirit, fervour and patriotism that propelled the Zambians to the final of the Nations Cup against Nigeria in Tunisia 1994, a couple of months after the Libreville disaster that wiped out their entire team.

Then, Nigeria, inspired by Emmanuel Amuneke had to fight back from a goal down to grind out a 2-1 victory to emerge champions. The spirit was again on display as the Zambians marched through their opponents, including pre-tournament favourites, Ghana in the semi final.

The Zambian experience has shown that possibilities and potentials abound in  predominantly home-based players. It is on record that Cote d’Ivoire won its only Nations Cup title at Senegal ’92 with a team dominated by players of two local teams, Asec Mimosa and African Sports coached by an indigenous Coach,Yeo Martial.

Egypt, which has won the competition a record seven times, had been relying on home-based players, especially, from Al Ahly and Zamalek football clubs.

If the choice of home-based players can work in other countries, it is our belief that Nigeria could achieve the same result if she explores this option.

Importantly, home or Europe-based should not be made the criterion to call people to camp but the players’ readiness to fight and sacrifice for the cause of their country.

Also, the process of choosing a coach for the national team must not be politicized. The mantle must be given to the best qualified, and supported maximally to achieve set objectives.

We believe that it is time Nigerian football administrators buckle up and drive the national team forward. Gone must be the days when players are invited to the national team based on sentiments.

Those who show less commitment to national call than their clubsides must not be tolerated any longer, while the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Coach Stephen Keshi must give serious consideration to building a formidable team around home-based players.

For the home-based players to thrive, the NFF and Nigeria Premier League Board (NPL) must wake up to their responsibilities. The leagues must be made to be productive and deliver players with the right technical qualities, psychological make up and ambition to be able to represent Nigeria very well in international competitions.

For these to happen, however, available facilities must be improved, corruption and selfishness stamped out of the system, and all the nursery beds for talent discovery, schools competitions, and age grade teams made to be effective.

Thankfully, Keshi and his band of home-based players have started on a good note with good performances in their friendly matches. This should be sustained as Nigeria can no longer afford to be on the sidelines when the honours list of football in Africa and beyond is called.