2013 Qualifiers: Super Eagles, Eagles, Put Nigerians Into Celebration

It was celebration galore for

Nigerian
football fans on Saturday, especially, those at the U.J. Esuene Stadium,
Calabar as the Super Eagles Secured the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations’ ticket in
grand style.

The Coach Stephen Keshi led Super Eagles trounced the Lone
Star of Liberia 6-1 in the second leg final round of qualifier to book their
place in the continental championship, 8-3 aggregate.

Less than 24 hours later at the same venue, Golden Eaglets
of Nigeria took a giant step to qualifying for the African U-17 Youth
Championship with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over their Guinean counterparts
in the first leg final round qualifying match.

With the Eaglets victory, Nigeria is 90 minutes away from
confirming their place in Morocco.

On Saturday, the Super Eagles could not have given Nigeria
and Nigerians a better gift than the decisive way they dismantled the boastful
Liberians.

The Lone Star had sneaked into the country less than 48
hours to kick off and promised to overwhelm the Super Eagles.

However, less than a minute into the crucial game, Nigeria
was set on the path of victory when right back, Efe Ambrose jumped highest to
connect a header to Victor Moses’ lofty in-swinger for the first goal.

Though it was the Liberians who seemed to settle down
quicker, inspite of being behind, with good team play, Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa
made it 2-0 in the first half after connecting Emmanuel Emenike’s  pass.

If the Lone Star played better in the first half, the Super
Eagles raised their quality in the second, starting the half like the first,
with an early goal by Victor Moses.

Afterwards, there were further goals from Mikel Obi, his
first for the Eagles, Moses, his second of the day and Super sub, Ikechukwu
Uche.

Liberia however, succeeded in denying Vincent Enyeama and
his defence a clean sheet when they scored a consolatory goal before Nigeria’s
sixth.

Before the match, most Nigerian fans and officials were
apprehensive of the eventual outcome, recalling how the team blew the ticket to
the last Nations Cup to Equatorial Guinea and Gaban.

But after the comprehensive victory, Nigerians were united
in celebration oblivious of the rain that marked the day.

Even the numerous sins of the Eagles, especially, Mikel,
were forgiven in the sea of emotions.