Super Eagles And CHAN 2014

Last Saturday in Abidjan the Super Eagles “Team B”. secured a historic qualification for the 2014 African Nations Championship after a comprehensive 4-3 aggregate victory over the Elephants of Cote d’Ivorie. The home-based Eagles in the second leg of their tie with the Ivorians lost 0-2, but secured the ticket having beaten their opponents 4-1 in the first leg of the encounter in Kaduna.
The Ivoirians had raced to a 2-0 lead before the half time in Saturday’s encounter, and raised doubts about the Eagles’ ability to defend their lead. However, the Super Eagles showed strength of character and determination to hold on to the end at the Stade Robert Chambroux.
The Super Eagles’ victory is significant and heart-warning as it is Nigeria’s first qualification to play in this championship which is exclusively for footballers in their countries’ domestic league.
It would be recalled that Ghana had shut out the Eagles in the inaugural edition of the championship in 2009, while the Super Eagles’ path to Sudan 2011 was barred by Niger Republic. Nigeria now joins Ghana, Uganda, Morocco, Libya, Mauritania, Ethiopia and hosts South Africa in the 16-team finals which begins January 11 next year.
While we join other patriotic Nigerians to salute the courage and determination of the Eagles and their officials in achieving this historic feat, we think that the feat calls for more work and commitment.  This is moreso because the Super Eagles had at a point decided not to take part in the qualifying series because of lack of funds but later reversed that decision.
Following a history of endless squabbles within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), effective administration of  football in Nigeria has become a thing of worry, leading to the attendant poor performance by the teams. This leads to poor planning and preparation for competitions, inability to attract sponsors, lack of funds to pay team handlers and match bonuses among others.
We therefore commend the Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and the Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi for brokering peace in the NFF recently. The gains of that understanding must be seen in the way CHAN 2014 is prosecuted.
It is imperative that the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and his executive build on the existing peace as nothing can be achieved in an atmosphere of acrimony. If the Super Eagles “Team B” is to repeat the feat that won Nigeria the Nations Cup in South Africa earlier in the year, preparations must commence in earnest now.
The Super Eagles under Coach Stephen Keshi have come a long way in terms of quality of performance and Nigerians are becoming proud of their teams again. But the attack of the Eagles still lack the needed bite that earn goals.  Therefore, ahead of 2014 CHAN Championship, the Super Eagles handlers must  sharpen the team’s attack, while ensuring that the defence is impregnable.
The NFF and the Sports Ministry should work harmoniously to provide the players and their handlers the conducive atmosphere needed for success.
Against the backdrop of financial constraints that nearly aborted the Super Eagles participation in the qualifiers, it is important that the NFF, the Sports Ministry and corporate orgnaisations ensured that money does not become an issue for this campaign in South Africa.
The home-based Eagles, on their part must appreciate that they stand to reap the greater dividend of bright professional career abroad if they put in their best and win the championship. Therefore, all hands must be on deck for the home-based Eagles to repeat the feat achieved earlier this year in South Africa in the Nations Cup competition.