MAROC 2015: NFF, Keshi And Super Eagles

The need for Nigeria to qualify for the
next African Cup of Nations (AFCON)
championship is perhaps the most topical issue among football-loving Nigerians who have adopted the round-leather game as an escape from some real challenges.
President Goodluck Jonathan, under whose watch Nigeria’s Super Eagles won the AFCON in January 2013 for the third time is no less concerned as his intervention in the lingering crisis at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was to restore peace and prepare the National team for the AFCON Challenge.
Already there are apprehensions over  whether or not Nigeria, the defending champions will  qualify, following the Super Eagles’ loss of a home tie 2-3 to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Calabar the subsequent 1-1 draw with South Africa and a 0-1loss to Sudan.
As if that was not enough cause for worry, the contract of  the nation’s head coach Stephen Keshi who took the Super Eagles to the 2013 AFCON victory expired when the Nigeria Football Federation was embroiled in leadership tussle that risked FIFA ban.
Indeed, but for the back-stage actions that may have led to the striking out of the case against the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at the Federal High Court, Jos, just in time for the FIFA October 31, 2014, deadline to pull out the suit, FIFA’s hammer would have ensured Nigeria’s ban from the 2015 AFCON and the nation’s participation in other competitions organised by it.
With the bad blood that may have been created by the NFF crisis and the earlier steps to drop the coach, the prospect of taking the remaining two games to qualify may have been made more challenging, but it is a task that must be done.
Happily, the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan has brought some peace and provided the ground for stakeholders to build on. Nigeria now looks to the NFF, Coach Keshi and the team to put the past behind and do Nigeria proud once again.
Interestingly, NFF National Technical Director, Shuaibu Amodu, who on October 16, 2014 was deployed to take over the Super Eagles following the purported sack of Keshi has asked that Keshi be allowed to prosecute the remaining critical two matches.
Commendably too, Keshi has confirmed his return by announcing the call-up of 25 players including playmaker Ikechukwu Uche whose non-inclusion in the team for nearly two years had also created some bad press for Keshi.
No doubt, Keshi is a hero, perhaps the second African to win the AFCON trophy both as a player and as a coach. This achievement came through hardwork and discipline. But more is still expected from him and his team and they cannot afford to fail Nigeria now.
Keshi must appreciate that this is an opportunity to mend fences with the NFF leadership, the players he may have had reasons not to pick before and the media. He must ensure that the best players are used to prosecute these critical matches.
On the other hand, the NFF should give Keshi and the coaching crew all the support they require to ensure qualification. The authorities should back him in any way possible to enable him prepare a killer squad that can deliver the goals.
In addition to preparing the team into a killer-squad, the players should have the benefit of timely acclimatisation with the pitch of the new Uyo modern stadium.
It is important that the players who are privileged to make the team, see themselves as the men on a serious national assignment. Therefore, maximum commitment and patriotism is required of them. They should appreciate that adorning the national colours is a rare privilege to represent and sacrifice for ones father land.