Onyekakeyah: Nations Cup: Doing what amalgamation could not

eagles-winTHE enthusiasm and patriotic spirit with which Nigerians of all shades awaited and cheered the final match of the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Johannesburg shows that football is a more potent force to unite Nigeria beyond what amalgamation could do. There is no doubt that football has done what amalgamation could not do, assuming that the architects of that project had unity at the back of their mind. Having been forced into the marriage, as it were, the country has no other choice than to explore avenues to forge national unity. Football has proven to be the master stroke.

At any point in time, Nigerians have demonstrated that football remains the trump card that could forge national unity. Nothing else seems to have the capacity to unite Nigerians. Not even the century old amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria protectorates. The two major religions – Christianity and Islam have not been able to unite Nigerians. The national flag is not reckoned with by Nigerians. Nigerians segregate in no small way in every other platform. The Nigerian philosophy doesn’t seem to register strongly. But where every other thing has failed, football has succeeded.

So, what do we do? How do we crystallize the power of football to realise the Nigerian dream? How about making football the new religion if only to forge national unity? I mean religion in the sense of having something that is of value and common interest to Nigerians. It is sad that Nigeria’s quest for supremacy in soccer has not been consistently bright. At one time, the country shines but at other times it fails woefully to show any appreciable performance. The lull in goals since the country lifted the Nations Cup in 1994 is a case in point. Something needs to be done to make football more meaningful and impactful in Nigeria. The authorities should think in the direction of making football to be part of the daily life experience of Nigerians. Maybe, that could help us forget that we are Ibo, Hausa, Yoruba, or other ethnic group.

The lifting of the Nations Cup by Nigeria in South Africa has re-invigorated the spirit of most people to once again believe in Nigeria. Coming at a time when cherry news is scarce, the trophy has brought life into a citizenry wearied by mounting graft in high places, bloodbath and economic hardship. It is amazing that in the course of the soccer excitement between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, people literally forgot their problems. Everyone cheered the Super Eagles. The mammoth crowd that besieged the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos to view the encounter on the wide television screen left no one in doubt that Nigerians were solidly united in the game. The stadium was charged from the beginning to the end. Thank God that Nigeria lifted the trophy; otherwise, I don’t know what would have happened, how that crowd would have reacted if Nigeria had lost.

The 2013 edition of the Nations Cup, which kicked off on January 26, started on a rather lousy note for Nigeria. The lack-luster performance of the Super Eagles in the first round encounters made people wonder what the team was up to this time around. The first opening group match with Burkina Faso ended in a 1-1 draw. The same was the second match with Zambia. It was only the third leg match with Ethiopia that Nigeria recorded a 2 – 1 victory. That cleared way for Nigeria into the quarter-final match with the tournament favorite, Cote d’Ivoire. It was a slim chance for Nigeria to get to the quarter. The underrating of football teams from other African countries, while at the same time reveling in past glory, has often been the undoing of the Super Eagles. This and other internal issues bordering on football maladministration contributed in keeping Nigeria away from victory for 19 years.

Somehow, it was after Nigeria crossed the Rubicon by beating Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter-final to get to the semi-final that a ray of hope came for lifting the Cup. Though the goal margin wasn’t much, Cote d’Ivoire goalkeeper, Boubacar, at the end of the match, compared Nigeria to Brazil. He said that they played “Brazil” and not Nigeria because the Super Eagles mimicked the Brazilians in the pitch. They were everywhere and overwhelmed the Ivorians. Team captain, Didier Drogba predicted that Super Eagles had what it takes to lift the trophy.

Nigeria’s encounter with Mali in the semi-final was a show of football prowess on the part of the Super Eagles. There was clear manifestation of superiority in the match from the beginning to the end. The 4 – 1 victory over Mali wasn’t very much expected. The Malians showed signs of an emerging club side with promising future. It was the victory over Mali that shot Nigeria to the final match, where the Super Eagles had to once again meet Burkina Faso that held them 1 – 1 draw in the first group match of the tournament. The stake was raised. It was going to be a make or mar encounter.

Ordinarily, for Nigeria to encounter Burkina Faso in the final match wouldn’t have been something to worry about given that The Stallions have featured sparingly in the tournament. As a matter of fact, the 2013 competition is their first ever appearance in the final match. But by holding Nigeria to a 1 – 1 draw in the opening match and going ahead to beat the Black Stars of Ghana 3 – 2 in penalty shoot-out, there was everything to fear. My people say, if you wake up in the morning and a chicken starts pursuing you, you should run for you don’t know whether the chicken had developed teeth in the night. That captured the mood of the Burkina Faso. They have upset every calculation to progress to the final. That was enough reason to be apprehensive.

As for Nigeria, the opportunity she has been waiting for since 1994, when she beat Zambia 2 – 1 to lift the Cup appeared to have finally come. It would be unforgivable to miss this great chance after years of lull performance. Therefore, no stone should be left unturned in lifting the trophy this time around with its $1.5 million cash award. To boost the morale of the team, wealthy Nigerians made mouth-watering pledges. The Federal Government also sent a high-powered six-man delegation led by the Senate President, David Mark to South Africa to boost the team’s morale. As the match was scheduled to kick off about 7.30pm, Nigerian time, the atmosphere between Nigeria and South Africa was charged to the fullest not minding the distance.

When the match finally kicked off there was impressive performance from both sides, even though the Super Eagles dominated the game. The pressure put by Jonathan Pitroipa, Mohamed Koffi and Aristide Bance supported by Henry Traore and Koulinaly in the defense did not save the day for the Stallions. The Super Eagles demonstrated superiority with Kenneth Omeruo, Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, Ideye and Sunday Mba with Elderson Echiejile and Azubuike in the defence. Vincent Enyeama wedged the post. It was an unexpected left shot by Mba near the opponent’s post that gave Nigeria the long awaited victory in the 40th minute of the first half. The second half lingered and Nigerians were breathless as the Stallions fought like wounded lion to equalize, which never materialized.

When the Algerian referee, Slim Jedidi blew the final whistle after an extra four minutes time, there was wide jubilation across the world wherever Nigerians were present. From South Africa to Lagos, the ovation was extraordinary. In Lagos, for instance, over-joyous fans blew fireworks (bangas) into the night sky. The victory was like showers of blessing on Nigerians after a long dryness.

Now that the tournament has been won, what next? What are the Nigerian football authorities going to do to sustain this victory as well as win more laurels? The football authorities have been embroiled in all sorts of in-fighting and financial scandals for quite some time. What is being done to ensure that Nigeria re-occupies her pride of place in the Africa and FIFA ranking? There are unconfirmed reports that despite the victory, the Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi is threatening to resign? Why? Instead of dislocating what seems to be a stable team with its local coach, the authorities should build on what has been achieved for a better performance in the future.