By Ahmed Issa
Nigeria
is the "Giant of Africa", with a large population and economy of over
170 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the
seventh most populous country in the world.
Situated
in the Western part of Africa, Nigeria has one of the largest populations of
youth in the world inhabited by over 500 ethnic groups, of which the three
largest are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba; these ethnic groups speak over 500
different languages, and are identified with wide variety of cultures but
always come together to support one team, the football national team.
The
national football teams always have a
way of bringing Nigerians together, it is one language all the various ethnic
groups understands in the country. They support their team with everything,
makes it a very sensitive and crucial part of the people of Nigeria.
Despite
the Shortcomings of their economy and
looting by their Political office holders, football is one great part of the
people that takes and eases the struggle of the masses in Nigeria which makes
the Nigeria Football Federation look like a National Firing Federation part of
the Ministry, you don’t mess with the national football team, you can mess with
their power supply, give them bad roads and
go away with it but don’t ever mess with the national football team, you will
know the masses have a strong voice that can reach out to the president of the
country.
Yes!
The Nigerian football teams have enjoyed their glorious moments which are a
good reflection of how the citizens of the most populated nation in Africa have
put in football. The Nigeria national football team, known as the “Super
Eagles”, is three times Champions of Africa, with their recent title in 2013,
defeating Burkina Faso in the final. During April 1994, the Super Eagles ranked
5th in the FIFA World Rankings, the highest FIFA ranking ever achieved by an
African football team. They have qualified for five of the last six FIFA World Cups,
except for the 2006 FIFA World Cup hosted in Germany and reached the round of
16 three times.
Football
power house Brazil will never forget the Dream Team of Nigeria in a famous
comeback three goals to one it was, with
the likes of Delima Ronaldo, Bebeto,
Juninho, Rivaldo on the field of play during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the team
that eventually became the first African football team to win a Gold medal in
football at the Olympics , Kanu had scored again in just 3 minutes of the extra
time and there was a new rule then “the Golden goal” (The first to score in the
extra time wins the game). People gathered in groups, sang and ran cross
country in celebration of the victory. Unbelievable! The Nigeria dream team had
beaten the almighty Brazil at the semi finals of Atlanta 96 Olympics football
event.
But
since 1998 the glorious moments faded away until recent when Stephen Keshi led
the Super Eagles to lift AFCON title in 2013, defeating Burkina Faso in the
final. The coaching job of Eagles has been a hiring and firing splendor with
Nigerians seeking for prompt results at all costs, Keshi was getting it right
with a rebuilt of the team until he lost his position for reasons; that’s a
story for another day.
Nigerians
are Impatient that’s why Sunday Oliseh have his present job as the gaffer of
the Super Eagles and if care is not taken that impatience that got
him the job will take it away from him. Prompt results is what Nigerians want
to seek, they want their darling Super Eagles to soar higher than they’ve done
not a fallout with players and crisis management
Sunday
Oliseh is brilliant no doubt about it but he will actually need our supports as
Nigerians to get the best out of him, football has gone beyond past glories that’s why
you see the likes of Wales, Northern Ireland making it to Euro 2018 and Germany
bullied Brazil at the World Cup, we need to exercise a little bit of patience,
we have the right man for the job and fortunately for Nigeria, he is ours...The
Glorious days will return soon!!!
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