To New Zealand to conquer

If everything fits well, expectations of a glorious outing hit feverish level; Nigeria could be the team on everyone’s lips in New Zealand.

Never has there been so much faith on a group of boys who have found, perhaps, for the first time, an inexplicable joy and satisfaction of playing for Manu Garba, a coach whose knack for strict camp discipline often outshines his credentials of being the fourth handler to lead Nigeria to a World Cup triumph in 2013.

When these boys play, hopes easily grow among the soccer populace that they can do better. And when they win, nobody appears flattered that they are not stretching themselves to the limits.

No doubt, the squad are a side to reckon with.

Their journey to the top as Africa’s reigning youth champions not only reveals their strength-in-depth but also their competitiveness. On their day, they can take the beautiful game to dream heights.

If I were Ace Ventura, the Jim Carey’s character in the award-winning movie Pet Detective, I will use his famous “gotch ya” message: “You have just been had by Ace Ventura, Pet Detective.”

Replace some focus key words like New Zealand with Chile and Manu Garba with Christopher Udemezue, then you have a five-paragraph intro written by Mitchel Obi in his preview of the Flying Eagles campaign for Chile 1987 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The similarities between the 1987 and 2015 World Cup bound Flying Eagles are too striking to be mere coincidence.

Talented players

Willy Okpara, Peter Nieketien, John Ene Okon, Nduka Ugbade, Adeolu Adekola, Ikponwosa Omoregie, Jonathan Akpoborie, Etim Esin, Lawrence Ukaegbu, Victor Igbinoba, Thompson Oliha, and Nosa Osadolor were in perilous forms going into Chile ’87.

And 28 years later, those players have practically metamorphosed into Joshua Enaholo, Musa Muhammed, Prince Omego, Bernard Bulbwa, Kingsley Sokari, Success Isaac, Kelechi Iheanacho, Musa Yahaya, Chidiebere Nwakali, Taiwo Awoniyi, Moses Simon, and Chidera Ezeh.

Good foundation!

Graduating players

The two squads had players from the U-17 teams graduating to the next level – the U-20s.

Sani Adamu, Nduka Ugbade, Jonathan Akpoborie, Lucky Agbonsevbafe, and Victor Igbinoba were in the first Golden Eaglets of 1985 and they made the Chile ’87 squad as well. While the current Flying Eagles have Musa Muhammed, Dele Alampasu, Success Isaac, Kelechi Iheanacho, Saviour Godwin, Chidiebere Nwakali, Chidera Ezeh, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Zaharaddeen Bello from the 2013 U-17 squad.

Transformation agenda!

Graduating coaches

The Nigeria Football Association (1985) and Federation (2013) didn’t want to separate the geese (Christopher Udemezue and Manu Garba) that laid the golden eggs (Golden Eaglets) from well, its eggs so they decided to graduate the coaches as well.

Common sense!

Success, a common denominator

Perhaps the most striking coincidence in both teams is what they achieved prior to the U-20 World Cups.

Udemezue won gold at the U-16 World Cup in China ’85, but Garba equalled the feat in United Arab Emirates in 2013.

Also, the two teams enjoyed the tag “Africa champions” going into the U-20 World Cups.

Success power!

28 years

That’s the number of years that separate Nigeria’s first from the most recent triumphs at the U-17 World Cup achieved by the two coaches mentioned earlier.

That’s also the number of years it has taken the Flying Eagles to be tipped for the U-20 World Cup between Chile ’87 and New Zealand 2015.

28 years no longer a “slave”!

Brazil!

In 1987, Nigeria played Brazil in their first match of the World Cup. The 4-0 loss is not why we are talking about the Samba boys as the team’s campaign in 2015 starts.

They will meet Brazil again. And, yes, in their first game.

Also, the Flying Eagles will aim for a first-ever victory and first goal against the five-time champions  on Monday at the Stadium Taranaki in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Both countries have met four times at the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Brazil winning three games and the fourth ending 0-0.

They first met at Mexico 1983 where Brazil gave Nigeria a 3-0 debut loss.

The second encounter was in the USSR in 1985, where Nigeria “bettered” the result of the previous tournament losing 2-0 in the semi-finals.

We won’t remind you of the massacre in Chile but in Holland 2005, Nigeria didn’t end up in the losing side.

Progress!

The difference is clear

The only difference to the build-up to both tournaments is that a star player in the 2015 squad has not been shot – yet!

Etin Esin lived to tell the story after the September 2, 1987 incident but Kelechi Iheanacho is not ready to anchor his own version of Tales by Moonlight!

The crash in Chile

After three group games, the Flying Eagles of Nigeria – one of the favourites to win the U-20 World Cup in Chile – were out of the competition.

So, what went wrong?

TheCable spoke to Peter Nieketien, a member of arguably Nigeria’s finest team ever.

Q: Prior to Chile ’87, the Flying Eagles conquered Africa and were expected to do very well at the World Cup. The expectations of the fans were very high. But it was dashed. What really went wrong?

A: We were not lucky as a team. Also, we didn’t get pre-information of the Brazilian team and how they play.

Q: With the talent in the team, it was expected you will overcome that setback and bounce back against Canada and Italy? What happened in those games?

A: The game against Canada was the breaking point. We needed a win to advance but we conceded a last minute equaliser after playing a very good game. That’s why I said it was ill-luck. After that draw, the team lost hope of qualifying again.

Q: This current set has similar traits with your set. African champions; talented players; graduating players from victorious U-17 two years earlier; huge expectations from Nigerians. What do you advise them to do not to end up like your set?

A: They are lucky to have well-trained and informed coaches in Nduka Ugbade and Manu Garba. Nduka was part of our experience, and I believe he’s not gonna fall a victim twice. But the boys shouldn’t be carried away with all the media hypes. Concentration and self-belief should be the watch word. They should approach the game with all seriousness and caution. No too much respect for the Brazilian team and no lack of concentration. The boys should also play as a team and unit. No individual ambitions and target. With luck and injury free players, I believe the boys are up to the task. They will deliver.

Q; Can they win the country’s first gold in a U-20 event?

A: We have a group of talented boys that are winners anytime, any day. Let’s just pray for luck and injury free tournament.

Only seven matches separate coaches Garba and Ugbade from beating the world.

You have been had once again by Ace Ventura, Pet Detective!