Super Eagles at AFCON: An impending disaster or fairytale title?

BY SUNDAY OMEIKE

The Super Eagles of Nigeria may most likely implode in Ivory Coast and further embarrass the famed giants of Africa. The team has set out for doom since reason failed its handlers – read technical committee – in the choice of a coach.

The urge to spend in dollars despite forex scarcity saw NFF globe-trot before arriving at Jose Peseiro of shining glory. The same man rejected by protesting fans before assuming duty as coach of Al Ahly SC in the UAE was deemed the best choice for the prideful nation called Nigeria.

The same coach who failed spectacularly at his last job with the Venezuelan national team with just one win in his 10-game tenure, including embarrassing the nation at the Copa America; the coach who has not defeated a top 50 nation in the FIFA ranking since he assumed duty and has sworn an oath of allegiance to Francis Uzoho in injury and off-form.

The 63-year-old is not a specialist in failure though, as he won the Egyptian Super League with Al Ahly, the country’s foremost club that has “local players” replete in the national team, but the man dubbed “Akute Jose” cannot muster selecting from the NPFL. A goalkeeper crisis unravelled in his presence but he has refused alternatives in the local league despite the heroics of Doma United’s Kingdom Osayi who racked up nine consecutive clean sheets – over 800 minutes of football – and has only conceded in four of 17 NPFL matches so far.

There is also Sodiq Ismail of Remo Stars, a right-back with 10 assists in 15 matches, and a diverse cross-range that keeps opposition defences confused. Yet, Peseiro has maintained the tradition of inviting players from the lower rung of European football instead of polishing rough diamonds at home — a policy that has not yielded positive outcomes in competitions.

However, as Nigerians, we believe in miracles and I must say my religious mind sees a fairytale story in the works somewhere regardless of the myriad of issues; a coach whose first name and remote affiliation to Jose Mourinho earned him the job; an NFF carcass left behind by Lord Amaju Pinnick, and an unresolved goalkeeper problem. The list also includes a defence without pedigree, a midfield on bare bones, and an overloaded attack that indicates the coaching crew believes goals will rain down based on the number — no offence to world-class Victor Osimhen.

Given these problems, to return home with the AFCON trophy, the Eagles will require a miracle of gargantuan proportion that would spark weeks of commentary not dedicated to the tactical acumen of the coaching crew but to how the impossible seemed nothing in the face of the fearless Eagles.

In conclusion, the Super Eagles’ performance, wherever the pendulum swings, will become a database of content for social media, and don’t bet against the inspirational quotes if (not when) we claim a miraculous AFCON title. Go, Super Eagles, to ruin or glory. Destiny beckons in Drogba-land.