Super Eagles and the World Cup.

The World Cup have crept up on us. The biggest football fiesta is here again. Tension is high. Adrenalin is pumping. Nations are lining up expectations for their respective national teams. Nigerians are not an exception. We have seen the Super Eagles on display especially against Scotland and the United States of America. We are far from impressed,but still hopeful.
   After failing to qualify Nigeria for AFCON 2012, the then coach, Samson Siasia was duly relieved of his position and Stephen Keshi took over the reins. He was able to gather Nigerian ballers together and formed a beautiful team. Despite the AFCON 2013 victory, the team was viewed by most,and yours sincerely, as a team still under construction. Nigerians were once again brought over to the side of the team after years of perpetual heart break. Emotions were high. The players became instant heroes with us. Stephen Keshi was viewed as a saviour. I have always been a fan of Stephen Keshi. From his playing days to his managerial today. So much that I celebrated his emergence as Super Eagles Supremo. We qualified for the 2014 world cup,but not without solid fight from the Ethiopians,who were seeking for their first world cup outing. But then,we qualified.
   Observers always knew that selecting players for the mundial was going to be headache for Keshi. With so many players at his disposal, we envisaged a dilemma. He released his list of thirty players first. Then subsequently released his twenty three man list. Some part of the Nigerian football community hadn't recovered from Ike Uche's absence in the first list before being hit by Sunday Mba and Ejike Uzoenyi's exclusion. Discussions and arguments arose. Especially where a certain Michael Babatunde, Joseph Yobo and Shola Ameobi were concerned. Michael Babatunde and Shola Ameobi because of their technical abilities and then Yobo,with an everlasting question as to his contribution. I honestly don't know what it is between Keshi and Yobo. But whatever it is,I hope it doesn't rob Nigeria of any game at the world cup. Maybe Keshi is doing for Yobo,what Westerhof did for him in 1994; help with amassing caps,with absolutely no contribution onfield. Some will argue he was selected for the sake of experience. That's the crap of a life time. Mikel Obi, Osaze and Enyeama can offer offer that perfectly. So I don't see exactly how Yobo's own will be different. If that was why he was selected,then he made a mess of it in the USA friendly. He was pathetic. As the most experienced player and defender on field,he couldn't run the show. Nigeria's defence was in shambles. I don't know how the rest of the country sees it but we have come to trust a central defensive pairing of Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo. In midfield, Mikel has to be at his best. He has to give 100%, if not, wahala dey. Their has to be someone pulling the strings in the midfield. I think we need one special person to sit and dictate pace and direction from the midfield. Its something Onazi or Mikel can do. I prefer Onazi to do that so Mikel can rove. But with Onazi's constant surge upfront which exposes the defence and leaves the midfield open, we have a problem. That duty should be delegated to someone. And that person must do it.
We don't know what Keshi has up his sleeve but it better be beautiful. I am sure no realistic Nigerian expect the Super Eagles to emerge the winners but a place in the semi finals is not an abomination. But with what we have seen of the team in the last two friendlies, we need to get our acts together. A miracle would not be out of place too. But then you have to work hard,do your bit before expecting any kind of help. Keshi should relegate Yobo to the bench. Play his team. I am a die hard fan of Keshi. A Keshi believer. It's so bad that whatever Keshi does in the team is okay by me. But I am still trying to lie to my senses that his selection and tactics against USA was the the right one.
   A friend told me that Keshi has nothing to prove. Self deceit. He has an awful lot to prove. If Vincente Del Bosque and Felipe Scolari have something to prove then Keshi has a tanker load of stuff to prove too. Football is a lifesaver for the average Nigerian. Even the meanest ones will always have an eye on the television set to know what becomes of the Eagles in Brazil. Keshi should get it right. Listen to his conscience and the soul whisper of over one hundred million Nigerians and give us a nice outing. Like earlier said,no realistic Nigerian expects the team to emerge world champions. All we desire is a decent outing. But who knows...just maybe we could go on to win the championship! Haha...a one full month public holiday await us if that happens. Orgasmic feeling! In Nigeria,we eat and drink football. Keshi,NFF and the players know this. So I guess they won't toss the minds of Nigerians.