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Can Eagles Rule Africa Again?

Hopefor Nigeria August 4, 2013 Sports No Comments on Can Eagles Rule Africa Again?
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After helping the home-based Super Eagles qualify for the 2014 African Nations Championship, coach Stephen Keshi has an uphill task of leading the squad to glory in South Africa, reports ‘TANA AIYEJINA

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi achieved another first in Nigerian football when he led the home-based Super Eagles to qualify for their first-ever African Nations Championship in 2014.

 

It was a sweet relief for Nigerian followers of the game as the Eagles managed to hang on in Abidjan and qualify 4-3 on aggregate for the competition scheduled for South Africa early next year.

 

It is Nigeria’s first qualification in three attempts having lost to Ghana and Niger in their quest to qualify for the first two tournaments in 2009 and 2011.

 

Interestingly, the Nigerians will be returning to South Africa as champions of Africa courtesy of their Africa Cup of Nations triumph in February.

 

Keshi has given the domestic league a huge boost with his inclusion of a considerable number of home-based players in the senior national team. And expectations are expectedly high of a fine outing by the team next year.

 

“We can conquer the continent again,” Sunshine and Nigeria defender, Godfrey Oboabona said.

 

CHAN is a competition for African players playing in their domestic leagues and Oboabona may probably not be eligible for the tournament when it kicks off next year due to interests from numerous European clubs.

 

But the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner doesn’t doubt the capability of the squad put together by Keshi and believes Nigeria boasts the best players in Africa.

 

Oboabona said, “We have some of the most exposed players in Africa and that is an advantage for us. Some members of the home-based Eagles like myself, (Chigozie) Agbim and Azubuike Egwuekwe were part of the 2013 Nations Cup and Confederations Cup squads.

 

“It has helped us in terms of experience and playing at the big level. CHAN is an opportunity to tell Africa and the world that we truly have one of the best leagues and players in Africa. We can make it again.”

 

Seasoned coach, Godfrey Esu, believes the home-based players have what it takes to win the tournament but he fears that the poor administration of the league may rub off on Nigeria’s chances if “we don’t put our house in order.”

 

The former Enyimba coach said, “We’ve got the players, we’ve got the coaches but things are not in order. Look at what happened to Kano Pillars on their way back from their Federation Cup match. Enyimba played in Nasarawa, from there they went to Abuja to play 3SC.

 

“They could not go to their base to reinforce; they went straight to Abeokuta to play the Federation Cup quarter-final. Now they still cannot get to Aba. They had to proceed to Maiduguri for their next game. How can players perform under such circumstances?

 

“If we put our house in order, I don’t see any country beating us in Africa.”

 

He added that finance and its management was a major problem in the league.

 

“Even when the finance is there, the managers manage it wrongly. These are the things we lack. If we can put all these things in order, I don’t see any African country beating us at both club and national team levels.

 

“I have travelled round and I have seen the quality of players the North Africans have. They are not better than our own.”

The former 3SC manager also cited lack of continuity as a hinderance to Nigeria ruling African football.

 

“North Africans can stay in a club for as long as 15 years; there is no need for them to move to Europe because they are well-paid there but it is not so with us. Individually, they are not better than us but their system is better.

 

“My fear is that when it is time for the competition, all the players that were involved in the qualifiers would have moved to Europe and we will start looking for new set of players.

 

“I am happy with the confidence Keshi has in the local boys. The former coach hardly included any home-based player in his squad.

 

Former Super Eagles hard-as-nails defender, Taribo West, is unequivocal on the Eagles chances of winning the competition.

 

He insists Keshi has a large player-base to chose from even if his key players like Oboabona, Muhammadu Gambo, Sunday Mba and others would soon join foreign clubs.

 

“It’s possible; we can win it. We have a very good squad. In the (2013) Nations Cup, we had an incredible six home-based players in the squad. That is a sign that we have a good team. They learnt a lot from their foreign-based counterparts.

 

“I think Keshi has a large pool of substitutes to pick from even though people were not happy with his experiment at the Confederations Cup. But the competition was an eye-opener for the boys he took there and it will be an advantage of the team,” Taribo said.

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