The draw for the final round
of qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa has pitted the
Super Eagles against the likes of Mozambique, Kenya and North
African giants, Tunisia in Group B.
Football fans are predicting
that Nigerians will have a smooth ride to the World Cup given the
kind of opposition they have in the group. Like the Chairman of
Rivers State Football Association, Chris Green said, the Eagles led
by Shuaib Amodu should be grateful for being in a group with
opponents who are generally considered to be weaklings in African
football.
This makes one begins to think
of so many ‘what if’s’. What if the so called weaklings become brave
men and put up strong fighting stances? What if the Eagles become
over confident and decide to relax instead of seeing the qualifiers
as a challenge?
I think the players need to be
level-headed about this World Cup, their impressive record in the
first round of the qualifiers, notwithstanding. They must not
approach it with levity or laxity as this could spell doom for us,
considering the fact that Tunisia have qualified for the last 3
World Cups.
They should not forget that it
was the same case of over confidence in the last World Cup in
Germany where they lost out to Angola. As it is, Tunisia has already
started issuing out threats. According to the Carthage Eagles coach,
Humberto Coelho, "We have a good team and we are well organized and
I think we have the best chance in the group."
I think the task the Eagles
have is a daunting one which should not be taken lightly. If the
team does its homework well, and with the support of the Nigerian
Football Federation (NFF) and Nigerians, then I think we have a good
shot at hoisting the country’s flag in South Africa, come 2010.
Chioma Kalu,
Abia State University, Uturu.
