Guardian

Super Eagles qualification for this month’s Confederation Cup in Brazil, coupled with two World Cup qualifying matches, handed the squad a breathtaking line-up of matches. Even after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had written to FIFA for some of the matches to be re-scheduled, not much changed. YINKA ADEDIPE, ENO-ABASI SUNDAY and LEKAN OKUSAN, write that these engagements would stretch the team to the limit as they bid to prove their rating and status as African champions.

AT the end of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, Nigeria’s Super Eagles, after a master-class performance at the Confederation of African Football (CAF)-organised tournament, emerged the continent’s football champions.

Not only that, five Eagles, including goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama; defender, Efe Ambrose; midfielder, John Obi Mikel, forward, Victor Moses and striker, Emmanuel Emenike, made the Cup of Nations “All Stars Team” for their splendid display.

That top finish did not only earn Nigeria its third continental crown, it also bestowed on the African champions, the right to play in this month’s FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

As with other victories of this sort, coupled with the comment of the head coach, Stephen Keshi, in the wake of the victory that “The sky is the limit for this team,” a lot is expected from the team, especially as it bids to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The team is also expected to be a worthy African representative at the Confederations Cup, which many football lovers prefer to describe as the “Festival of Champions.”

Indeed, the Eagles are faced with a June like no other, where they are to battle other continental champions for pride in Brazil, as well as qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which will also take place in the South American country.

Just above a year ago, the senior national football team could not qualify for the continental soccer fiesta, but with the victory at the unusually close tourney, the team appears to be in the eye of the storm.

Having prosecuted the international friendly match against Mexico, which ended 2-2 in the early hours of yesterday, the Super Eagles are due to play at least six games between June 5 and 23, with the possibility of another two by June 30, if they go all the way in the Confederations Cup.

Confronted with the crowded schedule, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had approached the world’s football governing body FIFA, to secure an adjustment to the hectic schedule.

According to its spokesman, Ademola Olajire, “We looked at our fixtures for the summer and saw that it was too crowded, so webrought FIFA’s attention to it, and they have effected some slight changes.”

The slight changes effected by FIFA means that the Eagles would now take on Kenya on June 5 in their 2014 World Cup qualifier, two days earlier than originally scheduled. The African champions will then travel to Windhoek to play Namibia on June 12, two days earlier than the original schedule.

After that, the team would fly straight from Windhoek, via Johannesburg, South Africa to Belo Horizonte in Brazil, for their opening match of the Confederations Cup against Tahiti. With this arrangement, the squad would have at least three days of recovery time ahead of that game on June 17. Their other group games are against Uruguay on June 20 and Spain three days later.

From the scenario above, the Eagles would have to bear their talons sufficiently on any opponent if they must emerge from these contests with their fine feathers unruffled. This has led many football followers to call on handlers of the team to set their priorities right in order not to lose out on the main showpiece.

This development perhaps prompted newly appointed technical director of the NFF, Shaibu Amodu to declare that securing a ticket to the Mundial was the number one priority of the Federation as anything other than that would amount to misplaced priority.

The former Super Eagles coach who qualified the team twice for the World Cup finals asked, “What’s the point in winning a World Cup dress rehearsal and missing out on the big party next year?”

He added, “The World Cup is a crucial one for the country. For us, it is the most important tournament...the fans and media expect Nigeria to win the Confederations Cup, but it is less important to the team and country to be honest.”

The 55-year-old veteran of continental battles at both club and country levels, was, however, quick to caution the team to be wary of the matches against the central Africans, as well as the southern Africans as they could serve as banana peels in the Group F, where only three points separate leaders Nigeria from the Kenyan side who are first from the bottom.

“There are tricky games ahead in the World Cup qualifiers and one slip can easily change the complexion of the group,” Amodu stated, adding “every game now is a cup final for them (Eagles) and people should stop piling undue pressure on the team.”

Both Keshi and former coach of the Harambee Stars of Kenya, Nigeria’s Christian Chukwu are in sync with Amodu on the need to tread carefully in the two matches in other to avert avoidable slips.

“Yes, it is good to test yourselves against some of the best teams in a competitive level but it is not a competition to prepare the Super Eagles for better assessment,” Keshi stated adding that “when you qualify for the World Cup, which is on a global stage and the biggest tournament in the FIFA calendar, you will come face to face with the best teams from around the world.

“Kenya, Malawi and Namibia all want to stop Nigeria, we should focus our energy on beating them and secure a ticket to play in 2014. No one remembers who won the last Confederations Cup because the World Cup quickly erases everything. That is how big and important it is.”

In an interview with Supersport.com, Keshi stressed further, “I will choose qualifying for the World Cup each time. Yes, the FIFA Confederations Cup is also good but nothing beats or compares to the FIFA World Cup, that is the real deal. That is where I aim to be and where I want my players to be playing.

“Make no mistakes, we will give the tournament (Confederations Cup) our best shot, but it is really to come back next year as one of Africa’s representatives at the World Cup that we are working towards,” he states.

Chukwu, who also coached the Eagles, has warned of dire consequences should the Super Eagles still bask in the euphoria of their victory when they confront the Kenyans in the second leg of the 2014 World Cup qualifier.

He has also urged handlers of the team to use the forthcoming Confederations Cup as preparations for the World Cup qualifier against Namibia, rather than treat it with kid gloves.

According to him, “In the first leg of the World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar, Cross River State, what really pulled us back was the fact that we were over celebrating the victory we won in South Africa. That affected our performance, because we sort of lost concentration, focus and the needed seriousness.”

On what kind of encounter he sees of the match against the Kenyans, he said, “I see a very tough game because getting a draw in Nigeria has given them a very big morale boost. So we should not underrate them the way we did in Calabar. If we do, we may pay dearly for that.

“However, I know that we have an edge over them because of the experienced and more exposed players that we have. This is where we have a big advantage over them and I believe that if we capitalise on that advantage, we would overcome them in Kenya. But in terms of fitness, stamina and the rest, the Eagles should be ready for the Kenyans, who are very athletic,” the Rangers of Enugu legend stated.

Reacting to Coach Stephen Keshi’s comment that qualifying for the World Cup was more important to him than the Confederations Cup, Chukwu said, “the two exercises were important, but the World Cup qualifier is more important to us because as African champions, we need to be at the World. But if I were to be in his shoes, I would focus on the Confederations Cup as part of preparations for the World Cup qualifier.”

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Ademola Adesina thinks the crowded schedule could serve as a blessing in disguise for the team as it would help to keep the players in tip-top form especially now that now that most European leagues are off-season.

“The tight schedule for Eagles is a good development because it will help the team to be in top shape especially as most European seasons have ended. I am particularly happy that this will help the team at this point in time. After watching them play against Mexico on Saturday, I think the tight schedule will indeed help in putting the team in good shape for any challenge,” he said.

Adesina who is confident that “Keshi knows what he is doing,” stressed that “with what he did at AFCON in South Africa, it is clear that every player, whether Europe or home-based will have to fight for his shirt in the team. The era of automatic shirts being given to players in the national team is over, so I am happy with what Keshi is doing with the team.”

He expressed optimism about Nigeria’s qualification for 2014 World Cup, saying the Eagles has all it takes to make it to Brazil.   He, however, added that discipline should never be compromised else things go awry.

His words, “I have no doubt that the Super Eagles will make it to Brazil, but my concern is players’ discipline, which needs to be taken seriously. The players must listen to the coaches, follow all their instructions and not play to the gallery in any of their matches. Only this will help their campaign and I am sure the players know the importance of playing at the World Cup, which is the biggest stage for all players.”

On his take in the June 5 encounter against the Harambee Stars in Kenya, he said, “It will definitely be a difficult match because there are no minions in Africa football any longer, especially considering how they played against Eagles in Calabar.”

For former Eagles winger, Friday Elahor, the African champions would have to be at their best if they must wrestle the World Cup ticket from other contenders in the group.

Insisting that the game against Kenya remains a must win for the team, he maintained that the friendly game against Mexico should put them in good stead for the clinical finishing, which they need to keep hope alive after the unimpressive first leg.

“The game against Kenya is a must win for the Eagles if they must have any chance of qualifying for the World Cup. A win will put the team in a good position and it will also bolster their confidence ahead of the other clash against Namibia,” he stated.

Elahor added that having won the Nations Cup; the Eagles would have to prove to the world that that victory was not a fluke.

However, “The Confederations Cup is a dress rehearsal for the World Cup and so not a must win for the Eagles, so they have to commit their energy into securing a World Cup ticket. Having said that, it would also be good to put up a respectable outing at the Confederations Cup as African champions,” Oliha added.

He also said that absence of Victor Moses, who has been very good on the flanks for club and country, should not destabilise the team as it was blessed with capable replacements.

Said he, “Moses has become an integral part of the team, but I don’t think we should bother ourselves over his absence due to injury because Keshi already has a system of play that any new player can fit into. And I believe the absence of any player should not cause the team too much worry,” he added.

The Senegal “92 Nations Cup star also called on the NFF and Nigerians to support the team in its quest to make it to the World Cup.

Far from the concerns expressed by many after the duo of Moses and Kalu Uche elected to opt out of yesterday’s friendly game against Mexico, as well as, crucial World Cup qualifiers and the Confederations Cup, ex-internationals, Emmanuel Okala and Moses Kpakor are of the belief that their absence will not deplete the fortunes of the African champions in these trying times.

In fact, while Kpakor is of the opinion that with the way Keshi has tinkered with the team, capable replacements were abundant in all departments, Okala believes that fringe players would have the chance to prove their mettle in these positions.

Okala, Rangers Football Club of Enugu and Green Eagles legendary goalkeeper said, “both players have done well for Nigeria in the recent past. Now that they are ailing, it is important for them to be allowed to take care of their health considering the importance of good health to athletes in particular and humans in general.”

He said because of their pedigree, “they would be missed by the team no doubt, but this is what the team handlers can handle. Besides, their absence will give opportunities to fringe players to prove their worth.

For Kpakor, a former Super Eagles man-marker, “Moses’ injury has been very evident since he returned to base from the Africa Cup of Nations. That I think explains why he has only been starting from the bench for his club in most games in recent times.

However, “because of the work that Keshi has done by raising the team’s profile and also building a side where individual talents blend, I am very sure there are capable replacements for the duo. This is the reason I am saying that the team is not so injured by the ouster of Moses and Kalu.”