Nigeria, Tunisia Know Fate Today
By Igho Otomewo
TODAY'S FIFA World Cup Group B qualifiers between Nigeria's Super Eagles and Kenya's Harambee Stars in Nairobi and Black Mambas of Mozambique against Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in Maputo will decide which among the two Eagles wins the lone ticket to the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup.
At present, the permutation and expectations of most Nigerians are laden with uncertainties as to whether or not the Super Eagles could shoot down the Harambee Stars of Kenya and the ability of Mozambique's Black Mambas to live up to its boast of clipping the strong wings of Tunisia's Carthage Eagles.
Already, the atmosphere is charged and palpable anxiety pervades the air as the Shaibu Amodu-led Eagles file out to the pitch this evening with the hope of re-enacting the form that saw them beating the Kenyans for the umpteenth time during the first leg of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June at the Abuja National Stadium.
Kenya and Nigeria have met 10 times with Nigeria winning nine games, the other game being a draw. Of the total 32 goals recorded in the 10 games, Nigeria is ahead with 28 goals and would be hoping to increase the tally during this encounter.
On the other hand, Kenya who would be having its fourth World Cup qualifier against Nigeria, the first and second being in 1997 ahead the France 1998 World Cup, hopes to revenge the injury Nigeria inflicted on it when the Eagles stopped the Harambee Stars from berthing at that year's event.
The first leg of the qualifier was played on January 27, 1997 at the bumpy Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. A newly assembled and inexperienced Kenyan team led by the late German Coach, Reinhardt Fabisch held the star studded Phillip Troussier-led Eagles 1-1 in front of over 60,000 home fans. With the home draw, Kenya garnered 10 points and a win in the return game would have ensured its presence in France but that was not to be as Nigeria sealed the fate of the East African country with a 3-0 thumping.
Those were the days when the Eagles were revered by teams in Africa. But following Nigeria's failure to reach the last edition of the World Cup tagged Germany 2006, coupled with the current form of the Eagles during recent encounters, critics are skeptical about the possibility of Nigeria defeating Kenya in Kasarani.
Despite the doubts in most Nigerians' minds, former Green Eagles defender, Emeka Ezeugo, told The Guardian in Lagos last weekend that nothing could stop Nigeria from defeating Kenya once again. He is also of the opinion that Mozambique who according to him, was being propelled by the desire to make a safe landing at the Nations Cup, would beat Tunisia in its home soil.
He said, "I am very confident that the Super Eagles will defeat the Harambee Stars when they meet next weekend. Nigeria has never lost to Kenya both at home or away and this match will not be different because we have the players, we have the techniques and experience as well as the exposure. Although I can not say by what margin the game will end."
Ezeugo, who is one of the top contenders for the Super Falcons coaching job, however, advised that the Eagles should not execute the game with levity, saying that no team can be relegated to the background. He also warned that Nigerian players might experience difficulty playing under Kenya's unfriendly weather condition.
Continuing, he said, "Nigeria failed to make it to the Germany 2006 World Cup because we lost to Angola based on the head-to-head encounters between the two countries. And now that the event is taking place for the first time in Africa, it is unthinkable that Nigeria would not be there. I don't care how they do it but I want Nigeria to be there at all cost because it will be devastating to the morale of the players, soccer loving Nigerians and the rating of Nigeria by FIFA, as well as the image of the country.
"It is possible that Mozambique will beat Tunisia. Why I think so is because Mozambique is currently in the third position in Group B and a win against the Tunisians will give them a place at the Nations Cup. And so the Black Mambas will go all out and do everything possible to see that they defeat Tunisia on their home soil", he said.
Preparing for this encounter, Super Eagles coach, Amodu Shaibu who still enjoys the backing of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) despite the call by Nigerians for his sack following the team's 2-2 draw with the Carthage Eagles in Abuja, called 22 tested players for this game.
The players include; Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Greg Etafia (Moroka Swallows), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda). Defenders: Onyekachi Apam (Nice), Uwa Echiejile (Stade Rennais), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow), Taye Taiwo (Olympique de Marseille), Joseph Yobo (Everton), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion), Danny Shittu (Bolton), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam). Midfielders: John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Seyi Olofinjana (Hull City), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev), Sani Kaita (Lokomotiv Moscow), Oluwafemi Ajilore (Groningen). Strikers: Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg), Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton), Michael Eneramo (Esperance), Victor Obinna (Malaga), Joseph Akpala (Club Brugge). The players arrived in Nigeria on Monday and depart for Nairobi aboard a chartered flight on Thursday.
In contrast, Harambee Stars' Head coach, Antoine Hey's job came under threat on Tuesday following Football Kenya Limited's (FKL) order to the German tactician to win against the Eagles or leave the team. That was after Hey had told Kenya's Daily Nation that only confidence and self-belief could give the team victory over Nigeria. Beating Nigeria, according to him, was the life line the team needed to berth in Angola.
Feelers coming from the Kenyan camp indicate that the team may be playing today's tie without Hey who was said to have boycotted the team in protest of FKL's decision to include the duo of midfielder Jamal Mohammed and defender Edgar Ochieng in the squad without his consenting to it.
The duo are among four players called up by FKL to shore up the national squad ahead of today's final leg FIFA World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations group qualifier.
Two weeks ago, FKL First Vice Chairman, Titus Kasuve, and Second Vice Chairman, Erastus Okul, disturbed by Kenya's poor run in the World Cup qualifiers, called up Jamal, Ochieng, France-based striker Dennis Oliech, who plays for FC Auxerre, and midfielder Emmanuel Ake, who plies his trade in Denmark.
In FKL's view, Ake and Jamal are capable of filling the gap left by midfielders Robert Mambo and McDonald Mariga, who have been knocked out by injuries. Mariga turns out for Italian Serie A side, Parma, while former captain Mambo plays for Sweden's GIF Sundsvall. Deputy coach Twahir Muhidin had since taken charge of the team.
Meanwhile FKL chairman, Mohammed Hatimy is leaving nothing to chance to ensure that the team record a win against the Eagles while hoping that Mozambique lose to Tunisia by a three goal margin, so as to secure a place at the Africa Nations Cup in Angola. He said, "We want Kenyans to give all the support they can to Harambee Stars so that we win here and qualify for Angola. We need to ensure we fill up Kasarani to capacity and cheer the team on".
