By Dally Sports on November 27, 2018

Congratulations to the Super Falcons and true to predictions and type qualified from its group in her onward journey to defend the trophy she won in Cameroun two years ago.  The Nigerian women picked the piece and pieces after the careless opening game loss to arch rivals, South Africa which must have taught the highly experienced team (that, of course, is a mixture of the young and the experienced), a big lesson they must exploit in this summit and beyond.

As it is now, the massive victory if you like by the Super Falcons thus set up yet another anticipated tough encounter between it and arch-rivals Cameroun in the next game on Tuesday. It is already making rounds within and outside the camps of analysts as one game that the winner may likely emerge as the champions of this tournament. The 2016 finals images loom.

The game with South Africa was one match the Falcons should have won convincingly but regrettably allowed overconfidence to undo them.  Little wonder, therefore, the girls came back smoking, scoring ten goals in two matches against Zambia and Equatorial Guinea.  Falcons are aware that from now on there won’t be a second chance any longer. The knock out stage is here and this calls for vigilance and fewer mistakes. The Nigerians know better and their technical crew also will map out steady and winning strategies that would guide the squad aright, not only to ensure it defends the Cup but the one that would guarantee next edition of the World Cup ticket to her. We will keep our fingers crossed as the championship AWCON continues to thicken.

Victor Nosa Ikpeba is an ex-international who made his football mark internationally and on the Super Eagles line up. He is critically part and parcel of Westerhof’s squad.  Last week he made significant observations as it concerns the engine room of the Super Eagles, the midfield. Many would prefer calling it middle of the pack due to its strategic role in a team’s output or otherwise in games. Football matches are often won and lost from this all-important department in the game. It is against the above inflammable colouration therefore that tacticians weave their match plans, deploying imaginative and game-changing strategies as the teams take opponents head-on.

It is on that note that last week’s observation and concern raised by who should know, Victor Nosa Ikpeba must not be heard by one group or seen as a sound bite. In short, he was a household name in his liege one team FC Monaco, a French top club side.

He became a regular in Super Eagles squad when it was simply star-studded side. He has his head up and picked a regular shirt in the team’s line up. He was one of Clemens Westerhof favourites and he did not disappoint when the chips were down. His exploits attracted to him, the nickname of Prince of Monaco, although he vehemently denied this in one of my numerous interviews during my great and good old days in the Daily Times.

I remember vividly that the Eagles were lodged in Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja during one of the qualifying games. I had been roundly briefed by my no-nonsense Sports Editor of Sunday Times, Mr Ikpo Igbinoba on the line of story to look out for and grab.

Recall that the Editor of Sunday Times was Mr Tunde Ipinmisho whose eyes for good copy is par excellence and allotting back page of the then Sunday Times to Sports meant we ran super exclusive stories.

When I saw Ikpeba, I teased him by hailing him Prince of Monaco. A broad smile came upon his face and quickly followed by I’m not Prince of Monaco! It caught me and pronto my day was made. I asked some questions around it to beef up the exclusive. The rest is now history. I digress.

He topped up his career as one time Africa Football of the Year. He is thus a force to be reckoned with as regards his view (s) on any football issue (s) anytime he does. He was in the news last week where he told point blank to Super Eagles technical hand, Gernot Rohr to ensure he painstakingly scout deeply and beef up the team’s midfield with imaginative young players.

He was on point. His views carry weight. He is not known to speak on the drop of a hat; neither is he known to blow hot or cold at the same time.  It meant that his call to beef up that area must be heeded promptly. He played the game to the highest level and won laurels. He was a World Cup player. He is among the squad of the Eagles that won 1994 AFCON enroute the first ever World Cup in the USA.

He is not just a nobody. There would be no excuse on why Nigeria would not storm Cameroun with a suicide squad for the 2019 AFCON football summit. What his alarm meant is advocacy for an all-conquering team that would be complete in all departments and compete decisively for the prime diadem. Nigerians are thirsty to drink from the Cup since after 2013 in South Africa.

According to Ikpeba, this is the time to ensure it will be a one-stop team for the battle in Cameroun in 2019. Nigeria has depth when it comes to players. The materials are there and no technical hand worth his salt would be in short supply if he knows his onions on the round leather game. Time for stories must truly be gone for good. Young and energetic lads roaring to go are there in their hundreds waiting to be called upon. It is therefore incumbent on Rohr and his assistants to brace up and throw up a team that would face squarely any of the strongest countries in the championship.

Nigerians said in one voice that it won’t be business as usual in AFCON 2019. Therefore now is the time to get everything going and stead the team for the ultimate challenge. Ikpeba did not mince words by raising this alarm of great importance. While NFF executive committee led by Amaju Pinnick would be arming the team with funds for adequate and thorough preparation, Rohr must wake up and ensure there won’t be half measure or taking a half-baked team to Africa’s most prestigious football championship.

Consequent upon that, therefore, Ikpeba’s view is my view. There is no better way to contribute towards building a team of choice or championship team than this timely contribution by Victor Nosa Ikpeba. It was candid and of great note. He knew the terrain and the only way forward by Rohr is to sit back and get down to the real great job that would bring near perfection to the team that would turn out to become one of the sides in the tournament that would turn out to become world’s great.

This clarion call and critical observation by one of Nigeria’s best ex-internationals must not fall on deaf ears and dumb mouths. Ikpeba is not known to be one to be economical with the truth. His years in the national team can vividly attest. In short, if you said he was one of the fearless lads then you won’t be far at all from it.

One prays that this would not be swept under the carpet as one of those statements. It won’t be easy come 2019 AFCON and so Nigeria would not afford to play a second fiddle, no more no less. Daily Sports readers and fans are stepping it up further on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.  Stick with the fearless and the holds-no-barred all sports portal. Keep shooting hard, till next week!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted November 26, 2018

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