By Daily Sports Nigeria on March 28, 2022

On the front burner in land toady is the second leg on Qatar 2022 World Cup play-off between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Black Stars of Ghana in Abuja on Tuesday.

It would be recalled that the first leg of the double header qualifier was played in Baba Yara Stadium Kumasi Ghana last week Friday where the much talked about game ended goal less.

We saw the nitty-gritty called a game between the two giants of African football. It was a match to behold and the two teams did not disappoint. It was a qualifier game that stressed even the unrepentant supporters of each team.

To be honest with you, it lived up to its billing and the result was not that surprising to close followers of football trends of both countries these past decades.

The exchange was even as they tried to outwit themselves in search for a leader. However at the end of the day, the curtain was drawn on even note leaving the fight for supremacy and the sole ticket to Tuesday in MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

As the chapter for the first leg has been closed all eyes on the second and crucial leg where a winner must emerge. It will be more difficult encounter for both teams as the stake is still high and the race still wide open for any of the countries to pick the sole ticket.

As Eagles earnestly prepare for the fall of their opponents, the handlers have big job in their hands to ensure that the team would shoot accurately on target. The undoing of the side in Ghana leg was the inability of the boys to bury close chances that came.

It is one aspect that Eguaveon and Amuneke must tackle headlong and perfect such too. It was great outing for Nigeria as the strategies worked. Now it will be a different ball game. The Eagles must try to play under less tension despite the fact it will be playing in front of her home fans in MKO Abiola National Stadium Abuja.

More coordinated, alert, quick thinking, sharp shooting, focus team this time. The approach in Ghana was great and the result was not bad and this second leg is where the World Cup 2022 ticket would be secured. The team deserves it and with a little more hard work and focus, the icing will be on.

After the first leg, Nigerians from all works of life have been reacting to the outcome of the first leg show down and one stands by them. They were great contributions and valuable way forward. All the players were at their best. Francis Uzoho the goalkeeper was at his best and did not waste time to play himself into the hearts of millions of football Nigerian fans.

We all pray and expect much more in the Abuja leg where everything is at stake. The game is still open and Super Eagles are aware of that fact.  It won’t be a bread and butter affair. It will be more difficult game than the first leg in Kumasi.

On that note this article will not be complete if it fails to point out the unique characters that joined other fans to thumb up the performance of the Eagles and that must personalities that congratulated the team, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar former Vice President and Dr. Bukola Saraki former Senate President.

It dawned on me with sense of nostalgia remembering how late MKO Abiola who was former President of Nigeria and former Pillar of Sports In Africa who gave his all for sports especially football during his time here.

Atiku gave me that sense of a great lover of sports and the youths. He out of his crowded took time out took to his twitter and congratulated the Super Eagles on their game against arch rival, the Black Stars of Ghana.

Aside thumbing up their sterling performance on away soil on what he attributed to their discipline patriotism, focus, zeal he further reminded them that their showing clearly point to the fact that they can do it better in Abuja come Tuesday’s crucial second leg tie.

To this critical columnist, Atiku has shown the way to go. He has pointed to the right target of his enduring love for the Nigerian youths and the young ones that they are close to his heart.

Without mincing words Atiku like late MKO would have great focus and clear cut agenda for sports in Nigeria. Atiku like the late MKO would spread sports like gospel to all the nooks and crannies of the country knowing the resultant effects in society.

Atiku would like late MKO ensure facilities are available for the youths and young one that want to take sports as their profession and means or source of living. Atiku has shown his love where he will place sports in the country if he is given the mandate to lead the country come 2023. He has clear cut vision for the youths and the young ones if he secures the ticket of his party to run and larger mandate from Nigerian voters.

He will transform sports like other presently sinking sectors Buhari and his APC under takers have ruined. The difference is clear. Atiku’s dynamics are unequalled and his acute men also dripping. For him to identify with the national team in this hour spoke volumes to what is on.

One must command him for his foresight on Nigeria that is currently on the brink of total collapse. A country the burden of foreign and local debts is unbearable.  APC and Buhari have sadly turned the once upon a time much more rich country, Nigeria into poverty capital of the World where all national institutions have collapsed.    

Without any prejudice Atiku Abubakar is a tested performer of the first order. He detribalized and knows the diversity nature of Nigeria and would get the country back to her good old self before the present divisive, tribal, nepotism personified of the worst order.

For a personality like former Vice President of Nigeria to take out time to congratulate the nation’s flagship team, the Super Eagles meant or spoke volumes of his down to earth way of like and sense of national responsibility and patriotism unlike this arrogant, empty, deceitful, propaganda infested Buhari/APC failed present government. As we keep our fingers crossed, the lending of his voice in support for the Super Eagles quest by Atiku Abubakar to encourage the team to ensure it picks the sole ticket for the upcoming Qatar World Cup football 2022 summit at the expense of Ghana’s Black Stars.

It has shown how serious and keen with which Nigeria attach to this national assignment with the caliber of former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki leading the support for the team. What Buhari and APC failed to do for the team’s fate in Ghana was ably done by these two heavy weight Nigerians of repute.

This columnist salutes them (Atiku and Bukola) for their foresight which no doubt gave the players and their coaches true sense of belonging and zeal to continue the campaign wholesale and deliver the ticket and without any equivocation these two top Nigerians have lend credence to kind of support the is currently enjoying.

As we look up to the tough but highly tactical football battle between these two old war hoarses on Tuesday in MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Daily Sports would continue in her usual way of chronicling,  meanwhile, the struggle continues.          

Source By Victor Enyinnaya

Posted March 28, 2022

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