By Daily Sports on October 17, 2016

Nigeria’s Super Eagles played one in their series of 2018 World Cup Qualifiers coming up in Russia against Zambia’s Chipolopolo in Ndola, and came up winners in the much hyped game.

Commentators, pundits and bookmakers were at each other’s throat, in the build up to the epic match. Just a few gave Nigeria any chance of surviving in the battle of Ndola, how much more winning the game even as the giant West African country never won on the host’s soil before.

The eventual outcome is in public domain.

Now, attention is shifted to November 12, 2016.It will be against the Desert Warriors of Algeria, admittedly a one stop team.  To refresh dear readers’ memories, the North Africa side is one of the emerging solid teams in the continent currently.

Playing them and getting consolidated result involves compact planning anchored on tactical, precise and clinical execution.  It is one of the teams you don’t treat with kid gloves when taking on them.

Needless to recall that Russia 2018 World Cup is the only consolation the country has and must qualify if only to restore and reassure the entire country that our football is not finished yet. Back to back, the Eagles failed to qualify for AFCON, Flying Eagles was stopped at Teslim Balogun Stadium from advancing and the icing came when the Golden Eaglets could not qualify also despite her status as defending champions of the U-17 World Cup. These are some of the dark days the sport has experienced lately.

We are now in this dilemma of venue again. Unfortunately, Nigeria football is peopled with ‘administrators’ that learn nothing and forget nothing.  A recap, during AFCON qualifiers, NFF adamantly stock to Kaduna State as venue for a crucial game against Egypt despite the outcry of rejection by players, fans and keen objective observers of Nigerian football.

The NFF leadership true to its headiness ignored the majority of opinion leaders in football, just to please Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and his interest group. The match was played in Ahmadu Bello Stadium; we all know the consequences from the unfortunate and jinxed venue. I have been on this beat for the past two decades plus and can authoritatively point at jinxed stadia for the Eagles across Nigeria. No sentiments or jokes intended. Amaju Pinnick wanted to be on the good books of people up North and sacrificed our AFCON hope on the altar of a jinxed stadium for the Eagles from time. It caused us ticket to Gabon 2017 AFCON.

Today, the same dilemma is here again. This time it is between playing the crucial World Cup Qualifier against strong Algeria. The two options are the stadia in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Uyo Akwa Ibom State.

Without much ado, the stadium in Uyo no doubt remains magnificent in all its ramifications but there are Salient issues around its stability to host this kind of game, where the country must pocket the three points at stake to consolidate her hold in the group widely described as that of death.

From the day it was commissioned last year till date, the imposing stadium has proved to be a torn on the flesh of Super Eagles. This write-up would strictly restrict itself to the games the Eagles have played there. It is open knowledge that the national side has always struggled to come out clean. It has lost crucial matches there. Once or so, it got its ego bruised, humiliated, defeated or managed to draw. It is not debatable that the stadium is smooth and ranks tops in the country nay the continent, but the antecedents that trail its qualification as venue for this kind of critical match leave sour taste in the mouth.

My humble take is that whatever must have again informed the decision to shift the game from Port Harcourt to Uyo should not leave us clay footed at the end of proceeding. This is one of the home games we must put everything within the rules of the game to win.

The team’s technical hand, Rohr said Nigeria will need 11 points to be in Russia 2018 World Cup summit. And I guess he must have calculated nine points from home games if well planned and executed. Then he can pick the rest four points or more on the road upon dedication, hard work and diligence from the bench and the players. Akwa Ibom International Stadium (Nest of Champions) has overtime proved not a lucky venue for the Eagles matches. It has not translated its often flaunted nest of champions so far as Eagles’ matches are concerned. It was there the Super Eagles lost crucial AFCON qualifier against Congo DR when the very patriotic Stephen Keshi of the blessed memory was on the saddle. The truth, Eagles have struggled to either win or draw games there. In short, the Nest of Champions’ stadium in Uyo is bad news.

Obviously, you don’t need to look too far to know that the venue is not one of the slaughter grounds for the team. The pending match against Algeria needs to be played in a venue well known for its favourable disposition to the Eagles.

I don’t have anything against Akwa Ibom Stadium. I have been there, thrice and it is a beauty to behold as football venue remains ever green in my memory. But the World Cup qualifier choice of venue should not be based on sentiment, frivolity, bias and narcissism. Just like such myopic choice of Kaduna last time that finally nailed the country’s ambition to be in AFCON next year. It would be suicidal to repeat itself few months after.

Nigerians are still licking that wound. The leadership of the NFF should desist from being on the naughty circle of set of people that learn about geology a day to a widely predicted devastating earth quake. It is no longer an administrative norm in this 21st century. Proactive, right attitude laced with depth acumen and promptness remain the hallmark of today’s managers of men, material and money. Anything short of the above and more won’t be good enough in times like this.  Amaju Pinnick must consult widely before settling for venue for our home games so far this qualifiers are concerned. It should not be exclusive to him and his click. Nigerians own the game and what would ensure success in the qualifiers must be the one to adopt. The wrong decision of the few must not replay the team and Nigerians into tight rope. We started on sound footing and nobody must make us walk the tighter rope. Never, this time and not this qualifier.

It is obvious that the German technical adviser, his crew and the players have resolved to play their hearts out to amass points as each game comes.  NFF leadership’s lack of foresight should not derail the plan of the team. The body has divisions among itself and therefore cares less to embark on or embrace collective decision in matters of urgent national importance such as the one under discourse.

Just last week, the Minister of Sports and Youth Development , Solomon Dalung, accused the body of bringing its request for any crucial encounter few days to the date of execution, he reminded and chided them that administration does not work that way nowadays. That is a tip of the iceberg. The leadership and few he tells what goes on there are Messrs Know All.

Whatever is the political consideration that informed Amaju Pinnick who the other time approved the use of Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna against Egypt must not repeat itself in Uyo. Nigerians don’t want excuses in this qualifier at all. Amaju should use his tongue and count his teeth. It is an age old maxim. Enough of unilateral decisions that later backfire to injure majority of Nigerian fans. A little trip to Uyo stadium shows it does not even favour Akwa United as home ground. The team’s drawn games and losses during the just concluded NPFL season causes stir when remembered. It was the same stadium that a visiting team frustrated Akwa out of its CAF Confederation Cup second leg. Which does one unearth; which to leave out?

Having stomached our ouster in the 2017 AFCON because of wrong choice of venue; nothing must near such this time around. In Nigeria, the maxim, once beaten, twice shy is alien. However, it must be totally avoided this time. Period. Football has done fairly well for the past 56 years of our nationhood but admittedly, administration has been the sour point.

Keen followers of the game and the national team would attest without any prejudice that Port Harcourt over these years has served as slaughter ground for our team. Such patronising and blessed ground should serve as venue for our World Cup qualifiers. The state has proved beyond every reasonable doubt to be overwhelming hunting for the home team.

It is on record that Eagles have never struggled to beat a team in Port Harcourt. The team has rather achieved its resounding results. The love of Super Eagles by Rivers State people and government dates back to the days of Dr. Peter Odili as governor when the state took over the national team.

The people and government of Rivers State have shown enough capacity and patriotism for the national teams especially the Eagles. I don’t know what is behind the choice of Uyo but fact is that Super Eagles have found it extremely difficult to win or even draw games in Uyo turf.

Raising this has nothing to do with hatred for the nest of champions. Port Harcourt with its iconic tradition of being the harvest home of the Eagles would have been best suited for this make or mar game against highly skillful, fast playing, slippery and tactically rich Algerian side that still spits fire ahead the clash.

The collective aim is to win our second match back to back in the qualification series and not about pleasing certain interest groups when such adventure backfired at Kaduna during AFCON qualifier, and Nigeria and fans bore the hurting brunt till this moment. Never again! We don’t want silly excuses in case something odd than victory happens in Uyo. Get me clear, I am not a prophet of doom rather I want the best for our country; that is why I keep advocating for common sense to prevail.

Let’s be honest, whatever brought about the shifting of the venue to Uyo, Rivers State people and government would offer double to ensure Nigeria would come out clean in the game at the end. It is in them because the state is long associated with the progress and mouthwatering welfare packages as motivation for the crew and players.

Please, don’t get the motive behind this warning article wrong, it is never solicited for rather it is my candid stand and to also serve as an alarm bell, reminding us the venue that have served and would continue to be our sure binding and comfortable home ground for the Nigerian side.

Former Governor Odili successfully entrenched it, shamefully, it fizzled out completely during the last regime and the present leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike revived it and the Eagles games hosted in Port Harcourt were won without hassle. There records are there. Rivers people and their sporting governor have not only shown capacity, understanding but genuine love for the country’s flagship side. Despite these Salient facts against the choice of Uyo, one still prays, had we known, won’t come at last.

We don’t need such distractions or a soothsayer to tell us that Algeria is desperate like wounded lions waiting to devour. It is therefore incumbent on us not to give them any life line and chance on platter of diamond; rather we are condemned to compound it for them. They must not leave the shores of Nigeria with a point.

NFF leadership that is about gambling with the venue must think twice, look carefully before limping. Algeria must fall. Nigeria must capitalise on their mis-step and hit the team. They are angry for drawing at home against equally dreaded Cameroons.

Their revolt fired their coach to quit. It is now a team divided against itself and if we get it right, we will nip it in full. The team is already in crisis and would be under intense pressure not to slip again. Eagles are ready to deepen their crisis. Amaju and his few decision takers have no alternative than to provide that safe platform. There should be no mercy. It must be emphatically declared operation swift destruction of the Desert Warriors.

As Eagles technical crew are battle ready to frontally confront one of the die-hard ‘enemies’ Amaju Pinnick and allies must be ready to bell the cat. Nigeria wants six points in her kitty before the confrontation against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. We know the gains that come with such feat. The effects will be to our advantage.

In short, not only that the Eagles would send dangerous signal down the spines of the rest of the opponents, it will breed total confidence that would be glaring, dripping and NFF has to be on the same with Nigerians who they claim they serve. We must wake up now to stay solid when the qualifier would enter crunchy stage. Trust, Algeria will take us to the remotest area so far it is approved by FIFA, all in their usual characteristics to demoralise the Eagles and win. The Northerners are still talking tough ahead the epic game. Odion Igahalo and Isaac Success have been declared ‘enemies’ until after the cracker by the Algerians. My permanent interest is Eagles winning the game. No more, no less.

It is their stock in trade and NFF must understand this antics and ensure we are given the day. The powers that be would as usual see and describe this write-up as one of those trashes due to its blunt stance and foremost, it came from a writer with no-holds-barred views.

All we are saying is give us Port Harcourt as choice for our World Cup qualifier home games. Meanwhile, we wait. As we keep shooting hard!!

•Victor Enyinnaya can be reached via 08055068145 (sms only) or by e-mail via sportzvictor@yahoo.com.au

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 17, 2016

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