Russia 2018 W/C qualifier: Cameroon our concern, our threat News

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Russia 2018 W/C qualifier: Cameroon our concern, our threat

By Daily Sports on August 28, 2017

Our last week write up on Bolaji Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports and now, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the misuse of N3 billion meant for the development of the High Performance Centre in Abuja, presented a sad commentary on Nigeria. I have received enough abuses from Abdullahi's attack dogs who defied the rule that the telephone number we gave out is for SMS ONLY. That some of them boasted that their oga can never be touched by any anti-graft agency was stating the obvious. We will continue to cry to high heavens and surely, this looting spree which is injustice against the masses of this blessed nation by a few would definitely be addressed, if not immediately, in the future. That is my positive consolation!

Come Friday, September 1, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, nick named Nest of Champions, a World Cup qualifying game will take place in group B between leaders, Nigeria and the AFCON defending champions, Cameroon. From whichever angle you look at it, it has the trappings of an epic first rate encounter judging from the previous showdown both countries have met. They are arch rivals. They are among football powers in the continent.

The battle front is Uyo and there has been great apprehension in the air since the elimination series paired both nations. Football fans have been earnestly looking forward to the make or break encounter. Anxiety has mounted to all time high from both sides of the divide. The coaches are closely monitoring situations in each other’s camp, fuelling the already known looming explosive battle.

The tip-toe continues and the players too have intensified their fitness, shaping up and earnestly looking forward to the talk of the town World Cup qualifier grade A game. For instance, Nigeria has been on this game as it is one match in the group that the country must win at home and go to Yaoundé, Cameroon few days later to die, fighting for at least a stalemate. This pairing remains one that has given even bookmakers and commentators much concern as the outcome could be tricky.

Yes, Cameroon is the defending champion of the last AFCON but her showing at the last Confederation Cup did not so much represent the typical Cameroonian side. Also, its last two World Cup qualifiers last year, still hunt the team as keen followers of the central African country continue to grow grey hair. However, much water has passed under the bridge in both camps signifying drastic improvement on the part of the visitors. To further rub it in, Nigeria’s technical hand, Gernot Rohr, confessed the other day of our opponent’s great preparedness. That concern expressed by the man at the centre of it all is a big threat to our collective quest to see off the desperate and ambitious rivals in Uyo; and then prepare for the worst in the second leg.

A thick cloud is already in the horizon and the grass inside the main bowl of the Nest of Champions would bear the brunt. The two sides have pedigree and can safely lay claim to whatever and to the extent they want. Cameroon is anxious and arrogant. The team’s stock in trade is to use the physique of its players to intimidate both suspecting and unsuspecting opponents who fail to plan and master that their age old antics.

It certainly won’t be a tea party. No dull moments is envisaged as fans would be on the edge of their seats throughout the duration of the game, which promises to be explosive, even exchange of fireworks, which would at the end of the now or never dual see the fittest, more tactical and technical side come out tops. Rohr has been planning for this top of the bill football war. He has dreamt it and had many interpretations. He is one coach that won’t rely on history, even for the fun of it. Again, having had his fingers badly burnt against South Africa who Nigeria had comparative advantage over, until that myth was finally broken in the June AFCON 2019 qualifier in Uyo, he has been mapping out killer strategies which he has kept very close to his heart. The only ‘cat’ he let out of the bag was the employment of a seasoned goalkeeper trainer who he said would turn the ever panicking Daniel Akpeyi into a brave and eagle eyed stopper.

Let me state here that the Franco-German went through stress before he finally rescinded his undesirable decision on the South African based goalie, Daniel Akpeyi. He will likely start against Cameroon after the Italian keeper trainer must have knocked him together and blown into him, the air to be bold, steady, anticipate well before diving rather than his usual movement before anticipation. After many disagreements between the NFF technical and development committee, Rohr released his team list to the public. It was a long minus and plus list. It was a decision that lingered on, until the fragile resolution of ‘to be or not to be’ inputs that resorted to disagreements and counter disagreements. At last, he managed to push out what you and I saw as players that would wear Nigeria’s colour against Cameroon. Many new names unfortunately still found their way into the list.

For instance, some players that contributed to Super Eagles failure against the Bafana Bafana were invited through their agents’ connivance with some dubious members of the NFF Technical and Development Committee. It is at the expense of the country. The match against Cameroun in every sense of the word should never be toyed with. Unfortunately, this is one country that places individual interest and selfish gain above the interest of the country. The multi-million dollars these unpatriotic elements wave at gullible ones in charge, with Tunde Adelakun as middle man is frightening. This is no joke and without prejudice, Cameroon is not a team you treat with kid gloves.

Players must be individually bold, confident, experienced, intelligent, imaginative and upwardly mobile in the field, doing their thing without being pressurised to buy into the opponent’s match plan or style. Players that can never look back or fall to the gimmicks of Cameroon, a threat it has effectively used to its gain, home and away, which it has mastered over the decades. Cameroon plays physical game; their players deliberately charge on their opponents just to ensure they become afraid of them. It has worked beautifully for them over the years. Experienced players like Mikel, Moses, Odion, Musa, Ogenyi and few others know. You must have a loin’s heart to march them head-on. Some of the players on the list are new to African football, and against a rugged side like the Indomitable Lions. Rohr must employ the services of a psychologist to build the minds of the boys, especially the new lads. Cameroon is a rough side and the team does not hide it.

Eagles must be sharp and solid in all departments to soak away their threat. There is no better means of getting result against the Paul Biya boys than being at alert, precise thinking and confident. Rohr must take these tips and bury same in the minds of the boys as they face Cameroon’s threat.

The concern of how to see off Cameroon grows by the day. For instance, the executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and host, Udom Emmanuel said he cancelled all his engagements outside the country so as to be present to mount the resounding qualifier game. I can’t agree less with him. The other day the National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Prince Vincent Okumagba restated the deep desire of his men to post all round support for the homers. According to him, the task to muster enough and effective support that would be overwhelming which would bring out the best result in the Nigerian team can never be over emphasised. There are so many other concerns expressed towards ensuring that Eagles win the game against the haughty Cameroonians whose first mission and strategy is to frustrate the home team, put them under intensive pressure to make mistakes to enable them (Cameroon) win or in the worst case scenario pull a draw.

Eagles must be calculative and business like but must avoid being under any form of pressure and deliver on point. But analysts and pundits are yet to come to terms with what informed Rohr’s decision to still extend invitation to Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France) whose performance against South Africa was nothing but dismal. It is still unknown, why the inexperienced player is preferred above well exposed Kenneth Omeruo whose services against a crack squad like Indomitable Lions would have been of inestimable value. These are some of the begging questions Rohr players’ agents/NFF technical and development committee members who induced Super Eagles list must provide answers to. The next is Ola Aina (Hull City, England). If you ask me though, a good lad but the million naira poser is whether he is mature enough to calmly, swiftly, intelligently, without panic and confidently face squarely, the rampaging Cameroonian who may come his way. The defence and mid field are the heart beats of teams because when the middle of the pack is tight to ward off incursions of opponent, that make the defence stable and tie up loose ends. William Ekong, Leon Balogun and Elderson Echiejille I know, who are Tyronne Ebuehi, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem and Ola Aina? Agreed, they may be fantastic ball jugglers; my submission is that they still belong to the future. Football is all about experience and young. But against a team like Cameroon you must combine all to withstand the heat without hassle because their names carry some aura.

The role of Tunde Adenekan who was Super Eagles photographer and gradually developed to become part of the cabal that tells even the technical adviser which player to invite leaves a sour taste in the mouth. It has become worrisome as it poses a danger to our Russia 2018 dream, which we started on a bright note. Some of us that have kept tab on the evolution of the team since Rohr took charge will continue to raise the alarm. There is fire on the mountain. He influenced the recall of Daniel basket Akpeyi.

The team that would produce a winning formula against the hard to cracked Cameroon is what Nigerians look up to. There has been obvious wrong footing towards the build up to this crucial and critical football war. Our generals and commanders are not complete. Foremost, you don’t shift the goal post in the middle of the game. We are still in the thick of qualification and the kind of high wired politics of introducing new young player through bribery by their agents will turn out to be an ill-wind. We are tilting towards mishandling the game against Cameroon which, if the result turns out negative would mean bye-bye again to 2018 World Cup finals coming up in Russia. What is our war chest? Who is our joker in the list of invited players? The burden is on Mikel and his few army of the experienced players.

The message here is that the list you and I were given leaves much to be desired. Football is practical, goals make matches and it has been proved that fans throng the arena to watch their idols score goals whether they are text book or fluke. Nigeria can never claim to be an exception.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed as the clock ticks away, while we discuss further on this burning and high disturbing national discourse on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and WhatsAPP. I must advise we keep shooting hard, till next week!

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 28, 2017