Super Eagles are cruising comfortably to the next stage of the Africa Nations Cup, Nigerians are looking ahead for more especially after the disappointment of the Russia 2018 World Cup.
I am watching from a corner in Lagos, praying for a draw in their last group game against debutants, Madagascar.
A draw with Madagascar does not change much. The Eagles are through to the round of 16 but it means a lot if we believe in History. Anytime Nigeria won the Africa Nations Cup in the past, the team played at least a draw in one of the group matches. The import is that while we expect the cup, a draw will do us a lot of good.
In 1980 when Nigeria hosted for the first time and also won the trophy for the first time, Green Eagles were forced to a barren draw in Lagos by the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire. The hosts had beaten Tanzania 3-1 in the opening match and were expected to get over the Ivorians. It did not happen. Victory over Egypt in the last group match put Nigeria through to the semis and they eventually battered Algeria in the final.
The second continental triumph came at Tunisia ’94. Azingo National of Gabon were walloped 3-0 in the first match. Next came the Pharaohs of Egypt. It was a tough game and at the end there were no goals. Another scoreless draw. That did not stop the Eagles from moving on to win the cup thanks to a 2-1 defeat of Zambia’s Chipolopolo.
At South Africa 2013, no one gave Stephen Keshi and the Super Eagles any chance of getting close to the big prize. The team had failed to qualify for the 2012 edition of the Nations Cup under Samson Siasia. That turned out to be an advantage. From a dismal start in their group where they were forced to late minute draws by defending champions Zambia and Burkina Faso respectively, Nigeria stunned Didier Drogba’s Cote D’Ivoire 2-1 in the quarter- finals. They brought the cup home following victory over the Burkinabes in the final.
Now in Egypt, with a match to go before the knock out stages, the Eagles have maintained a 100 percent record and are yet to concede a goal. A good performance no doubt. Will this good sound better at the end of the championships? That is the million naira question. History has a way of repeating itself even in soccer.
While I urge compatriots to pray for a draw in Eagles next match against Madagascar, we should also pray against meeting the Black Stars of Ghana in Egypt. The Ghanaians are bunch of bad luck. Anytime Nigeria met them in the past, the trophy did not come to Lagos. This has happened seven times, from 1978 to 2010.
Ghana hosted in 1978 and were drawn in the same Accra group A with Nigeria. The Eagles were hot and had Segun Odegbami, the fastest African winger at the time and goalkeeper Emma Okala, the best in the continent. When both countries met, Odegbami put up a splendid show and got the first goal. The Accra Stadium went dumb. The hosts managed to draw level through Klutse, 15 minutes to time.
That is why today in Ghana, they still worship Odegbami. Anytime he arrives Accra, shouts of ‘Mathematical’ will fill the air. Unfortunately, the Eagles did not get to the grand finale. They were eliminated by Cranes of Uganda in the semi- finals. Ghanaians were so happy because meeting Nigeria in the grand finale was the last thing they wanted. The Black Stars beat Uganda to win the cup for keeps.
In 1984 Ghana came to Cote D’ Ivoire as defending champions. Nigeria showed them no respect when both sides clashed in Bouake. Henry Nwosu scored. Opoku Nti equalized. Then came Chibuzor Ehilegbu’s goal which made it 2-1 for the Eagles. They qualified for the final and even scored first before Cameroon came back and pumped in three goals to win 3-1.
Senegal ’92 came, again Nigeria scored first, thanks to Mutiu Adepoju. Ghana replied through Abedi Pele. I watched the game at Stade de L’Amitie, Dakar. The Black Stars captain was a marvel to watch. Back home Nigerians blamed Austin Eguavoen for not caging Abedi. Another goal came through Prince Opoku Polley.
At the end of the match, I walked up to Abedi and when told that Eguavoen was blamed for the equalizer, the Ghanaian rose in defence of the Nigerian. ” I was at my best. Austin did a great job,” he said. Ghana won 2-1. Eagles ended up with bronze, not the trophy.
The next Nations Cup clash with Ghana was at Mali 2002.Garba Lawal’s lone goal ended it in favour of Nigeria. In the semi- finals, Teranga Lions stopped the Eagles. Nigerians crucified coach Shuaibu Amodu for losing to Senegal. Adegboye Onigbinde was hired to take the team to the Korea/Japan World Cup. The same Senegal got to the quarter -finals. Nigeria did not win a match and crashed out in the first round.
In 2006, Ghana came again, Nigeria won 1-0. It is difficult to forget that powerful strike by left back, Taiye Taiwo. It was Austin Okocha’s last Nations Cup with the Eagles, who got to the semis only to be eliminated by Cote D’ Ivoire.
Two years later, in 2008, Ghana hosted Africa and again, they were confronted by Nigeria. Everything appeared to be working against the home team. Yakubu Aiyegbeni put the Eagles ahead. The Ghanaians lost their skipper to a red card. That was in the quarter finals. Black Stars rose to win 2-1. One of their players was Kano boy, Sulley Muntari.
In 2010, Amodu led the Eagles once more and took the team to the last four. Ghana denied him a place in the final with Asamoah Gyan’s lone goal that decided the match. That was the last time both countries met in the Africa Nations Cup. The Cup went to Egypt.
It will be scary to meet Ghana in Egypt. And it is remarkable that Nigeria’s Nations Cup debut was in Ghana 56 years ago. The Eagles were so bruised that they succumbed 6-3 to Egypt in 1963 and were drubbed 4-0 by Sudan. Ghana is tough luck indeed.
