Siasia… Another ‘Impossible Mission’ Beckons

THREE years ago, Coach Samson Siasia played himself into the bad books of many Nigerian football fans, when he failed to qualify the Super Eagles for the 2012 edition of the African Nations Cup co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

A 2-2 draw against visiting Syli Nationale of Guinea at Abuja National Stadium shattered Nigeria’s qualification dream in that encounter. It also ended the romance between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which was led then by Aminu Maigari, and Siasia.

But the new NFF board headed by Amaju Pinnick gave Siasia another opportunity last year, as he was appointed head coach of the U-23 team with the primary assignment of qualifying Nigeria for the men’s football tournament of the 2015 All-Africa Games holding in Congo Brazzaville.

Again, Siasia has boxed himself to a tight corner, standing between the devil and the deep blue sea, as he faces another herculean task this afternoon in far away Lusaka, Zambia.

The Dream Team IV, as the U-23 national team is called, is in a must win or burst game against the junior Chipolopolo of Zambia this afternoon and all eyes are on Siasia to deliver. Anything short of the ticket might be disastrous for Siasia’s coaching career once again.

The former Super Eagles striker led the U-20 team, Flying Eagles, to the 2005 edition of the African U-20 Youth Championship, which Nigeria won. He also made it to the finals of the tournament at the global stage, where the team lost 1-2 to Argentina. Siasia was re-appointed in 2007, this time, as head coach of the U-23 National Team.

The team got to the finals of the Beijing 2008 Olympics Games, where they lost once again to Argentina. He succeeded the former Eagles coach, Lars Lagerback, in 2010, but failed in the qualifiers for the 2012 African Nations Cup.

Before then, Siasia had led the Home-based Super Eagles to a 2-3 defeat in the hands of Hawks of Togo in the final of the 2012 WAFU Nations Cup at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, Ogun state.

Two weeks ago, Siasia’s Dream Team VI was held to a goalless draw by visiting Zambians at the Abuja Stadium in their final round of qualifiers for Congo Brazzaville 2015 All African Games.

To Siasia, today’s game inside the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka is a do or die affair, though the Zambians are already celebrating ahead of the game saying that it is the end of the road for the Dream Team VI.

Before jetting out of the country for Lusaka Thursday, Siasia declared that the match against the junior Chipolopolo would be a herculean task, but added that his wards are condemned to win.

There are insinuations in some quarters that Siasia is being prepared as replacement for Coach Stephen Keshi, whose contract with the NFF is yet to see the light of day. But the NFF is said to be waiting for Siasia to qualify the Dream Team VI for the 2015 All African Games before his elevation.

The goalless draw against Zambia in Abuja notwithstanding, Siasia believes his team still has what it takes to shock their host this afternoon and pick the ticket.

“We didn’t start preparations on time, but that wouldn’t be an excuse if we fail. If the Zambians could come to Abuja to get a draw, we have no option but to go out there and earn a win,” Siasia said before departing for Lusaka.

One major setback for the Dream Team VI in the build up to this game was the sudden disappearance of Flying Eagles team captain, Musa Mohammed, from the Dream Team VI camp.

Siasia had invited Mohammed alongside three others to his camp shortly after the Flying Eagles won the African U-20 African Youth Championship in Senegal.

The rest players are Paul Onauchu Ebere who plies his trade with Midtjyllan FC in Denmark, Atanda Sodiq Ololade of Fk Apollonia in Albania and Aminu Umar of Osmanlispor FC in Turkey.

The Flying Eagles captain, Mohammed, was the first to arrive the team’s Febson Hotel camp in Abuja. He later took permission from Siasia that he was going to collect his international passport in Lagos. He failed to return to team’s camp before their departure to Lusaka.

In the absence of Mohammed, Siasia said he had other key players to execute today’s battle in Lusaka. Siasia and his team touched down at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Lusaka in the early hours of Friday.

The Nigerian delegation led by the NFF Deputy Secretary General (Technical), Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme was welcomed by officials of Nigerian Embassy in Zambia led by the Consular Officer, Shuaibu Ali.
 It was learnt that no official of Zambia Football Association was on ground to receive the team on Friday.

Meanwhile, their female counterparts, Super Falcons, booked their passage to the football event of the 2015 All African Games on Saturday by thrashing Mali 8-0 at the Abuja National Stadium. The Falcons drew 1-1 in Bamako two weeks ago. Quote We didn’t start preparations on time, but that wouldn’t be an excuse if we fail. If the Zambians could come to Abuja to get a draw, we have no option but to go out there and earn a win.