Hold on to these two universal truths:
1. Never curse the darkness, hidden within it are treasures.
2. Behind every disappointment is a blessing.
With their backs against the wall, the Super Eagles finally broke out of their shells to reveal the faint outlines of an emerging new team made for the immediate future.
It will, however, take a new process to hone and mature the team into greatness. The Elements have conspired again to lay out that essential process for the team – challenging two-phased playoffs and the African Cup of Nations in between.
I, therefore, say ‘Congratulations’ to Nigeria, not only for the victory of last Tuesday night in Uyo (well earned) or even for the divinely constructed narrow escape (Nigeria’s last minute goal), but also for the new route now carved out by the play-offs to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
On the surface of things, the new route appears long and strewn with difficult matches and tough opponents, but for those that can look beneath the surface, these may be a better and a more beneficial pathway to the World Cup and into the matches!
I am reminded of 1993 in many ways. I was both an eye-witness and active participant in the drama of that period leading to USA’94. Nigerian players were on the first flood to European leagues. Many were just settling down to big-time professional football. The Technical Adviser, as the manager was referred to then, Clemens Westerhof, was an ordinary Dutch coach with no solid credentials at the highest levels. He was supported by former international players as assistants – Christian Chukwu, Bitrus Bewarang.
After a few years of initial failures, Clemens started to get a hang of things. He discovered the strength of Nigerian players and how to ‘motivate’ and get the best out of them. The Green Eagles had plenty of training time and friendly matches to play towards the campaigns of the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia, qualification for the World Cup, and the World Cup proper in the USA.
Finally and most importantly, there was a good mix of a few older players and several emerging, young and very exciting players in the team in that period.
All of these were the perfect recipe for building the superb team of the 1993-1994 era. These are the ingredients and opportunities that the current Super Eagles did not have, until what has started to emerge now. I see a good team finally being birthed, with the opportunity to blend the players and make them a functional ‘machine’ through the 2-phased World Cup qualifying play-offs and the African Cup of Nations in Morocco, following back to back.
By the way, in 1993, I was embedded in the national team as the Team Manager, a tag for the person responsible for the welfare of the players in the set up of those days. (After me, there was only one other Team Manager, Chief Mike Umeh, before the position was scrapped).
My role was simple – to ensure that the players’ basic needs were met without fuss – allowances, travels arrangements, bonuses, any logistics, kits, and arranging all their official social engagements. As a former captain of the team, I was accepted and respected by the players.
What happened this past week reminds me of that build up to the 1994 World Cup, how the Nigerian environment started to throw up superb players; how the Eagles started to understand each other better; how the team learned to play with an outstanding Centre forward in Rashidi Yekini, a ‘gentle giant’ in the Nigerian team that took care of all aerial battles, in Uche Okechukwu, a superb defensive midfield general covering for the central defense area in Sunday Oliseh; super wingers on both flanks with more to spare in Finidi, Amuneke; a very flexible, creative and mobile midfield of Oliha, Okocha, Siasia and Amokachi.
I am looking back at last Tuesday’ match and seeing a reincarnation of 1993 in Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Olakunle Olusegun (watch out for that young speedster into the future), Calvin Bassey, Benjamin Frederick, Ola Aina, Onyeka, Olokodare (as super-sub) and a few others that are set to form the core of a new team that will manage to navigate the first playoff, then go all the way in Morocco in January 2026 whilst putting up a great show, then get to the final of the second and more difficult continental playoffs, qualify and finally land at the World Cup, play very well at the world stage and go very far. That’s my dream.
All of this will be possible with the anticipated impact of a few key players joining or maturing in the team. There is nothing to do about the coach. He will be left to complete the assignment.
There is no problem with the welfare of the players because the government of President Bola Tinubu has more than demonstrated willingness to open the country’s vaults to meet the team’s every need.
The team will still need some technical tweaking of some players and positions. The coach cannot afford to be sentimental with hard decisions. One very important position is that is getting safer pair of hands for his goal.
Finally, had the Eagles qualified easily through the African qualifiers, the team’s preparations would never have demanded the same bouquet of challenges that getting to the World Cup through this difficult path now presents. This seemingly long process and all the earlier disappointments may become blessings in disguise to make us work hard at discovering the hidden treasures that lie in the dark periods of the past few years!
I am convinced that this new course is the best preparation for the Super Eagles to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They have to carefully and strategically navigate the playoffs and arrive the Championship as one of the most prepared teams, using the preparations and the matches of the playoffs to become a solid team peaking just before the World Cup. That is my interpretation, my expectation, my hope and my dream. I pray I am right!
