As the Super Eagles of Nigeria travel to Brazil for the FIFA World Cup this summer, hope, cautious optimism, expectations with silent fear are just some of the main emotions that Nigerian fans carry with them. Most fans hope that their team can exceed their expectations. Cautiously optimistic that they are strong enough to secure the results they need against Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina, whilst giving Argentina a vicious fight; but then the fear borne out of previous World Cup heartbreak, a fear of self implosion, that all might just go pear-shaped with the exceptions of 1994 (albeit that also ended in tumultuous heartbreak).
Alongside this emotions, there will be plenty of nostalgia, too, as Nigeria head out for their fifth World Cup appearance. It is 20 years ago that the country swept to the tournament for the first time, sneaking their way in a nail-biting fashion past Ivory Coast ( now Cote D' Ivore) and Algeria in the qualifying round, but then romping to swashbuckling victories over Bulgaria and Greece to set up a dream last 16 meeting with host Italy, which they lost only in extra time. Most of that nostalgia evolves around Chief Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, who was a captain of that '94 team. His mentor, Clemens Westerhof rebuilt a 1989 side that had become so bad they ignominiously tagged with the name 'Papa Eagles' to reflect their abysmal performance, and now he returns to lead what is essentially a side reborn; one that has been rebuilt from the ashes of a heart-wrenching failure to even qualify for the African Nations Cup in 2012.
Keshi, who retired from playing in 1995, had ventured into coaching when he assisted Shuaibu Amodu in Nigeria's 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign. Neither man got the chance to board the plane to Japan and South Korea, despite a successful qualifying campaign after taking over from Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere who stirred the team through spineless showings during the course of qualification. The Amodu led coahing crew were all fired in what is generally accepted to be some of the darkest days of Nigerian football. Adegboyega Onigbinde was charged with leading the team in Asia.
In the giddy aftermath of the 1994-96 success year, the stereotypical word with Nigeria (not necessarily Nigerian) coaches has been "rebuilding". Each coach comes in with big promises to refocus the side seriously lacking in direction. Two coaches have actually been brave enough to match words with actions: Onigbinde, when he took over the proverbial poisoned chalice from Amodu-Keshi in 2002 and blooded fresh, untested faces like Vincent Enyeama and Femi Opabunmi although with quite insignificant success on the pitch, and now, Keshi himself.
The Big Boss, as Keshi is fondly known from his playing days, stands alone as the only one to have achieved success with largely unheralded squad. Hired after the disaster of 2012, he set about purging the squad of old faces and introducing young, athletic players, whilst keeping an experienced core of players with single-minded determination and loyalty. His mini-revolution reaped rewards well ahead of schedule, with an African Nations Cup title within a year, and in the process unearthing gems like Lazio's Ogenyi Onazi, Rizespor's Godfrey Oboabona (then with Sunshine Stars of Akure) and Chelsea's Kenneth Omeruo, while stalwart John Obi Mikel looked to have had a new lease of life breathed into his play.
Keshi's philosophy has been to build a team in which the quality of the whole exceeds by some way the sum of it's parts. His dressing room favors conformity over ego. On the pitch, it is the collective over the individual. this has proved to be both the Super Eagles's greatest strength and their biggest weakness. The players see him as a 'father figure' and their loyalty to him thus far has reflected in the quality of results he has churned out since his appointment, whilst the team's inexperience has been apparent in some big games particularly at last year's confederation s cup in Brazil. Not many Nigerians can name or identify a significant number of the players without help. Outside of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, Mikel, Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike, name recognition is at an all time low. Which explains why corporate endorsement around the team back home has focused on Keshi, essentially due to his celebrity status and media appeal.
That hardly matters to the team. their focus is to open with victory against Iran, preferably a handsome one. Then a second victory by any margin against Bosnia-Herzegovina to make the final group game against Argentina somewhat inconsequential. Keshi is confident it can be done, that his wars are not afraid of no one whilst reiterating that "we will take it game by game".
It is hoped that he will bring his wealth of experience and tactical savvy to the fore when the showpiece event begins in Brazil as the weight of expectations of over 150 million Nigerians rests on his broad shoulders.
SEYI OWOLABI
PATRIOTIC NIGERIAN, LIFE LONG ARSENAL SUPPORTER AND A
BANKER BY PROFESSION
