It was highly comforting to see Nigeria’s senior football
team win the prestigious African Cup of Nations 2013. What a great way to begin the year and to see
Nigerians with a reason to smile-together as one after a long time. The victory is a huge achievement for Nigeria
after what seems to be a disaster-soaked year 2012 with the many horrible
incidents ranging from suicide attacks, kidnapping, plane crashes, road
accidents, flood, hunger, riots, betrayals, deaths and many more.
The win was a soothing relieve, the smile and comments from
every Nigerian showed how starved Nigerians are of good news and a much needed
better-life. The expression of joy and
wild jubilation over the win by Nigerians
at home and all over the world is an indication of the scarcity of events
that makes Nigerians smile.
Coach Stephen Keshi has proved his critiques wrong, many do
not believe in his abilities when Afcon tournament started, his was a case of
another sad story turned good from Nigeria.
Most of the players in the team were little known, a few still playing
in the local league, a very rear occurrence in the super eagle’s team of old,
mostly made up of foreign based players. Perhaps one of the biggest discovery is Sunday
Mba, currently playing for Warri Wolves, a local team in Nigeria, he scored the magical trophy-winning
goal.
It is important for the Super Eagles of Nigeria to build on
this success and integrate a long time plan in order to achieve more for the
future. With a little more efforts, team
spirit and positive attitude, the Super Eagles can be a team hard to beat by any
team of the world.
Peter Odemwingie is a prolific footballer for Nigeria,
currently plying his trade for West Bromwich Albion, a football Premier League
club in Great Britain. Odemwingie’s
first mistake was his overreaction and twitter banter to his exclusion from
Nigeria’s team list to the 2013 Afcon in South Africa, he showed a high level
of immaturity and arrogance to the team coach and other football decision makers,
as much as the whole world can see his frustrations, it is without a high level
of condemnation from his fans on how he handled the situation. Apart from that, he is not the only top flight
player excluded from the list, the likes of Oba Martins and Taiye Taiwo were
excluded as well and none of them took to twitter. Odemwingie has since shown remorse for his
immature actions.
The second mistake by Odemwingie is driving down to QPR in a
bid to force through a deadline-day transfer.
This is the most ridiculous thing any player can do and Odemwingie has
since apologised for this silly mistake. However, this would not go well in the minds
of West Bromwich supporters who have always adored him and his expertise in the
round leather game. I am very worried
for Odemwingie, as he has laid a precedence that will take a while to erase
from the mind of West Bromwich supporters and the English press. Get in the bad book in Britain and you are
sure of a frustrating experience in the league. Mario Balotelli’s experience in the UK was a
typical example, he made a couple of incoherent decisions and he had a big
share of bad press. In England you need
to behave yourself and play to the rule, else you have yourself to blame. Though Odemwingie has since apologised for his
silly mistake and West Bromwich FC has since announced that they have disciplined
him internally as necessary without given any specifics. However, Odemwingie needs to make up his mind
and not take to heart if made a laughing stock in England.
President Jonathan was so much interested in the Super
Eagles team’s victory that he called the team to give them his words of
inspiration. This is a good thing to do, however it shows how much Nigerian’s
need something to smile about. Nigerians
have had to survive the torment of a very ash and unfriendly economy for
decades. All that seems to filter out
and about the country are series of bad reports ranging from corruption in high
places to poverty, kidnapping, murder and many more. The win by the Super Eagles team is a way to
show to the international world that Nigeria can do better and all thanks to
the current Super Eagles team and management who have achieved this for the nation.
It is therefore
important for President Jonathan and his crew to build on this remarkable
achievement by the Super Eagles after decades of under achievements to
implement long time structure for sports and other sectors of the economy. Nigerians need more reasons to smile. The government of the country needs to build on this new
trend pioneered by the immaculate Super Eagles and give Nigerians more reasons to
smile in terms of Economic recovery and empowerment. It is not enough for the president to be happy
about the Super Eagles great achievement, he also needs to take a deeper
reflection and make his tenure that of historical accomplishment in every sector
so as to bring a lasting smile to every Nigerian. President Jonathan still has the time to accomplish
and build a legacy.
We want a nation that works; because we know that together
we can achieve more victories. Bravo to
Coach Keshi and all his crew who have
done the country proud this time. We
look forward to more trophies; world Cup here we come.
Long live Super
Eagles!
Long Live Nigeria!
Abiola Olaifa writes from UK. (abiolla@gmail.com, www.abiolla.com, www.abiolaolaifa.com)
Get a copy of Abiola Olaifa’s new
book titled; Don’t Rock My Boat: Life’s
Little Secrets.
To Purchase, visit: www.abiolaolaifa.com