THE ELEMENTS WILL DECIDE!

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Posted: Oct 08, 2011

I do not like this match. Under normal circumstances no Nigerian would lose any sleep over a match against Guinea to be played in Nigeria in the year 2011. The two countries have not belonged in the same league in the past two decades. Searching through the archives of African football one would find that the Syli Nationale Stars once occupied the top rung of the African football ladder. The team reigned till the middle of the 1980s before drifting into the wilderness. Until about a year or so ago they belonged to the football planet of minnows. True, since the onset of the ongoing qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations, the Guineans have bounced back into some kind of reckoning, with their slim victory over the Super Eagles in Conakry as their major claim to fame. Even if the Eagles then were a weak and depleted team, a victory over them any day, any where, is considered a major feat by any African country. Having said that, most of us know that Guinea in the year 2011 should really not be a big threat to Nigeria. Not with the avalanche of young new players coming through to strengthen the Super Eagles and make them once again one of the teams that is likely to emerge champion from CAN 2012.

Unfortunately, these are not normal times. The circumstances surrounding this particular match against Guinea is far from being normal. Indeed, as some have said, it could be Nigeria's greatest football challenge in 2011 as it will determine Nigeria's fate in the 2012 African Cup of Nations! For Nigeria to qualify the country has to surmount the boiler-room pressure that is bound to bear on the players and the nation to win this last match on home soil. As the Guineans already lead Nigeria by 3 points and a one-goal advantage, Nigeria needs to outrightly to become group winners, whilst the Guineans only need to hold out by any means for 90 minutes, deny the Eagles a glimpse of their goal, snatch a draw and win the group.

Now, lets look closely at the match and hazard a guess what could happen. The challenge in such a decisive match is more psychological than physical. There will be considerable pressure on both teams as the match begins. Who manages the pressure better would likely carry the day.
Secondly, I do not recall any national team match ever taking place at 2 O'clock in the afternoon. In this part of the world this is an ungodly hour to play football. 2 O'clock? Thats when the sun is at its zenith, the heat of its rays scorching everything in its path. No one plays football at that time of the day. In my recollection, a few clubs have attempted to use the harsh 2 O'clock weather in the distant past to gain some advantage over teams from more temperate regions. The sun would wear down both teams, but the 'damage' to the team from North Africa would be much more than that done to the teams from West Africa. Such were the calculations in the epic battles between North and West African clubs then. That was what led to Nigerian Clubs playing a few matches against North African opposition in the scotching heat of the 2 O'clock sun. That strategy has been abolished for a long time now because it dawned on all that the damage was more to the match itself than to the visiting teams.

RANGERS VS MEHALLA

One such match that readily comes to mind is the 1985 African Club championship match between Rangers International of Enugu and Mehalla FC of Egypt.
To offset the two-goal advantage the Egyptians had coming to Nigeria, the Nigerian football authorities decided to take the match to the dreaded Enugu Township stadium, which was then a killing field for Rangers, a pitch where they were simply invincible.
The poor surface and the physically intimidating players led by Christian Chukwu and including 'Biafran Warriors' Stanley Okoronkwo, 'Dan Vadis' Nwabueze Nwankwo, and silky Christian Madu; rampaging wingers Emeka Onyedika, and Ogidi Ibiabuchi; and the original 'Chairman' 'the tallest' Emmanuel Okala, were simply a nightmare for any visiting team. Add to all that playing a match at 2 O'clock in oppressive heat of 'coal city'! That match against Mehalla FC almost turned out a disaster.
Not even the Rangers team that had prepared well by training at noon for days before the match could cope with the effect of the heat for more than 30 minutes. The first 20 minutes were vital as the strategy worked.
The Egyptians were gasping for air as Rangers pumped ball-after-high-ball into their 18 yards box and the two goals needed to bring scores to par were quickly scored. The combination of poor pitch and long high balls being pumped from Okalla into the goal mouth area of the Egyptians ensured that the Egyptians were boxed in and had to fight for their lives. But all of that lasted 20 minutes. After the first 20 minutes even the Rangers team collapsed in exhaustion. Neither side could play decently any more until the end of the match.

CAF’S UNPRECEDENTED INTERVENTION

From the blues CAF has now come up with a directive that Nigeria's last qualifying match be played at 2 O'clock in the afternoon. Such a decision is unprecedented in the history of African football. The greatest victims of this decision would be the Super Eagles and the match itself. The Eagles, made up of players that are used to playing under the cold conditions of Europe would find it almost impossible to perform well should the sun bare its 'fangs' on the day!
A dreary match is surely in prospect as I do not think the Guineans would fare any better even if their team may include players from their domestic league more at home with harsh conditions. CAF would not change its mind despite the protestation of the Nigerian football authorities. So, Nigerians are left to pray for fair weather.
I spoke with Samson Siasia about it early this week. He agrees that the heat would be a major issue. He tells me he is also praying for some divine intervention that the heavens open up and send down some rain before the game to reduce the prospect of a scorching day. I believe he is right. I believe that in the end it might be down to the elements which team qualifies after 90 minutes of what may not be a great match simply because of the time it will be played and how the sun 'behaves' at 2 O'clock!

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Kola,usa

Oct 08, 2011

This is a sad day, some of us saw the writing on the wall but most Nigerians ignored it. (PEOPLE LIKE F.M OKOLI) I,m not a prophet, but you can predict this is how the end will be, because ' the evil that men do will live after them". So many times i have said Siasia gave birth to the insultive ways of our youth, he brought the arrogance , the insult, brash and bad attitude to our football. A lot of fans hated Lulu and Amodu just because of Siasia, now its the time for him to witness what he created in people. I remember Lulu's mother was kidnapped( i hope his parents won't go through that). Some fans are saying we should still keep him, FOR WHAT? Amodu was fired for winning a bronze medal , how can we keep him for not qualifying? God hates ugly, the way Amodu was treated was ugly, if God give you a little and you don't appreciate it , how can you ask for more? Now every Siasia fan will know that all that glitters is not gold.Where do we or him go from here? Siasia has to go back to the basics, he can still be usefull in U17 or junior games, he has to swallow his pride, because he still has to feed his family( what has just happened to Siasia is what breaks up families). What could have saved him his job would have been his HUMILITY, which he lacks, the tech committee warned him several times about his selections , he was rude and he ignored them, now he needs them , your guess is as good as mine. He fights too much, he did with his team mates, with Lulu, with his coaching colleagues and now his players, he has to change a lot about himself , i wish him the best in life. NIGERIA ----------- we have a long way to go with our football, the players were not as good as before, but we won with them when Amodu was around. Heartland won with a foreign coach, Guinea is coach by a French, right now to save what is left we should go back to where we had found success. Our league has to be improved because we are losing a lot of talent and depth due to bad league. We have to improve the quality of our coaches through the improvement of the league. Lastly Amodu has to be recognised for his work , because God is not happy about us for these. A CHILD THAT SAYS HIS FATHER IS AN IMBECILE, LAZY AND UNSUCCESSFULL HAS GROWN UP AND HE HAS SHOWN US WHAT HE CAN DO( but he is not better than his father).
Yinka

Oct 09, 2011

Well to me i think,we can now see that our so call super stars are so,i was disapointed with siasia how on earth can you field emenike when there are better player on the bench(ik uche,brown ideye & ehiosun)he start mikel as our creative midfielder lol what was he thinking when we all know that mikel cant function that role again aleast since he join chelsea,from the moment i saw the line up i know everything that could go wrong will went wrong,the goalkeeper lack confidence the first guinea attack they score from then on he look jittery.well i expect siasia to do the honorable thing by resigning like in other climate,As much as i like him he has failed us. A coach is has good as his last match.
Yinka

Oct 09, 2011

Well to me i think,we can now see that our so call super stars are not so,i was disapointed with siasia how on earth can you field emenike when there are better players on the bench(ik uche,brown ideye & ehiosun)he started mikel as our creative midfielder lol what was he thinking when we all know that mikel cant function in that role again aleast since he joined chelsea,from the moment i saw the line up i know everything that could go wrong will went wrong,the goalkeeper lack confidence the first guinea attack they score from then on he look jittery.well i expect siasia to do the honorable thing by resigning like in other climate,As much as i like him he has failed us. A coach is has good as his last match.
Skin

Oct 09, 2011

What a shame,dissapointment and what i termed mellenium embarrassment @ our own backyard.Siasia has gone from HERO to ZERO.I use to call him d best endiginous coach not knowing that he can't match d lyks of Okey Emordi,John Sam Obuh,Eguaveon,Keshi,Amodu(qualified us 2 WC twice) e.t.c.He has alot of pride and an unforgiven heart.@ first,it was Osaze and now Enyeama(Pastor of super eagles) dat were his victim.Why on earth would ds hard hearted man refuse to 4give Vincent after d goal stopper publicly apologies 2 all nigerians?Critical analysis of yesterday's game would reveal dat Aiyenugba was not up 2 d task.His starting line up was bad as well as his substitute.He lacked technicalities.Joel Obi was not meant to be substituted 4 a striker leaving d sluggish mikel obi as d only CMD.In short,he got every thing wrong with his tactics.I HATE Siasia's personality.HE SHOULD BE SACKED.
Badman

Oct 09, 2011

Siasia is the messiah, siasia is this ,siasia is that.... Finally, the air has blown and we have seen the anus of the fowl... Please siasia you are not Murinho, Period! I pray they sack your stupid ass..
John Ti Deke

Oct 09, 2011

Poor nigerians, i dont blame d players bcos it was a case of d input detertamines d out put. Their play (minus d trio of Ik Uche, musa n Ehiosu) lacked passion and urgency just as Siasia is dull n uninspiring; a good coach wud have sub Osaze in 40th min. What a shame. Siasia let himself down not naija. He will strugle 2 get a good job. Resign SiaOne or wateva u're called. - JOHN Ti. Frm Warri.
John Ti Deke

Oct 09, 2011

Poor nigerians, i dont blame d players bcos it was a case of d input detertamines d out put. Their play (minus d trio of Ik Uche, musa n Ehiosu) lacked passion and urgency just as Siasia is dull n uninspiring; a good coach wud have sub Osaze in 40th min. What a shame. Siasia let himself down not naija. He will strugle 2 get a good job. Resign SiaOne or wateva u're called. - JOHN Ti. Frm Warri.
Wole O

Oct 10, 2011

It is obvious, there must be a concerted effort by all those who truly love African Football to roll up their sleeves to push out the cabal running the continent's game aground. Hayatou and his cohorts have run out of ideas. What is the philosophy driving their operations? African football is being run by Emperors who are ruling with the script of vindictiveness, profligacy and vodoo like ideas. I cannot recall any time Nigeria played a home game at 2pm, having followed the National team from 1976 to date,(I stand to be corrected). CAF's body language has been against Nigeria for sometime now. The top footballing nations will not be at the summit of African football next year? How do you sell this competition with just Ghana, Cot'd'ivoire and the remaining minnows?
Shola

Oct 13, 2011

It is only a mad person that we judge siasia with Nigeria V guinea match only,this one goes to all Nigerian's, ontill we start a small thing in a great way, that is the only way result can come, not by sacken coaches,siasia is good is just that osaze,choose to be a disgreas to all Nigerian, and how can human being played ball 2 pm in Nig, God we help us.
Shola

Oct 13, 2011

It is only a mad person that we judge siasia with Nigeria V guinea match only,this one goes to all Nigerian's, ontill we start a small thing in a great way, that is the only way result can come, not by sacken coaches,siasia is good is just that osaze,choose to be a disgreas to all Nigerian, and how can human being played ball 2 pm in Nig, God we help us.
Shola

Oct 13, 2011

It is only a mad person that we judge siasia with Nigeria V guinea match only,this one goes to all Nigerian's, ontill we start a small thing in a great way, that is the only way result can come, not by sacken coaches,siasia is good is just that osaze,choose to be a disgreas to all Nigerian, and how can human being played ball 2 pm in Nig, God we help us.