Shattered Dreams: Lamentations of a Super Eagles Fan

‎How did I manage to sleep last night?

Did I even sleep? 

Tossing on the bed wondering where and why it all went wrong; like over 120 million football loving Nigerians, I just cannot seem to get over the pain. 

Wouldn't it have been a lot better not to have had our hopes raised? 

Maybe a bad result in Congo on Saturday, which was widely expected, would have made more sense. Surely?

Super Eagles: can't defend title anymore

Instead, we were all led on, like a sheep supposedly with a shepherd in Stephen Keshi. And after 90 minutes in the Nest of Champions which is the Uyo International Stadium, the flock has been "abandoned"; left to wander wherever it deems fit. 

The 2015 AFCON in Equitoarial Guinea meant a lot more than just a competition for me. It was supposed to be avenue to join the league of international journalism. Having missed out of the 2013 AFCON and 2014 World Cup coverage, Equatorial Guinea was supposed to be the pinnacle (or should I say start?) of my budding journalism career. It was supposed ‎to launch me into that realm that every sports journalist dream of. In fact, I've made lots of plans to have my own personal syndicated programme broadcast across various stations in the country. All that was left was just securing the golden ticket to Equatorial Guinea......

Stephen Keshi: Decisions cost team? 

As I sit gloomily on my bed typing this, I'm just wondering where it all went wrong. Should Keshi had been allowed back into the team? Was the NFF squabbles responsible for this calamity? Should President Goodluck Jonathan ‎had taken that veto stand that brought back Keshi?

I think that 99% of this debacle rests entirely on the manager's doorsteps as much as the NFF president Amaju Pinnick has accepted responsibility. I was never in support of sacking Siasia back in 2011 because I thought back then that Siasia's job was already compromised during Austin Eguavon's interim rule. I wanted continuity (which sadly is something the Nigerian football community isn't used to except perhaps in administrative quarters). However, I was also quick to congratulate‎ Keshi when he won the last AFCON as well as spends what I think is eternity educating callers on my radio show that the former Super Eagles captain isn't as tactically naive or clueless as they make him out to be. 

But how do you keep defending the seemingly indefensible? 

How do you explain the fact that the rationale that kept Victor Moses out (just recovering from injury according to Keshi) didn't also keep Keneth Omeruo out of the game vs South Africa‎?

Emem Eduok: could have added bite with minutes left?

How do you defend the fact that Emmanuel Emenike played all 90 minutes despite having a shocker when Emem Eduok could have probably added something different in the last 20 minutes of the game? 

How do you defend the fact that Efe Ambrose has consistently played right back and has only had probably one good game in that position?

How do you defend the fact that Ogenyi Onazi, Godfrey Obuabuna, Keneth Omeruo etc are still riding on the crest of their AFCON performances when they have been utterly abject in at least their last 6 games for the country?

How do you defend the fact that Warri Wolves defender Azubuike Egwueke consistently gets invited to the national team when in my humble opinion, there are at least 3/4 centre backs in the same Nigeria Premier League who are a lot better?

How do you explain the invitations of certain names to the national team who after you've seen them play you still can't rationalise how they made the cut? 

Yes, Keshi has unearthed certain gems since he came on: the Sunday Mbas, Michael Babatundes and most recently Aaron Samuels of this world may stand out. But it doesn't stop the allegations in several quarters that invitation to the national team only comes when you've paid for it. Because certainly, I don't get how Chigozie Agbim gets the nod over say Enyimba's Femi Thomas, Kano Pillars' Theophilus Afelokhai especially last season. Or how Azubuike Egwueke is ahead of Enyimba's Chinedu Udorji (on last season's form not this just ended campaign) or Pillars' Umar Zango or even Sharks and Dolphins duo of Gabriel Olalekan and Jonathan Zikiye respectively? 

It just feels sad that we are now back to where we are in 2011 after the Samson Siasia deba‎cle. More painful is the fact that all you will hear our administrators talk about now is the proverbial "going back to the drawing board". Unfortunately, from the look of things, that board, like my dreams of making an international debut, may likely remain a shattered dream. 

WHY FLAMINI, NOT OZIL, COULD PROVE MORE OF A SHORT TERM SUCCESS FOR ARSENAL

Ozil: The Statement Signing?

Since the close of the transfer window on Monday night, Arsenal fans worldwide have been living in an orgasmic state. More like a prisoner who has just gotten freedom after an eight year incarceration. Of course, the surprise deadline-day signing of Real Madrid’s Mesut Ozil for a club record £42.5m has turned the almost dejected global Gunner fan-base into delirium. Maybe, that word is not enough to explain it. As my colleague Khalela puts it, Gunners are almost in a “wanking” state as we speak. 

The excitement has been palpable. Even the callers into my daily football show, Football Frenzy, have suddenly turned the corner. Where as a couple of months ago I’d get calls like “Ufuoma, please help us tell Wenger that enough is enough, he should sign,” “Ufuoma, don’t you have Wenger’s number? Can you please tell him we are tired and fed up with his stinginess?”, the last couple of days have seen a total turn around in reactions. Now all I get is “Ufuoma, Wenger is the best coach ever,” “Arsenal will win the EPL this season,” bla bla bla.

Mesut Ozil is a Gunner

Well, who can blame them when even I have spent the last couple of days watching every Ozil YouTube video I come across?  Truth remains that signing Ozil is more than a bargain. It is more of a statement. More like Arsenal telling the world that, hey, our lean years where we had to pay off our stadium debts and sell our best players are over. Already, reports suggest there’s been a twelve percent increase in shirt sales in the official Arsenal online store. That’s how much of goodwill the Ozil signing has had. 

Matthew Flamini's second coming

However, in the midst of the euphoria, one signing Arsene Wenger has made this summer has gone largely without fanfare. A certain “renegade”, who chose to dump the club after a spectacular two good year spell, is back on the club’s books. Matthew Flamini’s second coming has not received as much fan fare and rightly so. The Frenchman was signed at a time when many fans were yearning for a big name signing; wanted the club to match its words (CEO Ivan Gazidis’ statement in June there’s money to spend) with action; and were tired of rival fans throwing jabs and insults at them. As if this wasn’t enough, signing a free agent who was just training with the first team months after seeing a £40m and 1 bid for Luis Suarez evaporate was the last thing fans wanted to see. But Wenger stuck to his guns and got his man even jokingly apologizing last Sunday he didn’t pay £25m for Flamini.

Flamini: The New Leader?

Now while Ozil’s capture has deservedly hugged all the headlines and got fans into frenzy, Flamini’s addition methinks, will prove more of a short term success. First, Flamini comes with experience: the experience of playing for a highly rated team as AC Milan as well as winning a league title; something very few players in the present squad can boast of in their CV. Am I the only one who saw a bit of  the old Patrick Veira’s leadership in Flamini on Sunday? He was busy barking orders, ordering his younger teammates (Ramsey in particular) about. Maybe, just maybe, it was the passion of the derby, but having that sort of leadership quality on the field is much appreciated and that’s another edge our free signing will add.

Flamini during last Sunday's NLD

More so, Flamini’s addition truly adds a defensive minded midfielder that fans have cried for.  Ok, I accept that many would have rather Wenger paid Marounne Felliani’s buy-out clause two months ago since fans still believe Alexander Song was never properly replaced since the Camerounian joined Barcelona. Now, while Arsenal have, in my opinion, been better off since he left (Arsenal conceded 43 goals in the league in 2010/2011 season and 49 in 2011/2012 with Song as DM but 37 last season), Arteta who has taken over that role can’t be regarded as a tough tackler.  And you do need that sometimes. Flamini’s cameo performance against Spurs last Sunday is a pointer. In fact, that lunge that got him a booking in the game has been rarely seen from Arsenal midfielders in recent times. If Flamini can offer as much as he did in the North London Derby, then this promises to be an exciting season.

Flamini battling Kaka in the UCL in his first stint

And most importantly, Flamini’s addition offers an exciting array of positions that the manager can play his compatriot. Many have questioned why Wenger hasn’t signed another defender and I think Le Prof is right not to. In Kolscieny and Per, The Gooners have a fantastic defensive partnership. Vermaleen isn’t far off from training and Bacary Sagna has proved he can be that 4^th centre back during pre season and the first few games. What this means is that Flamini can deputise as right back. He can even play as left back if the team’s injury luck doesn’t end. Who remembers Flamini played left back in a defense that went ten games in the UEFA Champions League without conceding a goal some six years ago? Well, I do. 

So guess what, while Ozil will prove to be that statement signing on and off the field for Arsenal and the name that gets all Gooners excited and expectant this season, let’s not forget that a certain Frenchman who has returned to the club on a free can prove to be more of a catalyst to the team’s short term success.

2013 AFCON Review: Highs and Lows

Africa’s biggest sporting event, the Africa Cup of Nations has come and gone but not without highs and lows. South Africa played a good host as Afcon 2013 could arguably be dubbed a success – stars were born, a new winner emerged and the the theme song (Top of the world -Dbanj) rightly placed Africa at the top of the footballing world — at least for the duration of the competition. However, one couldn’t but notice the empty seats, ticket problems and poor pitches during the games. Here's my take on the 29^th edition of the tournament.



Worthy Champions

Mikel Obi, Joseph Yobo and Austin Ejide with AFCON tropgy

And so Nigeria’s Super Eagles were crowned Champions of Africa for the third time in history against all the odds. Not many gave Coach Stephen Keshi’s team a chance especially considering that Keshi’s team was unconvincing in the build up to the tournament and several other top players like Osaze Odemwingie and Obafemi Martin were not included. But just like the Chipolopolo of Zambia did 12 months ago; the Super Eagles proved critics wrong by getting their hands on the trophy after a 19 year wait.


Sack Threat? Resignation?
However, it was not an easy task for Stephen Keshi in South Africa who had to ride through criticisms both from fans and journalists back home. After two disappointing draws, many fans had called for Keshi’s sack. In fact reports alleged that the Nigeria Football Federation under the order of the Nigeria Sports Ministry wanted him out. But the Sports Minister Bolaji Abdulahi denied the allegations insisting that, “There is no such thing about planning to sack Keshi. After the first game against Bourkina Faso, I called Keshi and told him look, we have a choice to continue with what would have happened if we didn’t concede that last minute goal or to focus on what we can still achieve as the tournament is not decided by one match.”


However on Monday, Keshi stunned the world and Nigerians in particular when he announced on a South Africa radio station, Metro FM, that he had handed his resignation letter immediately after the final game. The news hit the airwaves and online community and it was not surprising to see many fans that had criticized Keshi and called for his sack during the group stages suddenly make a u-turn asking for his stay. In the early hours of Tuesday, Coach Stephen Keshi decided to rescind his decision after meeting with Nigeria’s sports minister Bolaji Abdulahi.

Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi

“My attention has been drawn to reports in the media that I have resigned my appointment as the Head Coach of Super Eagles of Nigeria,” Keshi said in the statement. “While I have had cause to express my displeasure over some issues that happened in the course of our participation in the AFCON 2013, which my team won by the grace of God, especially concerning my relationship with the Nigerian Football Federation, I have since had opportunity to discuss the various issues with all concerned. I am therefore pleased to say that I have reconsidered my position and have decided to continue with my job.”


Turning Point
Despite the alleged sack threat as well as the resignation saga, the turning point for the Super Eagles seems to be the quarter finals clash with the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire. Quite a number of people never gave the team a chance against the Ivoirians who were the tournament favourites. And considering the lackadaisical play of the team in the group stages, many believed it was the end of the road for The Super Eagles. However, Keshi’s team played the game of their lives with Warri Wolves striker Sunday Mba netting the winner. A week later, Mba repeated the feat as his only goal proved enough to defeat The Stallions of Bourkina Faso.


Well, success they say have many relatives and so despite the alleged sack threat saga, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will receive a heroic welcome on Tuesday when they return to Nigeria. As I write this, many cash gifts are already being promised goodies with business mogul Michael Adenuga reportedly promising the team one million pounds. Well, expect more in the days ahead.


LOC and Organisation
Looking at the organisation proper of the tournament, hosts South Africa can be given a pass mark for a job well done especially considering the fact they only had a year to prepare for the competition. The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) had to make a quick decision to take the hosting rights off post Arab Spring Libya who will now host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2017. Even though rains almost marred the opening ceremonies, the closing event was colourful and showcased the rich African heritage.


More so, the country witnessed an influx of well over 40, 000 visitors into the country in the one month long event. Mvuzo Mbebe, the CEO of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) says this means South African tourism, which the government has identified as having the potential to boost the sluggish economy, experienced an influx of visitors from all over the country who visited most of the tourist sites in the country. Also, according to Mbebe, “More than R920 million has been invested in South Africa” and an estimated 2.3 billion viewers watched the tournament on television.


Bafana Bafana on a High?
In a related development, South Africans did have a chance to see their darling Bafana Bafana reach the knock-out stages of any competition for the first time since 2002. Coach Gordon Igesund’s team were five minutes away from being knocked out trailing 2:1 to the Atlas Lions of Morrocco but came back strong to draw the game 2:2. Even though Igesund failed to reach the set target by the South Africa Football Association, the football body was impressed with his showing and has voted to see him carry on with the World Cup qualifiers resuming next month.



Bad Pitches
Despite these, the 2013 AFCON was also besieged with several issues one of which was terrible playing surfaces. The pitch at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit where most of the Group C games were played as well as the semi finals between Ghana and Bourkina Faso left quite a lot to be desired. Truth be told, it was an embarrassment. Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor was furious with CAF for even allowing football games to go on.

Mbobela Stadium, Nelspruit

“Once again we are in Africa – AFCON is a big tournament for Africa – the whole world is watching this. You can’t play on a pitch like this,” Adebayor said. “The stadium is one of the best I have played in, but to be honest with you, I’m very sorry, but it’s a disgrace for our continent to be playing on this pitch when it’s on the TV around the world. CAF have to sort things out, to solve the problem. At the end of the day we are all African and we have to be honest with ourselves. It’s a beautiful stadium but the pitch is not happening.”

Even the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg where the finals was played still had bad patches. So much so that the Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) had to issue a statement days before Sunday’s final that the pitch would be in good question. However, why American rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers was allowed to perform at the arena last weekend, days before AFCON’s final still beats the imagination.

Empty Seats

Cross section of fans

Ticketing and empty stadiums was also a big problem. Aside the finals which had well over 80, 000 spectators and games involving the hosts with an appreciable number, most games had quite a few people in the stands. With a few days to the semi finals, about half of the tickets for the game in Nelspruit which has a capacity of 43, 000 remained unsold. On the other hand, the stadium in Durban had about 19, 000 available seats still left unsold. In all, the competition witnessed an average of 20, 000 spectators. Not a bad number but considering the success of the 2010 World Cup, maybe South Africa could have done better.


Officiating

Tunisian ref Slim Jdidi

Now if there’s one area of disappointment from the competition, it’s the level of officiating. There were several terrible calls from officials. Ghana’s Black Stars were recipient of three questionable penalty calls against Cape Verde, Mali and Bourkina Faso. Nigerians felt hard done by when Zambia forced them to a 1:1 draw after another questionable penalty call. The outcry for the poor officiating reached a crescendo that CAF were forced to suspend Tunisian referee Slim Jdidi after too much blunders in the Ghana versus Bourkina Faso semi final game. More so, Jdidi admitted he made a mistake sending off Bourkina Faso’s Jonathan Pitroipa allowing CAF to rescind Jdidi’s decision.


No More Minnows
The 2013 AFCON did start on a slow note with the first four games of the competition ending in draws. But after Mali’s Seydou Keita scored an 86^th minute winner for The Eagles against Niger, the tournament kicked off in earnest. Countries like Cape Verde, Ethiopia and Bourkina Faso proved that indeed there are no more minnows in African football. Cape Verde were particularly inspiring as the country with just over a million people stunned the watching world with an amazing run and proved that ousting Cameroun in the qualifiers was no fluke.


Broadcast Rights
Unfortunately, most Nigerians were unable to view matches of the 2012 AFCON in the comfort of their homes as a result of the disagreements between the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria and media rights owner LC2-AFNEX. The French owned company demanded about 8 million Euros from BON unlike the reported 1.5 million for Ghana. Broadcasting Rights Manager of LC2-AFNEX, Mr. Rédouane Amraoui had said in a statement that in proportion to market size and population, Nigeria was not being asked to contribute more than any other African Country.


However, BON insisted that it will only pay 1.2 million pounds. When this was rejected by LC2, BON Chairman Abubakar Jijiwa stated that a selected broadcast may be the only option now. According to him in the days leading to the tournament, “we are suggesting to them now is that they should give us selected matches involving Nigeria including the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony of the 2013 AFCON, and the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final matches of the competition at $300, 000.” Much to the dismay of Nigerians, this offer as well as an improved offer of 2.5 million pounds by BON was rejected by LC2-AFNEX. It took the qualification of The Super Eagles for Sunday’s final to get the 2013 AFCON on local television.



North Africans Lagging Behind?
The 80’s and 90’s did witness quite a number of North African countries dominating football in the continent. However, aside Egypt’s 3 consecutive wins from 2006 to 2010, other countries have somehow failed to click. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia came to this year’s tournament with lots of hype but could not even make it out of the group stages. With Morocco set to ready to host the next edition of Africa’s biggest football showpiece, maybe that will be an opportunity to get North African domination back on track?

WHY FERNANDO TORRES MAY NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN

        

Since that last day of January 2011 when Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich did the unthinkable and splashed out a record 50 million pounds for striker Fernando Torres, the jury has been out on the Spaniard. Was he worth that kind of price tag? Did Chelsea really need another forward at the time? Would he fit into the playing style of The Blues? These were some of the questions many asked. But to Roman, after refusing to splash the cash for months prior to this time, securing the services of one of the most feared strikers at the time and for such a fee was probably,  to make a statement to the Manchester City’s of this world that he wasn’t going to be a pushover in the transfer market.

However, a return of just one goal in the remaining five months of the 2010/1011 season, 11 last season and 7 in the current one has seen the once feared striker become the joke of many. That invincibility, the aura that got many a defender worried seems to have gone. In fact, a new lexicon, “Torres” has now been added to the unofficial Nigerian dictionary whenever someone misses a sitter.  “He just Torresed that chance,” now seems a normal phrase amongst football followers. As if this isn’t enough, several reports have suggested that maybe, leaving out Fernando for the Juventus defeat may have ultimately got Roberto Di Matteo the sack. Are you in doubt? Well, according to The Daily Mail’s Neil Ashton (who actually broke the news about RDM leaving out Fernando for the Juve game), RDM had a certain Radamel Falcao at the top of his wish list before the season started. However, when this list was presented to Abramovich, the reply was short and simple: Torres MUST play.

And so, Torres has played almost all 13 league games scoring 4 goals. Or better still, 7 goals in 21 games, that’s just about a goal every other three games. Truth be told, that isn’t a bad conversion rate. But Torres has had a nightmarish run since his 50 million pounds move to Stamford Bridge culminating in just one goal in 18 games in his first season (albeit 5 months); and 18 in 49 games last season. Question is, why has Torres not reproduced the form that made him one of the most feared forwards some years ago. Well, here are my thoughts on this well publicised issue:

Injuries have had a horrific effect on Torres. The spaniard has had two knee surgeries to correct a torn knee cartilage, the last one just before the 2010 World Cup. At that year’s global fiesta, Torres was a shadow of himself and even the first six months of the next season, 2010/2011, Torres could not hit the heights of the former years. This is as a result of losing that yard of pace that has always gave him an edge. Torres’ game is based on that burst of speed that takes him away from defenders. Against City at the weekend, Torres had two of such opportunities where he was one-on-one with Vincent Kompany. The Torres of old would have had an edge over the defender. Unfortunately, since that surgery, that pace has deserted the Spaniard.

More importantly, moving to Chelsea was (and in my opinion still) a wrong career move. At Liverpool, Torres was sorrounded by two of the best ball passing midfielders: Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso and fed off their incisive passes. In fact, Roberto Di Matteo reportedly carried out a research in his bid to cure the Fernando malaise and discovered that out of the 81 league goals Torres scored for Liverpool, an astounding 56 of them (about 70%) where scored from defence splitting passes, usually from Alonso and Gerrard. But at Chelsea, only Juan Mata can be said to be in the mould of the Liverpool duo in terms of defence splitting passes. More so, Chelsea’s game at the time of Fernando’s arrival were not the ball passing team like Liverpool. This in no small measure contributed to Fernando’s one goal in 18 games. Don’t agree? Consider that the first five months of that season, even though Torres’ form had become bad, he still managed 9 goals in 26 games for Liverpool. 

Yes, a lot of Blues supporters will be quick to bring up the argument that Eden Hazard and Oscar have been added to the team which has changed Chelsea’s pattern of play. However, looking at both acquisitions critically, how many times have both played those defence spliting passes which created goal-scoring opportunites for Torres? Hazard and Oscar are players who like to run at opposition and dribble past them or as in the case of Oscar arrive late in the box with a burst of speed to finish off a move. They are not in the mould of Mata, Cesc Fabgregas or David Silva who can open up defences with just one pass on a regular basis. Maybe manager Rafa Benitez had this in mind when he had this to say about Fernando after the game against City.

“You could see he was trying very hard. He had a good chance.” Benitez said. “But I think the team has to help Fernando and create more chances, and he will score goals.You cannot expect a striker to score on his own, so we have to create more and better chances for him with the players we have.”

Looking at Torres’ problem from another angle, a combination of lack of confidence; media hype and pressure; as well as possibly the weight of a hefty price tag  may have ultimately contributed to Torres’ form. A closer look at Fernando’s career before Liverpool shows that  the Spaniard cannot be described as one who will guarantee you 25 goals every season. In fact, in seven seasons at Atletico Madrid (two in the second division and five in La-Liga’s top flight), Fernando only managed to score at least 20 goals in all competitions twice, in the 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 seasons. But his first season at Liverpool saw the 28 year old bag an incredible 33 goals in 46 games, his best goal tally till date. He went a step further to score Spain’s winner at Euro 2008 and all of a sudden the tag ‘world class’, ‘world’s best striker’ by the media (especially the British) became associated with Fernando.  Was he really worth that tag judging from his records?  

Every striker will tell you confidence is everything. Having paid a record 50 million pounds for Torres, the onus was on the Spaniard to justify the outrageous fee. Torres has since been faced with an intense media scrutiny of his every move. Scoring just a goal in his first 5 months at Stamford Bridge has also not helped and the seeming lack of confidence may have had a psychological effect. Who knows if the Spaniard constantly questions his ability in his head? Maybe, just maybe, that is the reason for the seeming hesitations and lack of quick thinking whenever Fernando is faced with a good opportunity to score goals.

So can new manager Rafa Benitez solve all these problems and get Torres firing on all cylinders? Hey, why am I bugging my little head when  that is why Roman Abramovich is probably paying Rafa all the millions to sort that out. While we wait for the next seven months to find out if Benitez’ plan will work, here’s my take: I seriously doubt we will ever see the Torres of the 2007-2008 season.