By DESMOND EKWUEME
Failure is an orphan. Success has loads of relatives. Who doesn’t love success? Who doesn’t?
Even if Nigeria is sinking, the average Nigerian wants Super Eagles to win. Victory by the Super Eagles feeds Nigerians with joy and fulfilment.
It doesn’t matter if all the players are from one ethnic group or one family….or one religion…Nigerians are always united to support and celebrate their team.
Even in the face of banditry, kidnappings and mindless killings, Nigerians are united under the umbrella of football especially the Super Eagles.
The 0-1 loss to the Wild Beasts of Central African Republic right under our noses and before our very eyes was a defeat too painful to bear.
It reminded us of our greater pain of disunity by politics. It hurts us most and reminded us of the poverty, unemployment, hunger and insecurity in our land.
We needed something to give us hope of better days ahead. That thing was the 0-2 win of Super Eagles in Douala, Cameroun over CAR who barely four days ago took us back to our pains.
This singular victory restores the hopes and confidence bestowed on the Super Eagles by the average Nigerian. It builds the foundation of greater hope of a nation that could rise again.
It was a sweet victory and a sweet revenge. It has restored the confidence of Super Eagles featuring in Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The defeat suffered in the hands of CAR in Lagos was a huge lesson. Eagles now better understand the workings of the qualifiers.
Any team is beatable home and or away. Any slip is costly and could be very devastating. No further lapses or loopholes.
The players must understand that if anything goes wrong, they would be worse hit. The coaches could only and merely take a walk.
But their ratings and market value will drop. It will surely affect them at their respective clubs.
Therefore, they have to play for themselves. Their success can lift their coaches. Many have lost faith in the coach….and they believe that this victory is solely the efforts and determination of the players.
It therefore behooves on the players to help their coach succeed. The journey towards Qatar 2022 has just begun. It is up to Super Eagles to play themselves to reckoning and restore the hopes of Nigerians.
