Posted by By CHIMAOBI UCHENDU on
Now that Nigeria's Flying Eagles are in Netherlands, venue of the FIFA World Youth Football Championship fine-tuning their preparations for the fiesta, Nigerians have begun to pray fervently for the team's successful outing in spite of their inadequate camping exercise and problems encountered before their departure from the country recently.
Now that Nigeria's Flying Eagles are in Netherlands, venue of the FIFA World Youth Football Championship fine-tuning their preparations for the fiesta, Nigerians have begun to pray fervently for the team's successful outing in spite of their inadequate camping exercise and problems encountered before their departure from the country recently.
Dr Kwenku Tandor, former vice chairman of Lagos State Football Association, is one Nigerian who is so concerned about the chances of Coach Samson Siasia's Flying Eagles in Holland. And he said the Nigerian team needed divine intervention because the Under-21 event had been taken very seriously by other countries world over.
According to him, serious football nations used the event to raise and build solid senior teams for the FIFA World Cup proper.
He said it was sad that Siasia didn't get the kind of support that was necessary for the competition, as he was almost frustrated out of the job by those who were fighting him because of money.
"I was fortunate to see the team, and I'm impressed by the quality of players he had in camp. But I noticed that the team lacked adequate preparations and the resources that could have lifted their spirits.
"After their Cup victory in Benin Republic, where they picked the world ticket, things have not been the same for the team.
"Siasia told me that all his programmes for the Holland event were not implemented because of many circumstances he could not handle. So, it's up to the players to prove themselves in the competition. Nothing has giving them the opportunity to excel. So, all they need is God's intervention," Tandor said.
Nigeria is billed to tackle ‘Samba Boys', Brazil, June 12, a date that has become a symbol of democratic struggle for Nigerians, especially those who witnessed the annulment of the 1993 elections in the country by the then juntas.
Siasia said in a recent interview that he would have preferred to have more time with his lads, but has not had the logistic support he was hoping for.
"Like all the other sides who are going to Holland, we are heading off to win. That's everybody's approach to a major tournament like this," said the former FC Nantes player.
"I have a good side, who did very well in the African Youth Championship recently, and have got the capability to win the event."
Siasia's Flying Eagles were victors earlier this year at the continental championship in the Republic of Benin, beating defending champions, Egypt, in the final.
They went through the tournament like a hurricane, with just one lull along the way when they needed penalties to beat Morocco in the semi-finals after a 2-2 draw. All the other matches were convincing wins with just one goal conceded.
"It's a side with a lot of potential," said Siasia, a veteran of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA, when he was the striking partner for Rashidi Yekini.
Nigeria carries high hopes of becoming the first African side to ever win the FIFA World Youth Championship. The continent's best performance to date has been a losing final appearance by Nigeria in 1989 and two runners-up berths attained by Ghana in 1993 and 2001.
"Obviously African sides have not done well in recent years because of the standard of preparations," he stated. "I don't think there was enough input into the team to make them ready for this very competitive tournament."
But Siasia hopes to give his players much of the benefit from the more than a decade's worth of experience he garnered from playing in Europe, first at Lokeren in Belgium, and then, Nantes, Portugal and Israel.
"They look up to me as a former player, and after 1l years of playing in Europe, I know I can help them a lot in adjusting and dealing with the difficult environment," he said confidently.
Nigeria starts against Brazil, and also would play Korea Republic and Switzerland in their group.
"They are all very good teams. Brazil would be a tough start for us, they have a great record at this level," Siasia said.
Key players in the Flying Eagles team include Taye Taiwo, recently signed by Olympique Marseille in France and Solomon Okoronkwo, who is based in Germany.
Team captain, Promise Isaac, has recently been on trial in France, while Solomon David has been scoring goals in the African Champions League with Enyimba. John Mikel, who was discovered at the FIFA Under-17 World Championship in Finland 2003, is also in Holland after escaping from Manchester United officials, who wanted to take him against his will. Mikel had said he would love to play for English Premiership champions, Chelsea.
"The quality is there and the determination too. We are going to win, and there is no reason why we cannot do it," Siasia said.