The delirium induced by twin wins against Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon is symptomatic of the Nigerian’s short attention span and which our leaders (exploiters) capitalise on to keep us on our knees.
As recently as the eve of the first game at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, very few Nigerians would wager their fast depreciating Naira on a bet for the Super Eagles. The Portuguese coach was demonised and sniggered at when word emerged that he was going to have Stanley Nwabali between the sticks. The bloke had caved in, to a groundswell of vitriolic, some which amounted to threats to his person if Francis Uzoho made it to Abidjan. Self-appointed scouts began publishing profiles of any goalkeeper with the slightest trace of Nigerian blood, even if it were to be a fifth generation trace.
Well, here we are, dealing two mortal goals that dominated the once Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in what we now celebrate as the vintage Nigerian football style. It’s still the same José Peserio and players who were mocked after losing a friendly tie in Dubai a few days to flying into Abidjan with a stopover in Lagos. Nothing changed except the results. The pessimism didn’t go away after the 1-1 draw in the opening game against eventual group leaders, Equatorial Guinea.
Today, we are in the mood of Hope Renewed and singing eulogies of every player, including Uzoho’s 20-minute cameo in the defeat of Cameroon. Those who had unprintable names for Peserio are now jostling to lead the orchestra in conducting a beffiting sheet music for him.
What’s my point? I am no vibe killer, not at all. But I live in the real world, often sitting outside myself to monitor myself and those around me. I am not comfortable with the reckless euphoria that has gripped us to the extent that we are projecting who the Super Eagles will play in the finals and not how they would reach the finals. I read somewhere that Nigeria is winning her fourth AFCON after 11 years from the last win.
Nothing will give me greater joy in these difficult economic and perilous security times than a flight of fancy brought about by triumph in Abidjan on 10th February. But until that day and that moment, let us focus on Angola for the battle of 2nd February. Let us moderate our expectations one match after the other.
Let me end with this story heard from an old-time comedian on the old Imo Broadcasting Corporation, Owerri. A man told his son, when I harvest our yams, I’ll sell them to buy chicks and when they grow, I’ll sell them to buy young goats and when they grow, I’ll sell them to buy radio. The little boy shouted in excitement, ‘Papa, I’ll tune the radio’, and the Dad landed him a slap, ‘You want to spoil my radio’.
May the Eagles soar!
Iwuala writes on topical sports issues
