Between 1992 and 1996, the Super Eagles of Nigeria rose to a
height in world football that reflected the abundance of footballing talent
available to Nigeria. The Eagles came 3rd at Senegal 92, winners at Tunisia
94, that same year qualified for the 1994 World Cup and in their debut year
defeated Bulgaria, narrowly (and controversially) lost to Argentina, beat
Greece then narrowly lost to a Roberto Baggio inspired Italian team. Despite
losing out in the first round, The Eagles were rated 2nd most
entertaining team at the world cup and rose to 5th in FIFA ranking.
AT the 96 Olympics in Atlanta, the Eagles went ahead to win gold. This period,
the Eagles played very beautiful football and everybody the Eagles met during
these times played them with so much respect and fear. This was indeed a golden
era for the Super Eagles. |
| USA '94 Eagles |
This journey however, didn’t start in 1992, it started late
in 1989 when Mr Westerhorf was brought to coach the Eagles. He brought a lot of
Dutch feel to Nigeria’s playing pattern and helped many Nigerian footballers
during that time in traveling abroad where their skills and talents can be
developed in an organised environment. This exodus, mainly to Europe, lifted
Nigeria football to the point of competing comfortably with some of the
strongest football playing nations in the world.
Since 1998 however, Football in Nigeria have been going
downhill for so many reasons. The Nigeria Premier League which Westerhof made
sure was the bedrock of talents discovery and development during his time in
the country was neglected and national team handlers depended largely on
foreign based players. Age grade competitions for Nigeria, lost its values and
administrators and coaches turned it into an avenue to make quick money by
attempting to win at all cost using over-aged players or a place to market some
of “their own” players, most of whom don’t even deserve a call-up to any of the
national teams. Now fans are clamouring for a return to the glory days of
Nigeria football while some have even given up on Nigeria football ever
attaining that height again.
 |
| France '98 Eagles |
Truth is, it is very possible to be great again as a
football playing nation but we must go back to the fundamentals of growing our
football from the grass root. We need to start asking questions about what
exactly has happened to the likes of principal cup, NUGA and NIPOGA competitions.
What has happened to all those neighbourhood football competitions we used to
play as little kids growing up in Suru-lere, Ebute-Metta, Ajegunle, Orile
e.t.c.? Why is it easy for our government to turn grounds where boys and girls
hone their football skills into supermarkets, shopping malls and housing projects
that the common man cannot afford? Why are our football leagues, from the amateur
to the Premier league not attractive anymore? Why is our age-grade football all
about cheating and winning at all cost? Why have we turned the appointment of
football administrators into a political parade? So many questions that we need
to ask ourselves and the people saddled with the responsibility of administering
the game in Nigeria.
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