The Super Eagles of Nigeria Thursday lost a world cup qualifier at home for the first time in 40 years after going down 0-1 to the Central Africa Republic.
The match played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium brought back memories of the defeat suffered in the qualifiers for the 1982 world cup where the then Green Eagles bowed 0-2 to Algeria on 10th October 1981 at the National Stadium, coincidentally at the same Surulere axis.
Fans, administrators and supporters all left the stadium with their heads bowed as CAR came up with a 90th-minute stunner after a defensive blunder by the Super Eagles defence presented the CAR striker, Kark Namnganda the freedom of Rome to slot home at the far post of the Nigerian goalkeeper.
An upsetting result no doubt but one man who has seen it all on the local and foreign scene, Prince Vincent Okumagba is insisting that the unpleasurable result should be seen as a blessing in disguise.
“It is not the kind of result we all anticipated going into the game but this has come as a rude awakening to us all. We keep saying there are no more minnows in football and finally it has happened to us right before our very eyes”.
“Look, we are lucky that it has come when we can still salvage the situation. As it is, we are now aware of the threats posed by not only Algeria, Cameroun or Ivory Coast, we are now fully awake to the realities coming from Sierra-Leone, CAR and everybody”, the Super Eagles Supporters Club Chairman revealed.
“The Super Eagles that failed to impress at home can still go away and surprise even themselves in Cameroun against the same CAR, we have seen such happen before”, Okumagba affirmed.
The Delta born number 1 Super Eagles Supporter would go on to conclude that going forward, only the best legs should be invited for the national teams.
“It is time to stop experimenting. By now, we ought to have a standing team, about 3 players for each position rather than bringing in new players for every match”.
The Super Eagles, still sitting in pole position in Group C with six points, will play the reversed fixture against CAR in Cameroun on Sunday.
