By Simon Joshua
The Super Eagles are making a return to the prestigious continental biennial showpiece – The African Cup of Nations to be staged in Egypt – for the first time since 2013 when they won the tournament in South Africa under the tutelage of former captain Late Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.
Since then, we have missed out of two editions which took place in 2015 and 2017 at Equatorial Guinea and Gabon respectively. It has really been a torrid time for teeming lovers of the round leather game in the country as they are made to endure the malodorous period of having to behold two Nations cup without their darling team the Super eagles.
Lots of things have changed in the team since the last time we appeared in the competition. The coach that led us to glory in 2013 is no more. A new coach has already taking the reign in Franco-German Gernot Rohr. Couple of first team players in that 2013 tournament had called time on their career as a bunch of them can no longer command a shirt in the national team.
Out of the 23 players that were triumphant in South Africa five years ago, only three can boast of making it to the 2019 edition with fresh legs amidst young talents laying stronghold of our valuable team jerseys and numbers. Captain John Obi Mikel, Vice-Captain Ahmed Musa and defense maestro Kenneth Omeruo are the only surviving players.
As the clarion bell rings in Egypt this weekend for the commencement of the 32nd edition of the biennial continental showpiece, the Super eagles go again hoping to make their presence felt in the walls of the continental football. They will do battle in group D against Debutants Burundi and Madagascar. Not forgetting the football power house of Guinea that stopped us from making it to the 2012 tournament.
The Super eagles are expected to fly through their group unscathed but after then what next. Can they go all the way? Can they stamp their dominance once again? The coach has already opined that we are not the favorite to land the precious diadem but we all know that those are the exact showings of mind games, after all we lost for the first time in a year when we went down against the Terenga Lions of Senegal in a friendly game played couple of days ago in Ismailia.
In as much as our first choice in goal is still like a royal rumble, we can boast of a formidable defense with the likes of Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun and Jamilu Collins: Compact Midfield of Mikel Obi, Onyinye Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo and John Ogu: exciting attacking line that comprise Odion Ighalo, Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze and Samuel Kalu.
No cause for alarm or panic. We expect the super Eagles to put us at the apex of African football again. We believe in the arsenal we’ve got and surely we are convinced that our hopes won’t be dashed this time around as they won’t also be a need for calculators.
Go in thy might Super eagles. Exhibit the ‘never-say-never’ of Nigeria. Showcase the diehard spirit that stands us out. Fly above every hurdle and obstacle. We are meant for the top and at the top we shall remain. *SOAR SUPER EAGLES.*
*Simon Joshua – NETBLASTER*
_Sports Presenter/Analyst_
_MyRadio 101.1 FM Owerri._
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