SPORTS
Super Eagles and 2021 AFCON ouster
By Chukwuemeka Opara
The Super Eagles were on Sunday, Jan. 23 eliminated from the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon by Tunisia, at the second round of the competition.
Nigerians are still reeling from the shock of the ouster as many gave the team a chance of winning the biennial diadem for the fourth time.
The team’s journey to the diadem were full of uncertainties.
The team’s erstwhile Technical Adviser, the Franco-German Gernot Rohr was sacked with a month to the competition.The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) assigned the Head of its Technical Department and former Coach and Captain of the team, Augustine Eguavoen to tinker the team on a temporary capacity.
The association announced that it had hired Portuguese tactician, Jose Peseiro as the team’s new technical adviser to take over from Eguavoen after the AFCON.
Eguavoen commenced work and invited 28 players for the competition. Some of the invited players opted out for various reasons ranging from injuries, COVID 19 affliction and reluctance of their various club sides to release them for the competition.
The team travelled to Cameroon as non- favourites and with the absence of two top stars: Victor Osimhen and Odion Ighalo.
Football fans did not give the team chance of creating much impact, but on Jan.11 at the Roumde Adijia in Garoua, the team proved bookmakers wrong by outclassing Egypt 1-0.
The team’s classical performance stunned even the hardest of critics. It suddenly became favourites and by the time it equally defeated Sudan 2-0 in its second match of the group, the vision of a fourth triumph for the country suddenly appeared.
The team also demolished Guinea Busaau 3-1 to emerge winners of group D with nine points, the only team in the competition to win a perfect record in the competition’s group stage.
The team was pitched against Tunisia in the round of 16. The North Africans qualified for that stage of the competition as one of the lucky third best placed teams in the group stages.
In fact, it amassed a paltry three points in contrast to the nine by the Eagles. To many Nigerians, the match was already concluded before it was even played.
The Eagles did not play with the same gusto it played in the three previous matches. Its point man, the Nantes of France forward, Moses Simon was caged by the tactically aware Tunisians.
The team struggled all through the game to the bewilderment of its teeming fans across the globe. A cheeky goal conceded by its model-like goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye did the havoc.
The red card to Everton of England’s midfielder Alex Iwobi as a result of an unfortunate stamp on a Tunisian compounded its woes. At the end of 90 minutes, the Eagles were out of the competition, its worst outing in the competition since an unceremonious quarter final exit at AFCON 2008 in Ghana.
Tongues have continued to wag since the ugly debacle with reasons for the ouster flying from all quarters. A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent sought the views of soccer fans in Ebonyi and the next step for the flagging, once giants of African football.
Hillary Ogbonna, Chief Coach of newly-formed Salt City Football Club of Abakaliki, blamed the players for being over confident against the Tunisians, but noted that it was time to forget the past and move forward.
“We cannot continue dwelling on the team’s elimination, but rather concentrate on the world cup qualifying play-off in March against perennial rivals Ghana. Augustine Eguavoen should be drafted back to the team to complete the job as a new coach will bring new ideas that the players would struggle to adapt to before they confront their West African neighbours.
“Eguavoen must have learnt from his mistakes against Tunisia and should be trusted to get his tactics right in subsequent matches if re-engaged.
The players re-enacted the scenario of France 98 world cup when the Eagles were scheduled to meet Denmark in the second round, but looked down on the Danes, anticipating a potential quarter final cracker against eventual runners up Brazil. The result was a “1-4 pummeling by the Danes, ” he said.
Julian Ileagu, defunct Anambra State Environmental Sanitation Authority (ASESA) Warriors FC defender, urged the NFF to take immediate action on the appointment of a new coach for the team to avoid the usual fire brigade approach before the play-off with Ghana.
“We should do things differently for once and start early preparations for the match against Ghana. The preparations should commence with the immediate appointment of a substantive coach and not another interim arrangement.
“The new coach whether local or foreign, should have enough time to review the team’s recent performances especially at the AFCON and evolve a strategy to correct the tactical deficit that was so evident in the infamous loss to Tunisia.
Ileagu urged the NFF, to implement modalities to ensure that all regulars of the team are available for the match against Ghana including those who were not available for the AFCON.
“Nigerians would not forgive the NFF if the Eagles fail to qualify for the mundial in Qatar. The NFF should realise that not qualifying for the world cup in October would spell doom for the country. It should do all within its powers to ensure that the team defeats Ghana.
“The NFF should commence immediate consultations with the clubs of these Nigerian players and ensure that nothing deter their release for the all-important encounter.
“The players should see the AFCON debacle as an eye opener and an opportunity for them to redress all wrongs. They should use the world cup qualifier to show Nigerians that they are still the much touted Eagles, which gave them joy and hope during the group stages of the AFCON and in the past. “They should see the world cup playoff as an opportunity to prove to the world that their performances at their various clubs were no fluke.’’
Chief Bethrand Okike, a timber merchant and soccer buff, said that it was time the nation’s soccer authorities look the way of home based players who are always available when needed.
He said that one of the factors that affected the Eagles performance at the AFCON was the late withdrawal of some key players and their replacement with new and untested ones.
“The Super Eagles Former Technical Adviser, Clemens Westerhof and Bonfrere Jo had standby home-based teams which the Eagles relied on in cases of emergency. The goalkeeping department where the team lagged in Cameroon can be beefed with home based players.
“The likes of Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Ike Shorunmu even the team’s current goalkeeping coach, Aloysius Agu shone at the home front before sojourning abroad. It is time we look inwards to ensure that the Eagles return to their famed winning ways.’’
Okike, however, advised the Eagles technical crew to field Francis Uzoho in subsequent matches if it still wants to stick with foreign based goalkeeper in the team. He said that he would not join the wagon casting aspersions on Maduka Okoye, for his unconvincing performance at the AFCON, but would rather insist that Uzoho was more experienced than the other keepers in the team.
“We all saw how calculated Uzoho was, in the team’s last group match against Guinea Bissau and how he dealt with uncomfortable situations unlike Okoye.
“Uzoho has a world cup experience behind him and in the world cup playoff, the country should field its best to avoid another heartbreak to Nigerians.”
Mrs Jane Mbaoma, a youth activist and football enthusiast, faulted the current condemnation of the team by soccer fans as a result of their unconvincing performance at the AFCON.
Mbaoma said that Nigerians should realise that this was the same team which thrilled them during the group stages of the competition and the only team with a 100 per cent record.
“The team should therefore not be vilified especially over the loss to Tunisia, but be encouraged to soar past Ghana in the playoff. The fans should restore its confidence in the team to prepare the players psychologically for the task ahead.
“Nigerians should realise that football is unpredictable and no team wins all the time. Twenty-four teams qualified for the present AFCON, but there will be only one winner. The team needs our prayers and support and that is the way to go,” she said. (NANFeatures)
The Portuguese Football Federation has reaffirmed its support for Cristiano Ronaldo’s continued involvement with the national team, with president Pedro Proença describing the veteran forward as an icon of Portuguese football.
Proença on PFF’sX handle on Monday, said Ronaldo remains an important part of the national team whenever he is fit and available.
He also defended Ronaldo’s place in the squad, insisting that his selection is justified by his performances.
Proença also addressed the reported disagreement between Ronaldo and Portugal coach Jorge Jesus, describing the situation as a misunderstanding that should be handled internally.
The federation president stressed that Ronaldo remains firmly connected to the national team, pointing to his role as captain in the first of Portugal’s four matches.
According to Proença, Ronaldo’s decision to continue representing Portugal reflects his strong attachment to the national team.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese icon and an exceptional player. He could have ended his career at the World Cup, but he didn’t because of his love for his national team,” he said.
Proença added that he has personally witnessed the relationship between Ronaldo, the Portuguese public and the national team.
With the four matches now completed, Proença believes there is an opportunity for Ronaldo and Jesus to resolve their differences.
Proença concluded by reiterating that Ronaldo remains part of Portugal’s football legacy and that his future with the national team remains open.
“Cristiano is part of our legacy, and he will always be here whenever the coach wants him,” he said.
As Lionel Messi prepares to get a hero’s farewell for his successful international career, Cristiano Ronaldo’s could have ended with him running down the tunnel at the final whistle of a game he did not play.
After the World Cup, Argentina’s Messi, 39, decided to retire from international football, while Ronaldo, 41, opted to play on for Portugal.
Yet there is the possibility that Messi’s Argentina career will end up lasting a few days longer – with a home friendly with Benin on Tuesday marked as his final game.
Ronaldo, furious at being made to warm up and not be brought on against Norway in the Nations League, walked out on the Portugal squad after finding out he would not start against Denmark either.
The Al-Nassr forward has scored 146 goals and won 234 caps for Portugal – both world records.
After such a high-profile falling-out with new boss Jorge Jesus, also a larger than life character who does not back down, Ronaldo is facing a big decision.
Jesus has insisted he would be welcome back if he wants to return and talks between Ronaldo, his representatives and the Portuguese FA are ongoing as they look for a solution.
While Ronaldo could not carry on playing forever, this is not how he would have expected his international career to end.
His fans are remaining loyal to him, with social media full of posts supporting Ronaldo and criticising Jesus, while on the other side some fans and a lot of Portugal’s media have been critical of what they see as selfish behaviour.
Ahead of Portugal’s next match against Denmark in November lies a big decision for one of the world’s greatest ever players.
It has all happened very quickly.
After the World Cup, Portugal replaced Roberto Martinez with Jesus, who had been Ronaldo’s boss with Al-Nassr last season.
Less than two weeks ago, Ronaldo said: “I had a conversation with our president, with our coach. I still believe that I’m able to help the national team to reach what they want.”
Things were still looking OK when he started in the 1-0 win over Wales.
Jesus told Ronaldo he would be on the bench for the next game against Norway. After being told to warm up for a period of the game, he remained an unused substitute in a Portugal game for the first time in 18 years.
Guillem Balague, who wrote a book about Ronaldo in 2015, said: “He gets asked to warm up for the whole of the second half, practically.
And as the final whistle went he went down the tunnel instead of going to the fans with his team-mates.
Jesus said there was no falling out but confirmed Ronaldo would not start the next game with Denmark either.
Portugal’s FA president Pedro Proenca flew to Copenhagen, landing at 02:30 in the morning, to try to smooth things over with Ronaldo but failed.
After beating Norway on Sunday in their final Nations League match – again without Ronaldo – Jesus said: “If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team. We can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who’s going to decide.
On several billboards in Lisbon posters went up praising Ronaldo and criticising Jesus.
They read, in Portuguese: “Thank you Cristiano Ronaldo for everything you did for Portugal. You will always be our captain.
“Jorge Jesus was not up to the task. Lack of sensitivity. Treating a captain wrongly. Inflated ego.”
One was placed next to the Estadio da Luz, home of Benfica – who Jesus managed to three league titles.
At the Denmark game, some fans wore T-shirts spelling out ‘Love you Jesus’ while others were head-to-toe in Ronaldo merch.
Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund, incidentally, celebrated his goal with his idol Ronaldo’s trademark ‘siuuu’ something he has done previously when netting against Portugal.
Portugal’s newspapers had differing perspectives.
Meanwhile, videos were posted online of angry fans ripping up their Portugal jerseys.
Jesus and Proenca were booed leaving a building in Copenhagen.
But many foreign fans purely supported Portugal because of Ronaldo – so they do not necessarily represent the views of actual Portuguese supporters.
Portugal fan Maria Ribeiro, from Lisbon, said: “It is so hard for all us fans. We all love him but it is getting too much now. It is hard to imagine Portugal without Ronaldo but maybe this is the time. There is too much arguing between ourselves.”
Ronaldo’s search for a record 1,000 career goals remains on but will he have to finish that at club level in Saudi Arabia?
He has scored 979 times for Portugal, Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr.
While his old rival Messi scored eight goals, and assisted four more, to take Argentina to the summer World Cup final – Portugal fell at the last-16 stage.
Ronaldo’s former United team-mate Wayne Rooney added: “He is a genius, a superstar. What he has given to football and millions of people is something very rare.
In the last nine years of Ronaldo’s international career, Portugal’s win percentage without him is slightly better 64% to 63% and they have scored 2.7 goals a game without him compared to 2.1 with him.
The two biggest wins in their history – 9-0 over Luxembourg and 9-1 against Armenia – came in the last two qualifying matches that he missed, both through suspension.
Journalist Marcus Alves, who covers Portugal, said: “How much gratitude is enough? That’s a question that Portuguese fans have been asking for a few years now.
“Of Portugal’s last five coaches, Ronaldo had issues with four of them Carlos Queiroz, Paulo Bento, Fernando Santos and now Jesus. That’s too much of a distraction when Portugal has arguably their best generation ever.”
Former players of Bayelsa United on Wednesday donated a set of jerseys to the club to support their preparations for the 2026/27 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
Presenting the jerseys to the club, leader of the players and former Chairman of Bayelsa United, Ebiki Timitimi, said the gesture was their little way of contributing to the club’s campaign in the NNL.
Timitimi said the former players remain committed to the growth and development of the club and appealed to critics to be constructive in their assessments.
“As ex-players of the club, we deemed it fit to support the team in our own little way.
We decided to give a set of jerseys to the club as they start their pre-season friendlies.“Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but we should criticise constructively by engaging the management to hear their side of the story before jumping to conclusions.
“Criticising them publicly without proper knowledge of the subject matter,” he added.
Receiving the jerseys on behalf of the Chairman, Peter Singabele and the Management Board, Godson Ekadi described the gesture as a significant show of solidarity from a key constituency of the club.
Ekadi said that the donation, the first major support from stakeholders ahead of the new season, will serve as a huge morale booster for the board, technical crew, and players.
“It is a wonderful statement that has been made today by the ex-players, because when you get support from your immediate constituency, it means that it’s going to be a wonderful season for us.
“Because this is the first gift we’re getting from stakeholders, and we’re calling on others to toe the line of the ex-players.
“It’s like our season has already started because of this gesture they have shown not only verbally, but also by giving a set of jerseys to the club,” he said.
He called on corporate organisations, stakeholders, and International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the state to emulate the ex-player
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