A Wing And A Prayer

Tired of Pim's pragmatic approach? Well, consider the plight of the Super Eagles...

Ever since their nation set the 1994 World Cup on fire, Nigeria's 150 million football-crazy fans have had ridiculously high expectations of success. They loudly demand attacking football at every opportunity, and the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) is chronically disinclined to disappoint them. The results are not always pretty.

For example, 33-year-old Nwankwo Kanu may be a dubious selection in many eyes, but the crowds demand him so he's in. As the only survivor from the electrifying squads of 1994 and 1998, Portsmouth's lanky veteran might remember how tribal war songs once pumped the Super Eagles' change room. Today, young EPL and La Liga players psyche up to the tinkle of iPods.

Outstanding national results at youth level, including three Under-17 World Cups and a 1996 Olympic Gold Medal (they defeated Argentina in the final), have never transformed into senior success. After repeatedly disappointing in qualification games, the Super Eagles only scraped into the 2010 World Cup thanks to other teams' results and a last gasp goal against Mozambique.

Coach Shaibu Amodu was later sacked (for the fourth time) despite leading Nigeria to the African Nations Cup semi-finals. Some observers suggest he was never given enough time to implement much-needed defensive reforms. Others insist he was the main problem. But that's life in Africa's most populous nation - lots of conflicting opinions, and all of them loud.

A dull scoreless draw against Saudi Arabia two weeks ago was new Swedish coach Lars Lagerback's first look at the team. Another unconvincing 1-1 draw with Colombia last Sunday would have done little to help him whittle down his final squad.

I caught a bit of that game on a Net feed, and while the team's defence looked solid, there was precious little creativity going forward. In fact, the second half was so dull that I ended up playing Google Pacman instead. The reactions back in Lagos were predictable.

"Nigeria's World Cup quest is yet another paradox of woe," wailed one fan on goal.com. "Lagerback inherited a dead Eagle that was garnished and decorated like the president we had for close to four years. I would rather not watch the World Cup than saddle myself with the burden of being patriotic to a doomed team."

Ex-international Jonathan Akpoborie was equally sanguine: "It is evident that the Eagles are going to crash out."

"My brother, they need to do more," sighed another ex-international, Etim Esin. "I'm not impressed. I am even scared..."

"Honestly, they need prayers and I am praying for them."

Still, any country with players called Yobo and Shittu has got to be worth watching, especially when the President is named Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. And on paper at least, they do have plenty of fire-power and potential. So can they progress through a group including Argentina, Greece and South Korea?

Well, I have no idea. And the truth is that nobody really has any idea how the Super Eagles will fare at this World Cup, least of all the Nigerians themselves.