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Before USA'94

On Saturday October 2, 1993, the national team, Super Eagles were on duty inside the mainbowl of the National Stadium. It was against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa. It was a World Cup qualifier and the South Africans, having just been re-admitted into world sport competitions, wanted to prove a point. Captained by the redoubtable Neil Tovey and managed by the legendry Clive Baker, the Bafana Bafana (as the national team is called) knew they could only strive to make sure they did not concece many goals. The Super Eagles had two in-form goal poachers in former Boavista of Portuga striker, Richard Onwobokiri and the gangling Rashidi Yekini. At the end of ninety minutes, it was four goals in favour of the Super Eagles while the South Africans went home without anything.

The South Africans might have been humiliated but by the time the Super Eagles travelled to Johannesburg for a date with the Bafana Bafana on January 17, 1993, they saw a South African team that had been fully transformed exactly seventy-seven days after the Lagos meet. With the likes of Lucas Radebe, Siswe Mutang, Eric September, Doctor Kumalo, Neil Turvey, John Moshoe leading the South African challenge, it was not to be a smooth ride for Nigeria. At the end of the day, however, Aloy Agu was lucky to maintain a clean slate as the match ended in a goaless draw. But he lost a tooth to tell the story.

The South African did not qualify for the USA '94 World Cup but Nigeria did. After playing the last qualifying game in Anaba, Algeria against the Abdelhafid Tastfaout-led Desert Warriors on Satuday October 14, 1993, a goal from Finidi George was enough to send the Super Eagles as guests of Bill Clinton in the summer of 1994. Even a second half equaliser by the Algerians was not enough to keep the dream of the Elephants of Cote D'Ivoire alive as they sought in vain to derail the Nigerian first appearance at the mundial.

Before going to the USA 94 World Cup, the Super Eagles had gone to Tunisia to bring home the African Cup of Nations. After the 3-0 defeat of Gabon and a nil-nil draw against Egypt when goalkeeper Shoubir of Egypt had the cross-bar to thank after blistering shot from Rashidi Yekini from a perfet loop from the then passmaster, Sunday Oliseh caught him napping, a quarter final date with Democratic Republic of Congo ended in a 2-0 victory for the Super Eagles. It was match that saw the Congolese goalkeeper, Bilolo Tambwe getting the marching orders after tripping Yekini inside the penalty area. The semi-final against Cote D'Ivoire saw the Super Eagles tailing two times after Michel Basole had made sure that he beat Peter Rufia twice. A fast header and a blistering grounder were all he needed to put his country ahead twice. A penalty shoot-out separated the boys from the men. At the end, the combination of Kalusha Bwalya and Elijah Litana was not enough to prevent the Super Eagles from taking the Unity Cup.

At the USA'94 World Cup

Though a first timer, the success of Tunisia made the world think that the Super Eagles were outside favourites. Not even when the team had been rated number five in the world then; a feat no other African team had been able to match talkless of beating. At the World Cup proper, an opener with Bulgaria was enough to make the pundits beat their chest that truly the Eagles had landed. A grounding cross from Finidi Geroge for Yekini to connect home opened the gate for Daniel Amokachie to make it two ahead before the break. The combination of Letchkov and Hirsto Stoichkov to get a consolation met a strong resistance from the quartet of Ben Iroha, Mike Emenalo, Chidi Nwanu and Steven Keshi in the Nigerian defence. The icing on the cake was a flying header from Emmanuel Amuneke to make it three all for the Super Eagles.

The second game was more difficult. Against former World Cup holders, Argentina, it was to be a tall order. Bouyed by the presence of the then 34 year-old Diego Maradona, the Super Eagles knew it would be anything but easy. But a superb layer from Yekini saw Samson Siasia selling a dummy to the entire Argentine defence before looping the ball over the head of the advancing goalkeeper. That put the Super Eagles ahead.

But it brought out the fighting spirit in the South Americans. Rampagingly tormenting the Nigerian defence, it was not to be long before Austin Eguavoen tripped Maradona who stood to take the subsequent free-kick. The blinding shot was too hot for Rufai to handle at first touch and a lurking Claudio Cannigia was on hand to connect home the equaliser. The Argentines were not done yet. Another free-kick, this time more nearer the Nigerian 18 yard-box, saw an unmarked Cannigia (again). He stylistically beat Rufai with a banana shot into the far end of the net. It was Nigeria 1, Argentina 2.

Against another first timers, Greece, the gods of ancient Athens went to sleep as two quick goals, in each half, from Finidi and Amockachie sealed their World Cup hopes. Nigeria was through to the second round.

A second round fixture against Italy was to be Nigeria's nemesis. But beyond that, it also showed that to advance in the Mundial, you need more than mastering the artistry of the game. You also need experience and character. For much of the matchh, Nigerians played with dexterity and with only a few seconds remaining it was almost certain Nigeria was advancing at the expense of the AZZuris of Italy. But instead of clearing away and wasting as much time as possible, the Nigerians thought the match had been won. This was after their only goal. They took the lead through Amuneke in the 22nd minute after a corner-kick from Finidi saw an Italian defender doing a careless clearance, the Super Eagles started defending and at same time playing to the gallery. This was despite the fact that Gianfranco Zola, the italian playmaker had been sent off after fouling Eguavoen. But the combination of Paulo Maldini, Demetrio Albertini and the rampaging Roberto Baggio was enough to kill the Nigerian dream in the eighty-eighth minute.

A Baggio penalty in the extra time was what was needed to send the hope of Africa dissolving. And then, the Eagles came home. It was an elmination that brought the political crisis at home back to the front burner. The late MKO Abiola was fighting for his mandate while NADECO was giving Abacha a run for his money. The World Cup provided a relieving distraction and Nigeria's elimination meant the problem was only put aside. With Super Eagles defeat Nigerians came back to its political trouble.

At France '98

The positive previews the Eagles got prior to USA'94 were opposite of what they got on the build-up to France'98. Having lost all their World Cup build-up games against Germany, Yugoslavia and Holland in that order, no one expected the Super Eagles to do any wonder in Paris. But that was not to be.

In the Super Eagles first game against Spain, it was a vintage Nigerian can-do spirit. Two times the Spanish took the lead and two times the Super Eagles leveled up. The climax was a blinding shot from Sunday Oliseh which beat goalkeeper Zubisaretta hands down. In the second game against Bulgaria, it was mother luck that saw the Super Eagles through. The Bulgarians, again led by their legendary playmaker, Stoichkov, came with revenge of a 3-0 defeat four years before at the USA '94 in their minds. But at the end of the day, a good combination by Celestine Babayaro, Daniel Amokachie and Victor Nosakhare Ikpeba ensured the only goal that separated the two teams after 90 minutes.

In the third and last group game against Paraguay, there was nothing at stake. A goal from Wilson Oruma was not enough to prevent the South Americans from scoring thrice to book a place, behind Nigeria, in the second round. The main point of the France 98 experience is that Spain, tipped as one of the main favourites was edged out of contention by Nigeria since it could not qualify for second round.

Before the second round fixture against Denmark, pundits had given it to the Super Eagles and that proved to be our undoing. Over-confident of a victory and already looking at a quarter-final date against Brazil, Uche Okechukwu led his teammates to face a jittery but self-confident Danish side. The game started and it was obvious that there is a wide gap between reality and fantasy. After twenty minutes, the Danes were two goals up. That was how the first round ended.

In the second half, the Eagles presented a semblance of serious but another two goals to make it four for the Danes killed another World Cup dream just where it was aborted four years before. A consolation goal from substitute, Tijani Babangida, made no difference. Will this year be different? Another seven days from now will indicate. Or who knows, the story and the party could still be on in two weeks time.