By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
NIGERIA’s FALCONETS has a herculean task to qualify for the knockout stages on Sunday when they file out against debutante New Caledonia in their last Group F match when Spain will be clashing with China in the group star match.
Football pundits have hit their tables calculating whether Nigerian football will rise from their woes that ignited the tsunami which swept away the NFF board or the Falconets will exit their 12th attempt to Clinch the title at the group stage for the 3rd time as she did in 2002 and 2016.
Falconets faltered in their first match in Poland 0-2 and played a lamentable 0-0 with China in an encounter they could have laid the Chinese to rest as they lost a few opportunities that would have birthed their first win and at least first goal at the mundial but Coach Moses Aduku expressed hope for a better outing against New Caledonia.
Spain that flogged New Caledonia 11-0 had earlier made Nigeria do frog jump with 2-0 win when China lashed most whipped team New Caledonia 5-0.
So, Spain has qualified with 6 points and 13 goals scored, China that has 4 points with 5 goals in the kitty has to ensure they at least get a scored draw with Spain or settle for a lucky loser space.
Yes, because Nigeria has a slang they carry into sporting arena that “Naija no dey carry last” and the surprise to achieve that is to pray that China loses to Spain which is of high probability and Nigeria beat New Caledonia at least 8-0.
My long-term colleague and retired Group Sports Editor of Tribune Newspapers of Nigeria, Ade Somefun just winked and shook his head whispering “Impossicant Enny”.
Ade should know that 90 minutes of football is what Moses Aduku and the Falconets need to rise from the dust of shame of a team that has the best record in Africa but may join Tanzania and Benin Republic to go home.
Nigeria’s football looks so hopeless now that no Nigerian Billionaire has come forward with the usual Maslow carrot and Stick model of motivation of babes go in there and get $5k for each goal you score. Imagine they score 12 goals to erase the Spanish record bet Nigerian girls will go twerk on social media like Super Falcons with $60k dollars.
I know two Ijebu men that can put money on the table. Africa’s Billionaire, Dangote is only busy with convulsing petrol prices he could double the $5k per goal target and if the girls score the 12 goals, he will give the money right on the touch line after the last whistle and still take them out to the Nigerian embassy and tell amiable Ambassador Ohakim to serve the girls Isi Ewu or Ofei Owerri with Akpu for night food.
In 11 appearances Falconets made Silver Medal twice in 2010 and 2014; placed 4th in 2012; made quarterfinals five times in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2018 and 2022; was stopped at the round of 16 at the last edition in 2024 and edged out at the group stages at the first edition in 2002 and 2016.
Can the Falconets beat New Caledonia silly like Spain did with ace striker Janet Akokoromowei now leading the Nigerian attack or go to the pitch, dance their sheshe kule steps and come back to beg Nigerians with the cracked musical “we are sorry” or make the Nigerian women folk say again “what Nigerian men cannot do, Nigerian women have done better” as NFF mandate is to win the title.
Look at the cover photo very well. The Falconets are singing their motivational opening glee: “Oluwa wa ma sin wa lo (God go with us)” as they file into the crucial match against New Caledonia.
#FIFA #CAF #WAFU #NFF #NSC.
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