Nigerian Corner: Now…Let’s Go And Win The World Cup!

My head is in a spin, I'm in a daze, just as the likes of Nwankwo Kanu and Joseph Yobo cried out their eyes after it got to them that they will again be appearing at a World Cup finals.

For the bulk of the Super Eagles, this was most probably their last chance to play at the World Cup, and the dramatic events in Nairobi and Maputo combined on a memorable Saturday afternoon to make this possible.

I now really know what it feels like to win the lottery. You always have a chance to hit the jackpot as long as you have bought a lottery ticket.

It was a roller coaster of emotions for most Nigerians - hell (when Kenya went in front), then Hope (when Obafemi Martins drew us level), Heaven (when Yakubu put us ahead), back to hell (after the Kenyan equaliser), and then Heaven again (when Martins regained the lead), more Heaven (when referee Eddy Maillet from Seychelles blew the final whistle and it was gathered that Mozambique had also done serious damage to Tunisia at the dreaded Machava Stadium).

It is some irony that Mozambique are now the new friends in football of Nigeria because just four years ago, their next-door neighbours Angola had dashed our hopes of featuring at the 2006 World Cup. And in the first instance, our goalless draw with the Mambas in March had really got us playing second fiddle to Tunisia until the final day of action, when it really mattered most.

For the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, it is not how well you started, but how well you finished the race.

Their million bucks from their new-found Nigerian friends is cooling in the bank, while I will be clutching my red and black Mozambique scarf for the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola because this is one team that will surprise the rest of the continent with their talent and athletism, from goalkeeper Kapango to the exciting young winger Josimar.

Today, the Abuja National Stadium will host the biggest victory party as Nigeria will successfully defend the FIFA Under-17 World Cup before 60,000 fans. The Golden Eaglets set the tone for the Miracle of Nairobi with their semi-final win over Spain on Thursday and they will now put the icing on the victory cake with a final victory over Switzerland.

But after the party, it will be down to the serious business of building a team that will be worthy representatives at the 2010 World Cup.

Most of us expect the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to swiftly move to appoint a proven foreign coach who will lead us to the Nations Cup in January. They did the right thing when they eased out Henry Nwosu for John Obuh to put together the all-conquering Eaglets in five short months.

Coach Shuaibu Amodu has done a great job by now twice qualifying us to a World Cup and should be taken along to both Angola and South Africa, but he needs to be assisted by a more experienced man, who will now provide a more playing field for players to stake a claim for the 23 spots for the World Cup.

Youth international Rabiu Ibrahim has to be blooded into senior team, and we should also get Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha back from retirement, a la Roger Milla of Cameroon, because we still do not have the creative juice in the middle of the park.

I would also want to see the new man cap "Little Messi" Stanley Okoro, who has been as expected one of the stand-out players of this year's Under-17 World Cup. And at least three of Okoro's team-mates from Heartland deserve to be given a look-in by the national selectors - Ikechukwu ThankGod, Uche Agba and Ikechukwu Ibenegbu.

The Nations Cup must not be a dress rehearsal for the World Cup. We have to be in Angola to win our third African trophy.

And what of a second-term for NFF president Sani Lulu and his board?

Elections into the NFF board are not due till August 2010. Like it is in football, you are only as good as your last result and that rule should also apply to the politicians among us.

This latest result ought to humble Lulu and his henchmen, so also their supporters and critics.

Next summer in South Africa, I will swap my plastic Vuvuzela for the real thing, which is guaranteed to make a louder racket and rattle our opponents. And who says I cannot start hoping of Nigeria going on to win the World Cup on July 11 in Johannesburg?

Samm Audu, Goal.com