AFCON qualifiers: 22 goalkeepers and 5 other Nigeria-Congo dramas to watch out for

September 06

15:15 2014

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Ebola and NFF presidency tussle are the issues that will shape proceedings when Super Eagles of Nigeria play of Congo at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Saturday.

We take a look at six likely scenarios.

GIWA VS MAIGARI

Football has it ceremonial side on and off the pitch on match day.

With two factions running the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), it will be a battle of wits in Calabar on Saturday.

Will it be the Chris Giwa-led faction that will meet with the players and give them words of encouragement before they head to the pitch?

FIFA and CAF back Aminu Maigari. So, will it be his faction that will liaise with both bodies?

Will Giwa, after meeting with the players, allow Maigari to lead them and other match officials, which includes FIFA and CAF representatives, for pre-match ceremonies on the pitch?

Who will seat beside the special guest of honour? Giwa? Maigari?

Who will head the post-match briefings?

Expect Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s two tracks Roforofo Fight and Power Show on show at the UJ Esuene Stadium.

It will likely spill over to the team’s hotel.

TO SHAKE OR NOT TO SHAKE

That is the new question as redefined by Ebola.

Similar question arose during a USA ’94 World Cup game between Nigeria and Ivory Coast in Abidjan and Lagos.

Then, juju scare and retaliation were the reasons a bow of the head replaced the customary handshake in the pre-match exchange of pleasantries.

Now, it is the fear of Ebola which has become a phobia to West African countries and other regions in Africa.

So will the Congolese copy Sergie Alain Maguy and co. and resort to bowing of heads?

Will Nigeria retaliate with same gesture in the second leg? Well, that’s a story for another day.

FOOTBALL IS A GAME OF BODY CONTACT, NO?

So let’s assume the Congolese don’t shake the Eagles before kick-off, but how will they avoid body contacts during the match?

The Red Devils are typically a B side and B is for brawn!

One can contract the Ebola virus through sweat and saliva – and both are part of the game – so will Congo DR change their style of play for the four challenges at hand?

Four challenges in a single game who may wonder. Yes four challenges.

The ‘sweat’ challenge. The ‘saliva’ challenge. The ‘preoccupied thought of Ebola’ challenge. And the challenge of avoiding defeat.

TEAMS IN LONG CLOTHING

This is another Ebola fear factor – a mitigating factor against the earlier point.

Since the scourge of the virus, most people have abandoned short sleeve shirts for the more official looking long sleeve. Same will apply on Saturday.

Players love showing off their tattoos but not in this match. Long sleeve jersey, outstretched-to-the-limit socks and bogus pants will be on display.

FIFA banned what was known as Yanga Pants in Pidgin English – longer pants worn beneath another pant. But they will look the other side during Saturday’s match if some players, out of fear of contracting Ebola, resort to #BringBackTheYangaPants.

Those who can’t bring back the pants may well dress like Baseball players.

22 GOALKEEPERS?

Related to the point above but with an added twist.

For those in the stadium and those watching the match on colour TV, differentiating the outfield players and the goalkeepers will only be through the colour of their jerseys.

Some of the players will wisely or otherwise put on goalkeeper’s glove during the match. No prize guessing it’s because of Ebola.

The ultimate prize, though, will be paid by those watching the game on black-and-white TV. They will keep wondering and guessing – 22 goalkeepers?

THE DEATH OF FANATICAL FANS

That the fans will be subjected to Ebola screening before gaining entrance to the stadium is a moot point. Those suspected of having the disease will politely be turned back and those that are hell-bent watching their beloved Super Eagles live will be taken to a centre – a quarantine centre.