Ce n’est pas fini

One of the biggest regrets and mistakes I made in my secondary school days was not taking my French lessons and classes seriously. I can confidently say that back in those days, my school – St Anthony’s Secondary School, Ilorin, had arguably the best French teacher in Kwara State. Her name – Madame Ayinmodu, a white French woman married to a Nigerian. She was the epitome of French excellence in learning. Her office was like a studio and it was also a class. French teachers from other schools were her regular visitors and sometimes they brought their best French students along on such visits.

I was never serious with French and so dropped it along the way but all the other students who were serious with it and registered it for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) passed the subject in flying colours. Many of them still write and communicate in French to a good level conversationally till date.

I have tried on a few occasions to learn the language again, including paying heavily for private lessons, but it has not worked out. The memories of the wasted opportunities are very painful and difficult to forget. As a consolation, I am happy that my son has learnt from my mistakes and is taking the language seriously in his school. I will not give up trying to learn French once I get another opportunity.

I have decided to give this write up a French title – ‘Ce N’est Pas Fini’ meaning it is not finished yet or simply – it is not over yet. It is all about Nigeria’s quest to be at the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. The Super Eagles have stubbornly held on to their aspirations even as the odds are stacked against them. They have refused to stop fighting and have now dragged the race down to the wire.

On Friday, in Polokwane, South Africa, God was a Nigerian. Not only did the Eagles win their game on enemy territory, results elsewhere somehow worked in their favour. Before the game, it was the withdrawal of Eritrea that threw up huge possibilities for Nigeria to pick one of the four slots available for the second placed teams, that is, the best four second placed teams. This gives Nigeria a reason to hope as preparations for the finale on Tuesday, the final day of Group C, get underway.

Here are a few of my thoughts on what to expect on Tuesday:

1. The task ahead of the Super Eagles has not changed. To have any chance of being at the 2026 World Cup, the team has to win. Victory is not negotiable. It is a MUST.
A comfortable win with a two goal margin is ideal and may just be good enough to help Nigeria finish as group winners which automatically qualifies her for the mundial or puts Nigeria in a good position to be one of the best four second placed teams that will be involved in the CAF playoffs next month.

Should South Africa fail to beat Rwanda on Tuesday and
i. Nigeria beats Benin Republic with the lowest one goal margin of victory possible (an exact 1-0 win), then Nigeria would have ‘stolen’ the 2026 World Cup ticket of Group C.
ii. A victory with a 2-1 score leaves things a bit more complicated and tricky as both Nigeria and Benin Republic would be tied on points, goals difference, goals scored and the head to head (H2H). The tie breaker will now be the fair play classification where cautions picked (yellow/red cards) come into play. After Friday’s MatchDay 9 games, Nigeria had picked up 13 yellow cards throughout the qualifiers while Benin Republic had picked up 14. Both teams have received no red cards. So Nigeria and Benin Republic have almost identical disciplinary records. If the Eagles do not pick up any booking on the final match day then they can narrowly edge it through the fair play classification pathway. I just hope someone is breaking all these things down to the players. Just so this is clear and we are all on the same page, for whatever it is worth, victory is mandatory for Nigeria on Tuesday. It is a MUST.
iii. Nigeria must avoid a high one goal margin victory  such as 3-2, 4-3, 5-4 scorelines. This will swing the head to head pendulum to Benin Republic’s advantage.

2. Coach Eric Chelle’s game management needs to be better and his match strategies need to be more effective.
The Super Eagles have been slow off the marks in recent games. Sometimes, it takes them an entire first half to settle into their rhythm. This is dangerous. An efficient opponent would have taken the game beyond their reach before they know it. The Eagles should be starting games on the front foot with energy and enthusiasm.

Gernot Rohr, the former Nigeria manager who will be leading Benln Republic here for Tuesday’s showdown, is an excellent organiser and opposition scout who knows how to punish lethargic teams. Under Chelle, the Eagles struggle to keep clean sheets although they have scored in every game. They have to find a way to keep that scoring part and then keep a clean sheet on MatchDay 10 as well. Nigeria has to achieve that balance unfailingly in Uyo on Tuesday.

3. What is happening to Stanley Nwabali?
Honestly speaking, something must be going on with that young man. Without any doubt, Nwabali is a talented and top grade shot stopper whose presence in goal has helped to stabilise the team. Just as Nigerians are beginning to come to terms with his calmness and composure, some flaws are manifesting. Could he be going through some difficult moments in his personal life following the recent loss of his parents? Could it be his desire to leave his South African club for greener pastures that hasn’t materialised yet? Whatever it is, Nigeria needs the ‘real’ Stanley Nwabali back. He is needed at his best. The coaches and Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, the team psychologist, may need to have some urgent discussions with him. Keeping Nwabali on his toes also means scouting intensively for young and talented goalkeepers both domestically and internationally to give him some healthy competition, challenges and rivalry.

In summary, Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup dreams are not over yet. Ce N’est Pas Fini.