TheCable

In 2008, I was in Malaga, Spain for a week as the Super Eagles prepared for that year’s AFCON held in Ghana, stayed in the same hotel and watched the team closely. Five years later I spent a weekend with the team preparing for the AFCON and I cannot even begin to put into words exactly how different both settings were in terms of squad unity. Astonishing.

In Faro, Portugal, in 2013 I got there blind not knowing what to expect. I left believing strongly that these boys wanted to restore Nigeria’s image. It was in their eyes. It was in the friendliness of the group. It was in the jovial attitude of everyone around the camp.

When I started to report that this team will do great things I was asked what it was I saw but I was unable to put it down in words exactly. I just mentioned that it was “the look in the eyes of the players and a bit more”. I looked and sounded silly.

As this team fly out to Philadelphia from London for more training en route Brazil for the World Cup am getting that feeling again about them. I attended their first training session in London and spent a whole day at the team’s hotel in Cobham and I want to believe those boys are at it again..

A lot of people will say the World Cup is not the same as the AFCON and they are correct. However, the world of football is changing and the TEAM is coming more to the fore. Emphasis is now more on the collective and it is something this team under Stephen Keshi is dipped in.

Nothing beats or even comes close to the FIFA World Cup in football. It is the place to be and I believe strongly that these our players are going to be mentally, physically and psychologically ready for it. They look it.

There are currently 30 members in the squad to be pruned to 23. However, I am happy to note that barring a major explosion between now and when the squad is announced Osaze Odemwingie should make the final 23. He has looked incredibly sharp. He looks hungry to make up for lost time and wants to remind Nigerians of his undoubted hunger, drive and desire in the Nigerian shirt.

I have great memories of the first time I saw the former Bendel Insurance striker during AFCON ’04. He came on in the second half against South Africa and hammered home two cracking goals. He will be a great asset to this team. At the team hotel and in training he is joking with the rest from my observation. He is even wearing the toga of African Champions as he noted that the country “is under pressure to defend the continent at the world cup”

Even in the team concept, a star usually emerges. Emmanuel Emenike emerged for this team at the last AFCON. In Brazil, I have a hunch that Osaze Peter Odemwingie will be our star. He is chumping at the bits to get at our opponents.