TheCable

What has music got to do with this 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Taifa Stars of Tanzania and the Super Eagles of Nigeria?

A lot and nothing readily comes to mind.

Nothing really, considering the fact that three points are at stake in the match and the Pharaohs of Egypt still lurk in the corner for the Super Eagles in this group.

But then, football is a metaphor for war and war has its own beat and rhythm!

So why not relax to the beat and rhythm of the preview to this game.

Note: Our choice of songs, though, might not be music to your ears!

WON KERE SI NUMBER WA

The Super Eagles have never lost to Tanzania so it’s right to start this preview with this famous track by the legendary Fatai Rolling Dollar.

The first-ever meeting between both countries was on July 6, 1972, in a friendly match in Dar es Salaam which ended 0-0.

But won indeed kere si number wa when Victor Oduah and Sylvester Egborge scored Nigeria’s goals in a 2-1 win in a friendly game in Benin City on November 6, 1972.

Five days later in Lagos, in yet another friendly match, a goal from Gideon Njoku and a brace from Sunny Oyarekhua edged a 3-2 win for Nigeria.

It was another slim win for the Eagles over the Taifa Stars during the 2nd All-Africa Games Nigeria hosted in January 1973.

Yakubu Mambo and Tony Igwe were the scorers in the 2-1 win in the game played at the newly opened  National Stadium, Surulere.

On February 20, 1976, both countries played out a 0-0 draw in a friendly in Dar es Salaam on the Green Eagles’ way into Ethiopia for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria confirmed their superiority on March 8, 1980, in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations in Lagos.

Goals from Muda Lawal, Ifeanyi Onyeadika, and Segun Odegbami gave Nigeria a 3-1 win and makes the choice of this song valid.

But on December 6, 1980, the Taifa Stars had good reasons to hope for an upset when they held the reigning African champions to a 1-1 draw in Lagos in the first leg of a 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture.

But two first-half goals from John Chidozie and Christian Nwokocha in Dar es Salaam two weeks later sent Tanzania packing from the race.

Won kere si number wa

Won kere si number wa

Won kere si number wa

Awon omode won yin kere si number wa…

EVERY STEP I TAKE…

Every move I make

Every single day

Every time I pray

I’ll be missing you…

This 1997 track by Faith Evans and Puff Daddy in memory of Notorious BIG fits the present mood of Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain Vincent Enyeama.

Enyeama lost his mother recently and was unable to join the side for the game in Dar es Salaam.

On Instagram, the Lille first-choice keeper expressed his sadness over the incident while also apologising to Nigerians for missing Eagles’ first game under manager Sunday Oliseh.

“So sorry I won’t make it out there to wear this shirt,” he said.

“So sorry that I won’t be standing there singing the anthem of my sweet Nigeria, I wish that this darkness didn’t come in daylight. I wish that I could turn back the hand of time. I wish I just wish that I could take away this pain. Let the rain wash away this pain.” Like the song that washed away the pains of Notorious BIG faithful.

Every move I make

Every single day

Every time I pray

I’ll be missing you…

CALL ME DANNY WILSON

Danny Wilson

Danny Wilson

And I am gonna play you ragamuffin…

But call him Carl Ikeme this time as the uncapped Wolves goalkeeper is set to step into the starting line-up for the Group G qualifier.

Enyeama the Super Eagles’ most capped player with 101 appearances, was in goal for Nigeria when they beat Chad 2-0 in their opener in Kaduna in June.

Ikeme the Super Eagles’ uncapped player with zero appearance will be in goal for Nigeria when they meet Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in September.

But do not be afraid fans just…

Call me Danny Wilson

Danny Wilson

Danny Wilson

And I am gonna play you ragamuffin…

I NO BE GENTLEMAN AT ALL

I no be gentleman at all

I no be gentleman at all…

I be African man original…

Nigeria’s stand-in captain Ahmed Musa is the most experienced international in the squad, but he must prove he’s capable of leading the side at just 22 and with only five years of international football under his belt.

The CSKA Moscow forward and the Super Eagles armband are not strange bedfellows as he wore it in the team’s penultimate game away to South Africa.

But that was a friendly match.

The game at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar-es-Salaam on Saturday is much more crucial.

It requires a tough captain.

A strong captain.

An original African man which Musa must display while singing…

I no be gentleman at all

I no be gentleman at all

I no be gentleman at all…

I be African man original…

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY

I believe I can touch the sky

I think about it every night and day

Spread my wings and fly away

I believe I can soar…

That’s what Sylvester Igboun believes about the Super Eagles as well.

The FC Ufa of Russia forward is one of several uncapped players for the trip to Tanzania, but he’s unfazed with the challenges ahead.

“I am happy to train with the Eagles for the first time. I feel welcomed in the team by the players, officials and the coaches,” he said.

“With what I am seeing here, the spirit is high. I see a young team with everybody ready to give it all for the nation.

“So far so good, the camp is fine and everybody here are nice to each other, we are like one family, which is very good.

“I see us beating Tanzania and take Eagles back to the top with the spirit we have here.”

I believe I can fly

I can fly

I can fly…

Good luck, Super Eagles!