The joy of National Sports Commission Chairman Malam Shehu Dikko and the DG Hon. Bukola Olopade knew no bounds when Super Eagles defeated Rwanda 2-0 in a must-win World Cup qualifier in Kigali on Friday. Going into the game, Nigeria were four points adrift of Rwanda after a very difficult start to the campaign, so failure to win would make them lose more grounds.
The seriousness of this game was highlighted by the fact that the Commission set up a planning committee engaging and coordinating with NFF for months in preparations for the matches and sent out an advance party four days ahead of match day. This advance party was targeted at nuliifying the home advantage of the Rwandans or reduce it to the barest minimum. This advance party mobilised Nigerians in Kigali to support the Super Eagles, sorted all logistics and on match day, an aircraft chartered by the Commission conveying supporters landed in Kigali early enough to create a sea of green and white at the arena.
The Commission had set a target of winning the next six matches knowing that this would most likely be enough to remedy the difficult start and secure the World Cup ticket. The first of those six games in Kigali was crucial as it would effectively define the direction that the campaign would be tilting.
Therefore, victory in Kigali was very soothing to the NSC chairman and his team. This was apparent in their open and unrestrained show of joy that sometimes tilted to the infantile, but these were men who were overjoyed and wore their emotions on their sleeves.
Before the kickoff, Mallam Dikko and Hon. Olopade, joined by NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and former Sports Minister and Spokesperson to the President Chief Sunday Dare, came down to wave, pump up and appreciate the vociferous Nigerian supporters. This gingered the supporters as they pumped up the volume and drowned the voices of the home supporters. At some point, a neutral would wonder who was at home, given the loudeness of the Nigerian supporters.
Victor Osimhen’s brace sufficed as the Nigerians got their World Cup campaign back on track. Visibly overjoyed NSC Leadership jumped down from the VIP box after the final whistle this time accompanied by the CGC, Chief Dare, Alhaji Gusau, Senators and House of Representatives members as well as other top dignitaries who were also in Kigali to cheer the team to victory.
They thumped their fists and danced to the victory songs of the supporters. This was some Nigerian party in Kigali. Soon, Mallam Dikko turned from the supporters and danced towards the Super Eagles players who had assembled at the center circle. On cue, the boys danced to his direction and he led them to appreciate the supporters. Mallam Dikko was literally lifting one player after the other, he could as well have carried them on his head, while Hon. Olopade was similarly ecstatic.
Next stop was the team’s dressing room. Dikko and the other dignitaries moved from one player to the other congratulating them for making the hosts look so ordinary on the day.
Afterwards, Mallam Dikko deliverered President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s message to the boys.
He said, “You have done us proud today. You have shown that true Nigerian never-say-die spirit. Let me on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and indeed the teeming Nigerian football faithful congratulate you for this performance. The President has mandated us to ensure that Nigeria’s flag is hoisted at the World Cup and we will do all we can to support the NFF to deliver the ticket.”
He charged them to go for all three points against Zimbabwe in Uyo.
“Tuesday is another day. Let’s consolidate on what we have done here today. Indeed what happened here today is what I can call preparation meets competence and capability as you guys are very talented and exceptional players. Thus we move on the same lane and three points against Zimbabwe is non-negotiable”, he added.
Hon. Olopade enthused that all the stops will be pulled out again on Tuesday to ensure victory.
“We are solidly behind this team. They have to be rest assured that the commission will back them to the hilt to make sure that we don’t miss out of the World Cup consecutively. We have done our own and we are happy that they have delivered on the pitch”, he pointed out.
CG Adeniyi expressed delight at the boys’ performance in Kigali pointing out that if they sustained the form, no team in the group would stand them.
“If this team plays the way you played today, no team is your match in this group. You have just sent a signal to the other teams in the group that it is no longer business-as-usual”, he said.
Chief Dare reminded the boys that the World Cup ticket is non-negotiable.
“The good thing is that your destiny is still in your hands. With five matches left, there is enough time to turn this around and you have just started that process with this victory”, he opined.
