|
FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP FINAL
Nigeria, Switzerland
shake Abuja
BY ORI MARTINS
Sunday, November 15, 2009
|
•Photo:
Sun News Publishing |
| |
The National Stadium, Abuja, will be a place to be this afternoon
as the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria confront history making (seeking)
U-17 national team of Switzerland at the final of the FIFA U-17
World Cup Finals.
It is fascinating to see two great teams, made up of great kids,
playing in the final. Both sides have excellent attributes and characteristics
which have kept them in the Championship. The Nigerian lads posses
tenacity and power as their major assets, while the Swiss boys can
boast of flair and team discipline.
The Golden Eaglets, now representing not just Nigeria or West Africa,
but also flying the African flag, are individually talented, beautifully
awesome in approach and sweet to behold in delivery. On the other
hand, Switzerland represent the typical European style of play which
does not necessarily rely on one player but rather rotates around
collective understanding and responsibility.
Today's epic final carries with it the stamp of historical and symbolic
significances. Take a look at this: Except Brazil, no other country
has ever defended the title back-to-back. The Wonder Samba boys
from Brazil, with Ronaldinho on parade, travelled all the way to
Egypt, the land where civilisation started, in 1997 and smiled home
with the FIFA U-17 title. Two years later in New Zealand '99, the
South Americans proved that their commendable feat of two years
ago was not a fluke. Brazil defeated Ghana in the final in Egypt
'97 and muzzled Australia on the final day in 1999.
This is exactly what Nigeria want to replicate. The Eaglets flew
home with the U-17 world title from Korea. Like Brazil, the Nigerian
kids want to defend the FIFA U-17 World Cup back-to-back. So far,
they have shown they can do it. The players have displayed spectacular
performances, to the admiration of the Nigerian fans who seem to
have forgotten the pains of the Super Eagles precarious position
en route to the last day of the Group B World Cup qualifiers which
ended yesterday. Of course, Samson Siasia's Flying Eagles to the
Egypt 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup Finals, was a write off.
Although the team started off on a shaky ground, the John Obuh-led
team had come off stronger in their subsequent matches. It will
be recalled that Germany went three goals up against Nigeria on
the opening day in Abuja, but the Eaglets fought like wounded lions
to draw level. Coach Obuh attributed that poor take off to stage
fright. He said: “The truth remains that my boys suffered
from stage fright in the opening day because most of them had not
witnessed such a huge crowd before, hence, they were cowed and intimidated.
But they eventually picked up and the news is that we are in the
final against Switzerland.”
Indeed, Nigeria picked up well. After the 3-3 draw on the first
day, they defeated Honduras 1-0 on the second day and finally dismissed
Argentina on the last day of the group stage. Obviously, the Eaglets
had become enterprising and have registered more intelligence in
their play entering into the Round of 16 where they hammered the
hapless lads from New Zealand 5-0. In the quarterfinals, high flying
Eaglets defeated South Korea 3-1 and equally sent hard fighting
and free-flowing Spain, Korea 2007 finalists, with the same margin
in the semifinals.
Complete and roaring to go, Nigeria have everything going for them
into today's final. Historically, they were the first side ever
to lift the U-17 World Cup shield. They achieved this in 1985 in
China. Second, they are the second best team behind Brazil. Third,
Nigeria are also the only host country beside Scotland ever to reach
the final. In 1989, Saudi Arabia defeated Scotland in the final
to lift the trophy, but Nigeria are seeking the first country to
host and win.
Speaking in this direction, Coach Obuh said: “I have read
in the papers that only Brazil have defended this trophy back-to-back
while no country has ever won it as host. To start with, we want
to emulate Brazil by defending the title back-to-back and then set
a record of being the first host country to win it. You can agree
with me that we have honestly worked very hard to win the trophy
and I am convinced that we have a team that would handle Switzerland
very well and then win the Cup for the fourth time for Nigeria and
Africa.”
Nigeria are unbeaten in their last 13 FIFA U-17 World Cup outings
even as they have reached final on five previous occasions, lifting
the trophy in China in 1985, Japan '93 and Korea 2007. They lost
on penalties to the former Soviet Union (USSR) in Canada '87 and
3-1 to France in Trinidad and Tobago in 2001.
Going by how the team have been playing, Nigeria will certainly
go for an all attacking play to be spearheaded by Stanley Okoro,
Edafe Egbedi and super substitutes Sani Emmanuel and Olanrewaju
Kayode. With Dami Paul in goal and covered by Aigbe Oliha, Mohammed
Aliyu, Kenneth Omeruo and captain Fortune Chukwudi, the Nigerians
may not find Switzerland too hard to handle if Ramon Azeez should
do well in the midfield.
However, Switzerland may be a hard nut to crack. Not given any chance
of surviving in the group, the debutants fired Mexico 2-0 in their
first day, flogged Japan 4-3 on the second day and expired fumbling
Brazil 1-0. it was at this juncture that attention was fully focussed
on them. Majestically, they saw off Germany 4-3 in the Round of
16 and sent Italy 2-1 in the quarterfinals stage. The entire world
applauded them when they recorded a resounding 4-0 against South
America representatives, Colombia in the semifinals. As this is
their first outing, Switzerland have actually performed just as
they have proved bookmakers wrong - so many commentators earmarked
them for early elimination.
Interestingly, Nigeria and Switzerland have so many things in common.
Both sides have scored 17 goals each. Nigeria have conceded six
while Switzerland have let in seven. Both have scored two goals
each from the penalty spot.
Nigeria have had 54 shots at goal and 2 wide with 16 offside callings
against them. Reversely, Switzerland have registered 61 shots at
goal, 34 wide and 18 off side calls made against them.
The major difference is that Nigeria have the cleanest fair play
record with only two yellow cards but the Swiss have experienced
two red cards and five yellow cards. Again, Nigeria's Stanley Okoro
leads the two others jostling for the Golden Boot Award (as highest
goal scorer) just as Nassim Ben Khalifa and Haris Seferovic are
among the leading highest goal scorers.
No matter where the victory will swing to, history will be made
today - Nigeria's win will be a record and Switzerland's victory
will also be a record!
How
to Get Any Woman You Want. Click Here!
Make
N450,000 Online Monthly. Click Here
|
|
