On September
7, 2013, U J Esuene Stadium in Calabar is expected to be filled with green and
white color of Nigerian flag. Nigeria Football Supporters Club is mobilizing
15, 000 fans to fill the 18, 000 capacity stadium hosting the world cup qualifier
match between Super Eagle of Nigeria Vs Flames of Malawi.
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| Rafiu Ladipo, Extreme right |
Rafiu
Ladipo, chairman, Nigeria Football Supporters Club said, “It’s a crucial world
cup qualifier, the last group game for Super Eagles, and Nigerians aren’t
taking anything to chance”.” Even if you’re not a football fan, but you are a
citizen of Nigeria staying in or around Calabar, we urge you to come out and
let us all support Super Eagles to victory. When you’re coming, remember to put
on green or white T-shirt. Though, we’ve made plan for Super Eagles replica
jersey as well as Nigerian flag to be sold at a minimal price in the stadium.” Ladipo
explained.
“5, 000 of
our members will be coming from Lagos and another 2, 000 from our chapter in
Abuja. We expect 8, 000 supporters to come from Calabar and nearby cities such
as, Enugu, Owerri, Aba, Port Harcourt and Uyo. We’ve contacted the supporters
club of Enugu Rangers, Heartland, Sharks, Akwa United and they would be coming
in full force.” Ladipo further explained.
It may be
too much of an intimidation for a football meadow like Malawi. Some analysts
felt there’s no need to embark on such mobilization. Boniface Ukot, a stadium
manager in Calabar said, “Nigeria is currently topping the group table with 9
points as against Malawi’s 8 points. And Nigeria only needs a draw to move to
the next stage of the world cup qualifier. Mobilizing such large supporters
against Malawi is like killing a fly with a sledge hammer.”
“The flames
of Malawi isn’t that a match for Super Eagles of Nigeria, especially if you
consider current form and the caliber pf players Stephen Keshi has invited for
the encounter: Shola Ameobi (Newcastle), Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Victor Moses
(Liverpool), Eddy Onazi (Lazio) and Emmanuel Emernike, who was the highest goal
scorer at 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON); it may be very difficult for
Malawians to escape massive defeat in Calabar.” Ukot predicted with so much
optimism.
UJ Esuene
Stadium has become a kind of slaughter ground for Super Eagles and no visiting
team is likely to escape defeat. Although in the last game here, in a world cup
qualifier match against Kenya, the Harambee stars nearly ran away with a
victory, except for Oduamadi’s last minute goal that saved the day. The flames
of Malawi are banking on such vulnerability to humble the Super Eagles at home.
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| Tom Saintfiet |
Tom Saintfiet,
the Belgium tactician in charge of the Malawian team, is planning to take ‘a
pound of flesh’ after being disgraced out of an appointment as Nigeria’s technical
director. Saintfiet boasted that he doesn’t need $10, 000 bonus to defeat Nigeria,
but protested that Calabar isn’t a safe place for his team. Well, many Nigerian
football analysts took the statement with a pinch of salt. Omar Akatugba said, “The
Malawian coach is only playing a mind game. He’s trying to make jest of Super
Eagles strike action in Windhoek last June. Where the players demanded that NFF
pay them $10, 000 bonus before they will travel to Brazil for the
confederations cup.”
The last
time both teams met in June 2012, Malawi only managed to secure a draw
at the ending minutes of the game. But it may be a different ball game in
Calabar. You may recall that Nigeria is the current African champions and just
recently, the team won the Mandela challenge trophy by defeating Bafana-Bafana
in South Africa.
