Whether you understand it or not, FIFA World Ranking remains the authentic report for assessing the current rating of a country's national team. You may fault the 'algebra' because you don't understand why Nigeria continue to slide down the ladder even when Super Eagles won Africa Cup of Nation in 2013 and got to the second round of FIFA World Cup in 2014.
Once ranked 4th in the world and the first
African team to broke into FIFA's top 10 ranking in 1994; but now 57th in the
latest released report, shows how much the country's football has depleted over
21years.
Since its first appearance at the world cup in
1994, Super Eagles has been branded 'Giant Killers' in the mind of the global
audience; putting up some brilliant performances against favorites like Italy,
Spain, Argentina... Nigerian brand of football was so captivating to the point
that Pele predicted that Super Eagles may likely be the first African side to
win the world cup in the next 20years or so.
To think of such African football super power
now ranked below teams like Cape Verde, South Africa, and Congo... may be an indication that
Nigeria's Super Eagles brand is in serious crisis.
Fans attitude may be another indicator. As it
is today, Nigerian fans would prefer an EPL game than to watch their national
team play. And tickets for fixtures involving Nigeria in tournaments like world
cup are no longer sold out as before.
The team hasn't been impressive since returning
from the last World cup
As a fan described it, "Super Eagles can
easily give you heart attack; they now play as weather beaten chicken
fidgeting with tension even when challenged by minnows like Malawi, Congo,
Sudan... countries it could have easily run over in the past."
Perhaps, the country is going through a
football recession. Nigeria doesn't have top class players like Nwankwo kanu,
Austin Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, playing in top flights teams anymore. So you
wonder where the players to maintain the Nigerian brand are. The few exposed ones such as Mikel obi, Vincent
Enyeama, Osaze Odewingie... are gradually losing interest in the management of
the national team.
The state of Super Eagles today, is a rob-off
of the crisis that bedeviled the NFF. A leadership tussle that lingered for
over 5years or so, that both coaches and players became victims of the glass
house politics.
Off course, former Head Coach Stephen Keshi was
one of the victims. For his patriotic gesture, he had to manage the Super
Eagles on 'Pay per Coached' basis without any real support from NFF. The
consequence was spite of poor results, which ironically led to his sack today.
It was same for Samson Siasia.
Most analysts say NFF is the problem of
Nigerian football and not coaching. It is poor administration, but
unfortunately, it is coaches that eventually pay the price.
