By Dr. Tony Nwaka

Have you been following the recent Super Eagles matches? Did you notice the harmless looking young man who has become a permanent feature of our defence? His name is Benjamin Fredrick. He reminds me of Yisa Shofoluwe of the Green Eagles of old. The legendary Ernest Okonkwo of Radio Nigeria labelled Shofoluwe, “The Dean of Defence.” He comes to mind whenever I watch Benjamin Fredrick. 

Just like Shofoluwe, Fredrick looks calm, fragile, lean and powerless, yet more physically endowed players can’t get past him. His ball sense, skills, confidence, agility, and attacking instincts are top notch. Somebody suggested he should try to add a little flesh. But that could hamper his swiftness. That guy is a pocket dynamite. Did you see how he pocketed the dreaded Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang yesterday? I pray Fredrick brings these sublime performances to bear on our next match against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday 16th November, 2025. Our prospects of going to the 2026 FIFA World Cup are looking brighter. 

Congratulations to the Super Eagles on the 4-1 hammering of Gabon. Just coming on the heels of the 4-0 overhaul of Benin Republic. Eight goals in two matches. Wow! The boys have all been doing wonderfully well. Kudos to Osimhen for remedying that last minute miss with a sublime brace in the extra time. 

They’re beginning to remind me of the glorious squad of Yekini, Amokachi, Amunike, Finidi, Oliseh, Okocha, Rufai, Iroha, Okechukwu, Okafor, Eguavoen, etc, which got the African ever highest FIFA ranking of the 5th best team in the world. 

Then, Nwabali, aha! Are you sure he’s okay? Don’t you think he might have to undergo some medical evaluation? He hasn’t been himself since his recent bereavement. 

Let’s hope his hair-raising blunders do not reenact the disaster Colombian goalkeeper Rene Higuita caused his country by attempting to dribble Roger Milla of Cameroon at Italia 90.

By the way, what’s happening to Cameroonian football? Knocked out by DRC? Oh dear! How are the mighty fallen? How can we forget the days of Manga Ougene, Roger Milla, Ole Ole, Cyrille Makanaky, Emmanuel Kunde, Thomas Nkono, Francois Oman-Biyik, Patrick Mboma, Rigobert Song, and Samuel Eto Fils. What an era! Of a truth, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

Shalom!