By Jacob Ajom
Wednesday February 9 presented Lagos soccer fans with a rare opportunity of watching the Super Eagles live at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere. The setting was near perfect as the rowdy Lagos crowd swelled by the second even as ticket racketeers took the centre stage.

More significant for most Lagosians was the fact that the match against Sierra Leone was the first the Eagles were playing under their new coach, Samson Siasia, who is considered as one of their own.

Siasia started his eventful football career on the sands of Lagos and as a youngster was famous for his exploits at the Apapa Mock Nations Cup. After a successful sojourn in Europe, Siasia returned home.

His successes with the national U-20 and the Olympic teams in 2005 and 2008 respectively enhanced the enormous goodwill he enjoys from his country men and women. His appointment was more of a popular demand than of  the wishes of the Nigeria Football Federation. It was therefore a much anticipated match both the fans and officials could not wait to kickoff.

Little wonder therefore, that the Lagos state FA, in conjunction with the state government ensured there were strict measures that curtailed any excesses from the fans. Adjoining roads to the stadium were closed as early as 3 p.m. Entry into the stadium was tough – as was evident in some empty spaces on the stands even as thousands of soccer fans, with genuine match tickets were stranded outside the stadium throughout the match.

The occasion provided a great relief to the critical Lagos soccer fans. There were new faces in the team, the players exhibited a new fighting spirit, there was  urgency in their play and above all it was a typical Samson Siasia mix; where the locals and their foreign-based counterparts were made to sweat for shirts.

The first half penalty opener by Olympic Marseilles’ Taye Taiwo was a welcome relief for the then tensed Lagos fans who had expected a crushing defeat for the Sierra Leoneans. There was an emerging scenario in the team as youngsters, some of who were wearing the Green-white-green colour of the Eagles for the first time shone like a million stars. These include Ahmed Musa of VVV Venlo, Joel Obi of Inter Milan, now on loan at FC Parma and Golden home boy, Ekigho Ehiosum who silenced critics of the local league with his superb strike that gave the Eagles the edge in the encounter. Chibuzor Okonkwo who has since 2008 been in and out of the Eagles also gave a good account of himself in the match.

For the Inter Milan Joel, his touches in the midfield could only have been inspired by the presence of Nigerian legend, Austin Jay Jay Okocha who was on the sidelines. “This boy is a jewel,” an excited fan muttered, as the young player who was having a fantastic debut turned, twisted, created space for his colleagues and ran rings round the Sierra Leoneans with ease. He was a delight to watch.

There were flashes of hope and a new sense of direction in the team. Players like Peter Utaka, Emmanuel Emenike, Michael Odibe among others all gave a good showing notwithstanding the lapse towards the end of the match which allowed Sierra Leone to score their consolation goal.

It is believed that with more training sessions and with the injection of players like John Obi Mikel, Kalu Uche, Haruna Ibrahim, Brown Ideye, Obinna Nsofor, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Obafemi Martins among others,  Coach Samson Siasia will no doubt perfect his strategy and present an unstoppable Super Eagles squad that cannot be toyed with in the nearest future.