Twice the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia have denied the Super Eagles a berth in the World Cup, first in 1977 and again in 1985. In 1977, after a draw in Tunis, the Eagles just needed a 1-0 win at the National Stadium in Lagos, but an own goal off Godwin Odiye’s header ended that dream of appearing at the World Cup hosted by Argentina in 1978.

If there was anything officials and players of Bayelsa United wanted badly this season, that thing was to lift the Globacom Premier League trophy. Last Sunday at the Oleh Township Stadium in Delta State, that dream came alive as Bayelsa United for the first time in the history of the club emerged champions of the Premier league and with it came a ticket to represent Nigeria at the prestigious CAF Champions League and a huge celebration.

Over a period of seven days, our Super Eagles played three games during which they scored five goals, conceded one, winning two of the matches and drawing one. It is thus no surprise that Nigerian football fans are feeling a bit light headed at the moment.

Adegboye Onigbinde took Nigeria to the Korea/Japan World Cup, where although the Eagles made it to the second round, their performance was no where near the expected. The FIFA instructor like every Nigeria is praying that the Super Eagles win today in Rades and keep hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa alive but he was quick to point out that Nigeria will not win by magic, stressing that the players have to put in a lot to leave Rades with the maximum points.

Former Nigeria International, Jumbo Awala has called on the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF), to set an agenda on how to build a formidable team for 2014 World Cup, stressing that only mother luck can see Nigeria qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.