Nigeria versus Algeria, a brief history
While still on my boycott…
I learned they wore green instead of their green and white amulet, as if they were the old “Green Eagles” as it was in the late 70s to early 80s era of Christian “Chairman” Chukwu, Felix Owolabi a.k.a Owoblow, Segun Odegbami, nicknamed “Mathematical” by the pundit, late Earnest Okonkwo, arguably the greatest soccer aficionado ever to have commented on radio.
I say no, it could be history and something of a jinx, perhaps.
The truth is, Algeria know how to beat the eagles whether green or white at the AFCON just like the eagles know how to beat them too during World Cup qualifiers… It was in 1990 that I would first sense this as Rabah Madjer-led attack lashed eagles 5 goals to 1 at the opening game. In fact, the lone goal by the eagles was scored by a certain Emmanuel Okocha, elder brother to Austin Jay-Jay Okocha!
At the final of the same tournament Algeria again defeated Nigeria albeit this time by a lone goal which was more honourable than the previous 5-1 trouncing. So we waited for a rematch and got our own pound of flesh when in a 1994 World Cup qualification series game, we beat them by 4 goals to 1, thanks to Rasheed Yekini-led attack! Also in that game, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha scored his first career international goal, the game being his second cap after his debut against Ivoriens. Okocha’s goal was a spectacular freekick and just like his brother, he had scored against the Algerians! http://www.bellsnews.com/world-news/shocker-man-scales-40-storey-crane-in-london/
Anybody who saw the last leg of that 1994 World Cup qualification game between Nigeria and Algeria at the latter’s home soil will recall it was really tension-soaked. Played under a freezing weather, Nigerians bided their time and sometimes during the game, one could see coach Clemence Westerhof calling the referee’s attention to end the game. At the end, we pulled a one all draw and ended Cote d’Ivoire dream of being in USA as Africa’s defending champion then… Like happens, in qualification games against the Algerians, we always went one better than them.
This same elimination from World Cup again repeated itself sometime in 2005 prior to Germany 2006 World Cup were we beat them by 5 goals to 2 at their own backyard, in front of their own home fans in Oran! However before this time, they defeated Nigeria and again, at AFCON of Tunisia 2004 in group stage just like the 1990 days of Rabah Madjer.
I told my friend while still on my boycott that Algeria always thrashed Nigeria at the AFCON competitive level and he had given me statistical figure to the contrary and so I did not argue a word about it with him. Anybody who is following my line of argument here will understand that Nigeria also eliminated the Algerian side by 3 goals to 1 during the qualification to the last World Cup– Russia 2018– though FIFA later ruled workover on the return leg after Nigeria featured ineligible player.
World Cup qualification draws are for the eagles whereas AFCON games are usually for the foxes. This does not mean to say that Nigeria have never beaten Algeria at AFCON (though I do not recall when), nor does it imply Algeria have never won Nigeria in qualifying series. So what my friend failed to understand was that with history, certain outcomes appear fixed and jinxed like when a child had to pick same number at random from lucky dip continually! If not necessarily so why have Nigeria yet to beat Argentina at World Cup level for what seem like 5 occasions now? But jinx itself is breakable, reason I declined argument with that my friend.
Standard begets expectation often. I didn’t begin watching soccer with the standard of the present day eagles. I saw the golden days of Peter Rufai a.k.a Dodo Mayana, Uche Okechukwu a.k.a Gentle Giant, Sampson Siasia, Finidi George a.k.a The Gazelle, Sunday Oliseh, the late Uche Okafor, the late Rasheed Yekini, Ricky Owubokiri, Jonathan Akpoborie, Chidi Nwanu, Celestine Babayaro, Friday Elahor (Elastic Elanor), Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu, Austin Okocha, Mutiu Adepoju (Headmaster), Efan Ekoku, Mike Emanalo, Tijani Babangida a.k.a TJ, the pacy winger, Victor Ikpeba the prince of Monaco, Daniel Amokachi The Bull, Alloy Agu and so many others.
So when someone wears jersey number 9, he reminds me of Yekini of the blessed memory who made my childhood memorable with his goals. Same goes when someone wears jersey 6 which Uche Okafor handed over to Nwanu who retired same for Taribo West (now pastor)… Even Mikel who wears number 10, a precious heritage from Henry Nwosu to Etim Esin a.k.a African Maradona, to Okocha, seem to be trudging under bulky armoury! So how do I see an athlete playing below par while wearing number 4 which Kanu Nwankwo stepped into after Stephen Keshi The Big Boss?
The truth is that our current crop of players do not see dignity in the national colour and that was how president Yara’dua lamented the complacency of one Haruna Lukman who after causing a nation its defeat and disastrous exit showed no remorse, only chewing cud!
Our lads do not know that when they play in our national colour, it is for millions of our entire population not just her soccer fraternity they fight, hearts of whom they break equally.
Sometime in the last decade or two when Nigerian league (then under Globacom) was still glamorous, I had in the Enyimba FC days seen many games on Aba turf, stadium of which floodlight poured into my parlour in my former neighbourhood. Throughout the years of continental and domestic glory, I saw many teams play in Aba. One beautiful thing about teams was the name they carried. Our own Enyimba carried “People’s Elephant”, Rangers of Enugu bore The Antelopes. Iwuanyanwu Nationale (later Heartland FC of Owerri) with whom Enyimba played tough games known in media circle as “oriental clash” had an inscription against their car, it read: SOCCER IS MATHEMATICS. There let me progress.
Also noteworthy was the inscription I saw those days on the car of Lobi Stars of Makurdi which read: SHOE GET SIZE. There let me progress also. So when Taye Taiwo of Lobi fired a heavy shot that struck the bar against Vincent Enyeama’s post, we saw the size of Taiwo and Lobi’s shoe!
Still on that progression, if Iwuanyanwu Nationale spread their game in offensive push or buildup one gets to know that indeed SOCCER IS MATHEMATICS!
Since the quality of the games I saw in 1994 and 1996 is a feat our present eagles (let me suspend the new name of “egrets”) today can no longer near nor match, I cease to be their enthusiast. The reason I placed boycott on watching further any of their games is not because of losses. No, that too is part of the game. But for their insipid game style and flow, I decline henceforth my fanaticism for indeed I know better that like Lobi Stars of Makurdi said: SHOE GET SIZE and this obviously is not the 94-96 size I once fanatically wore.
Sorry Eagles. Maybe your history with Algeria is overly predetermined!
Nnamdi Elekwachi
Aficionado
2019
Aba