World Cup 2014: Nigeria
June 6, 2014
Jerseys in the colors of Nigeria's national soccer team, the Super Eagles, can be bought from almost every roadside vendor in the country's commercial capital, Lagos. For 28-year-old fan Blessing Ngossi, this will be an indispensable piece of clothing during the tournament. "I know that the Super Eagles will go places. I'm not able to go to Brazil for the tournament so at least I must buy their jerseys," she said.There is a widely shared feeling of confidence in the team, which includes forward Ahmed Musa, strikers Shola Ameobi and Emmanuel Emike and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama. For Charles Uche, a hawker in Lagos, this is the best team Nigeria has ever had. "I have confidence in the coach. I have seen the lineup - the coach did not make any mistakes!" he said.
Nigerian businessman Cosmas Uze says the Eagles can bring the trophy home - if the referees do a good job. "It is the turn of Africa. We are very sure that the Cup will come here, if the referees are good. But if they are not good, we'll still try and attain the quarter-final."
The man responsible for restoring confidence in the Super Eagles is team coach Stephen Keshi. He took on an almost shattered team, put it back together and led the Eagles to victory in the African Nations Cup in South Africa in 2013. Keshi is one of only two people (the other is Egypt's Mahmoud El-Gohary) to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach.
Match against Bosnia could be crucial
Amongst all the enthusiasm there are also some cautious voices. One belongs to Lagos-based sports journalist Toyin Ibitiye. He regards the Nigerian team as unpredictable. "Some moments the team look like they can beat anybody. At other moments they look a bit here and there," Ibitiye said. He notes that Nigeria have done well in Africa - but they have not beaten European opposition "so I worry a little bit. I think Nigeria will make it through the group stage but after that it will be difficult for them."
Alongside Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Ivory Coast, Nigeria is the fifth African team that's qualified for Brazil. They begin in Group F, playing against Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran.
While most people expect Argentina to emerge as group winner, the game between Nigeria and Bosnia could be crucial in deciding who goes through to the last 16. According to the official FIFA website, the Nigerians "will be eyeing the chance to reach the knockout phase for the first time since France 1998." Nigeria open their campaign on June 16 against Iran.