I have been following the activities, statements and posturing of Amodu Shuaibu since his new assignment began. The man is now a different man. He speaks like one that has gone through the crucible and has come out refined. His appreciation of this his third coming is not lost on him at all. He also sounds like one that has matured through the difficult times between his last experience and now, and would not give room for the past mistakes to rear their heads again. On the technical side he is reinforced with support from a newer generation of coaches and this should add to his knowledge even as we wait and see what innovation he intends to bring to the team.

The match against Austria that I did not watch, unfortunately, could only have provided a starting point for praise or crucifixion by football analysts to start an evaluation.

The real assessment will start tomorrow in Abuja when the Super Eagles would take on the Bafana Bafana in a match whose result can only be one way. The South African’s will come and play decently, running around and looking good, but dying where it mattered the most – in front of Nigeria’s goal. The South Africans have always looked like over-pampered players out to enjoy their football without having the winning spirit – the competitive edge that makes the difference between the big teams in Africa.

So, the Bafana Bafana will come, play some ‘sexy’ football, look dangerous all night, but go back home with a handful of goals! The Super Eagles will win and there can’t be any doubt about that. What would interest most, however, would be the manner of the victory, how the Super Eagles arrive in camp and comport themselves; which new players will be fielded to indicate the emergence of a new team; what would the spirit in the team be; who leads it; how does the new technical team make changes and navigate the players through ninety minutes of microscopic scrutiny by Nigerians.