There is something about the Super Eagles that often defies ordinary understanding. Nine matches and no defeat, with the prospect of three more to add to the impressive statistic, the Super Eagles are not the easiest team to play against or to defeat, even when the team is playing poorly as it often does these days. The awesome reputation of its players, the physical nature of their play, the strength and athleticism of the players, all these provide a basis for advantage. Unfortunately, he rarely uses the combination of these attributes until he is pressed to the wall. Then he abandons all the fancy stuff, the exaggerated skills and unclear tactics, and fights like a cornered animal! Incidentally, that’s how several African teams, themselves are not versed in high tactical play, find the facing any Nigerian team challenging and intimidating! That’s the advantage the Eagles applied in Rades. Not once throughout that match did the Eagles feel threatened. Not once did Nigerians watching all over the world feel anxious or nervous. It was a match that generated more tension off than on the field. 

Looking ahead to the three matches left to play, two at home and one away to Kenya, it seems reassuring that Nigeria’s road to South Africa is getting smoother. True the match in Kenya is going to be a dicey affair considering that with the last victory over Mozambique, the Kenyans have played themselves again into reckoning for a place in the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola!  The greatest danger now lies in taking more than one stride at a time into the last three matches. The games must be considered to be 3 different journeys to be taken one at a time. Nigeria may still be walking a tight rope, but surely, step by step, one match after the other, the march to SA 2010 goes on and is now firmly in Nigeria’s hands.