The World Cup is a project on its own. It is a totally different project from the African Cup of Nations. The level of competition is different. The requirements, reward and consequence of victory or defeat are also different! That’s why the present time presents the country with a new opportunity to look at what happened at Angola for guidance, learn from the experience and treat the matter of the World Cup as a new project! Towards the World Cup not much can be done to bring about wholesome change that will transform the whole gamut of Nigerian football considering the time available and the end of the tenure of the present administration that lapses soon after the World Cup. The process of addressing the bigger and more complex matter of wholesome change to Nigerian football, to lift the game above the present plateau and to take it to the heights that its potentials indicate should commence without being a distraction to the South Africa 2010 project. That should be another project entirely!

For the World Cup campaign the place to start is for the NFF to clearly identify and state the expectations of the country from the championship. What is the target of the NFF? What do they want to take away from the 2010 championship? Who and what will make those objectives realisable? The Nigerian public should be taken along in this determination so that expectations and delivery are in tandem!

Even at this stage and with the present state of the team, I believe that the Super Eagles can still make a great impression and a great statement at the World Cup. Although I no longer realistically think the Cup will be won, considering that those that lead Nigerian football have no such lofty ambition, I still feel that with some technical tinkering of the team, unbiased selection of players, injection of some very fresh and younger legs, some strict tactical and organisational discipline by one who understands the game very well at that level (not sweet-mouthed White-skinned journeymen masquerading as coaches), one with great depth, intelligence and experience, Nigeria can make life difficult for many teams and even announce through their performance that 2014 would be its year to get to the top! I still believe in the ability of the Super Eagles to go some respectable distance in South Africa. All it will take for now is the right technical crew, with the right background and experience to get the best out of only a few of the team that failed to shine in Angola. South Africa is a different ball game. If the right thing is done now the team still has time and the opportunity to shine bright!