1.0Mathematical 7https://mathematical7.com/m7rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="MhLwD4X2jz"><a href="https://mathematical7.com/m7/the-super-eagles-land-safely/">The Super Eagles land safely!</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://mathematical7.com/m7/the-super-eagles-land-safely/embed/#?secret=MhLwD4X2jz" width="600" height="338" title="“The Super Eagles land safely!” — Mathematical 7" data-secret="MhLwD4X2jz" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://mathematical7.com/m7/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js /* ]]> */ </script> https://mathematical7.com/m7/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Eagles_Zambia.jpg276183Forgive me. The only match I watched last weekend was the one that took place in Ndola. That’s why I am limiting my serious comments to that match only. The Super Eagles went into the den of the Chipolopolo and came out unscathed and gallant conquerors! In defeating their archrivals they shattered the myth of Zambian invincibility against them on home soil and also rekindled the hopes of Nigerians that the possibility of the Eagles qualifying for Russia 2018 is now real. That the Eagles won that match, I must admit, was a surprise. The vast majority of Nigerian football analysts had expressed what I thought was reckless optimism that the Eagles would win that match convincingly. Without any facts and precedents to back their prediction I was left wondering where such confidence came from. Now I understand. They knew what I did not know about the current team and so, were right and I was limited. From that match we have since seen that there is a remarkable improvement in the Nigerian team even though they played against a weaker Zambian team ranked lowest in the group. In the first half of the match the Zambians were so ‘bad’ it took the threat of an unprecedented humiliating home defeat for them to wake up from their slumber and put up a fight. In the second half they changed tactics, pressed the Eagles and attacked the Nigerian defense ceaselessly in an avalanche of forays that eventually yielded their consolatory lone goal. This tactic completely turned the game around. The Nigerian team lost its initial rhythm and confidence and was lucky to have not conceded more goals due to the timidity of the Zambians in front of goal and the heroics of Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Ikeme. That half also revealed the weak side of the Nigerian team, its defense. It started to leak like a running tap. Even the German coach of the Nigerian team acknowledged that he needed to work seriously on his defense line against the much stronger teams still to come.