(West) Africa at the FIFA WYC: Truly representing!

I had planned to make last week’s Popular Side titled : “Nigeria at the WYC 1983 – 2015: Can These Flying Eagles Strike Gold?” a two-part serial with the second part dealing with African teams at the World Youth Championship since inception in 1977 but due to their notoriously fickle performances at past editions, I thought they may be eliminated by the time the group phase was over and then it would not make any sense again.

However, thank goodness, we have been pleasantly surprised by the four teams representing Africa in New Zealand. For the first time ever, all the continent’s representatives have qualified for the second round and this is unprecedented.

Ghana, third-placed at the African Youth Championship and drawn in Group B, opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Austria, won a thrilling game against Argentina 3-2 before ending with a 1-0 win over Panama. Five goals scored and three conceded, the Black Satellites topped their section with seven points.

Senegal, host and second-best at the AYC, got drawn in group C and opened with a 3-0 loss to Portugal, drew 1-1 with Colombia and waited until the last game to pick their first win with a 2-1 triumph over Qatar. Scored three and conceded five, Senegal’s four points saw them qualify as one of the four best-third placed teams.

Mali, fourth from the AYC, played in group D and started brightly with a 2-0 win over Mexico, slumped by the same margin to Serbia before squeezing a 1-1 draw with Uruguay for a total of four points. They finished on the same tally with Uruguay but a drawing of lot separated both teams and placed the Malians in third.

Nigeria, African champions, played from group E and were bloodied 4-2 by old nemesis Brazil before 4-0 and 2-0 wins over North Korea and Hungary respectively took the Flying Eagles to the knock-out stages as second best. Six points, eight goals scored and four conceded was the team’s scorecard.

Now, going by the round of 16 pairing, Ghana will face fellow Africans Mali; Senegal will face Ukraine while Nigeria, champions of Africa will square up with Germany who are the reigning European champions!

Ghana have been impressive with their exciting brand of football and one would be tempted to say they should overrun Mali but the Malians have shown that they don’t go down easily without a fight.

At the AYC, both teams were in group B and Mali claimed all three points when they met with a 1-0 win. Ghana exacted their own pound of flesh when they met again in the bronze medal match with a comprehensive 3-1 victory.

Now, as it were, the stage is set for a third meeting between the two and something tells me we may be in for a surprise. My money, though, is still on the Satellites.

Senegal, not betraying any naivety or cold feet in their first-ever appearance at this level, have their work cut out against Ukraine who topped group A but who, in my opinion, are not too spectacular although they will come with typical European technical discipline and work ethic.

If the junior Teranga Lions give them a good run around, keep team balance and discipline, the game is theirs to take but, and this is a big BUT, they must show that they deserve to be in the next round.

The third and final game involving an African side is the grudge game between Nigeria and Germany. I dub it ‘grudge’ because six years ago in Egypt and at the same stage, it was the Germans who eliminated the Flying Eagles led by Samson Siasia. On that occasion, they won 3-2 but the circumstances are different.

Back then, the Nigerians went to Egypt 2009 as the third-best team in Africa and with a hurriedly cobbled together team handled by Siasia after Ladan Bosso was sacked.

The Flying Eagles had a terrible competition until they got kicked out by the Germans who came to the competition as European champions, the same credential they are bringing into this game.

On Thursday morning, the German’s will come up against one of Nigeria’s most promising and arguably one of her most talented squads ever.

As I observed in my online article “Why the Flying Eagles lost to Brazil” (you may want to read it at www.isoccerng.com), the Eagles lost not because of a lack of ability but a misapplication of strength.

I have been impressed, though not totally satisfied, at the way the Flying Eagles bounced back from the defeat to the Brazilians.

In retrospect, that loss could be a blessing in disguise as the coach, Manu Garba had gotten too confident and the boys overestimated their own strength while underestimating the opposition.

That was exactly what led to the defeat of Nigeria in 1983 and ’87 at the hands of Brazil. Hopefully, the coaches and team have learnt their lessons and will put their best legs forward.

It looks too close to call which of the four African teams will advance. Let me play safe by saying the only sure thing is that there will be at least ONE African team in the quarter-finals. It is possible to have three teams there but, like I always say, they must earn the right to be there. It is not a priviledge.

June 8, 2015