Argentina, Eagles Re-match: So What?

Posted by admin Headlines, Soccer, Sports Friday, June 17th, 2011

I still do not understand the rationale behind the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation to re-play Argentina after Nigeria walloped her 4-1, even if it was her third best team. The hype, preparations and pressure to break a long jinx against the South Americans in Abuja, cost the Super Eagles a crucial win and three points in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during a more important Nations Cup qualifier.

The 2-2 outcome of that encounter has again put Nigeria on a tight rope trailing the group leaders Guinea. As it is now, the two remaining matches for the Eagles are a must win. Not just wins but good ones.

Having broken the jinx against Argentina, in spite of the team they paraded which is no one’s fault but theirs, all Nigeria needs to ensure is to enjoy the attention of the feat and allow the record last at least two years rather than succumb to a blackmail of match-fixing and hurriedly accepted a replay.

That particular victory, no matter how it is viewed was one against the Argentine national team which in turn means that for once, Nigeria’s rebuilding process will attract more Grades A friendly matches for the overall progress and rating of the Super Eagles.

The advantage of such record is in its sinking into the psyche of the Argentines for some time but once hurriedly broken or tainted the effect becomes minimal. It would have been better to go for another big friendly same day to at least keep off the Argentines for a while since they are obsessed with revenge. I am not sure the friendly is in the first place at the instance of the NFF, but had to be whipped into line because of the match-fixing allegations.

That encounter in Abuja was a big marketing opening for big friendlies with nations who hitherto do not take Nigeria seriously but now would want to test their might against the only African side that has humbled highly rated Argentina.

Now that the Argentines have confirmed the participation of all their lethal players for the grudge match in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, Eagles coach, Samson Siasia has also given us the outlook of what to expect from the encounter by revealing that after putting his all to ensure the victory in Abuja, his mind is rather set on the 2012 Nations Cup qualifier in Madagascar instead of the re-match with Argentina.

What this means is that after the September 3 more important clash with Madagascar, the firepower and freshness of the Eagles would have gone down against the Argentines three days after. We can therefore say the brief reign of Eagles over Argentina is only a matter of few months away to be wiped.
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