As Nigeria and Morocco lock horns today in the finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) Nigerians are divided as to whether the Super Eagles can bring the cup home even as they acknowledge that it would be a tough game for both sides which are making their first appearances in the finals.
According to Mr. Uwem Bright, a football enthusiast, the chances of the Super Eagles winning the game are slim though not impossible. “I’m not sure the Super Eagles can win Morocco. This is their first time of getting to the finals of CHAN. They are always losing at the semi finals stage though this time I think they are motivated having been paid part of their allowances to encourage them to put in their best. If they can put their acts together, they may win.
“It is difficult to truly predict with football because a team may be playing so well at a tournament but the day it matters most they may not do well. So you can’t predict based on what has been going on but what happens during the 90 minutes of play makes all the difference.”
To him everything will boil down to individual efforts on both sides. The fact that the Eagle’s main goal keeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa is down with injury, he said is also a cause for concern.
Mr. Bright also pointed that the Moroccans playing at home and in their first finals in CHAN and with the support of the home crowd will definitely give more than their best.
All said, Mr. Bright predicted thus; “I give 60 – 40 in favour of Morocco though it may end 2 -1 in favour of Nigeria and that would not surprise me.”
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Mr. Isaac Tommy, another enthusiast also believes that the Super Eagles have a very slim chance of winning the match tomorrow. “I watched Morocco’s semi final match against Libya and they totally dominated the game. They are a very strong side and determined; they will also have the advantage of home crowd.
“However, if they do not win the match within the 90 minutes of play, if it goes into penalties, the Super Eagles will win.”
For Mr. Leo Merenini, a Marketer and an avid football follower, “looking at the match critically, I think it will be tough. Both sides have played good football during the championship but somebody has to win. Even though Morocco is playing at home, I’m predicting 2 – 1 in favour of Nigeria. I don’t see many goals being scored during the match.”
Mr. Najite Agboghoroma, a Public Servant, thinks the Eagles’ chances of winning the game are low. His words, “Nigeria’s chances are low because the Super Eagles have not been playing well. It has been the grace of God that has brought them to this level.”
Asked whether the grace that has brought them thus far would not be enough to get them the cup, Mr. Agboghoroma said; “You are lucky up to a particular point. The God of football has been on the side of Nigeria up to their match against Sudan, but at this point, luck is no longer enough. The Moroccans have been determined and being the host, they will put everything into winning. This is their first time of getting to the finals they will really work to get the cup. I predict a 2 – 1 score against Nigeria.”
The home based Super Eagles beat Sudan 1 -0 in their semi-final encounter to clinch a place in the finals while Morocco thrashed Libya 3 – 1 to earn their place in the finals. Nigeria’s winning goal against Sudan was scored by Gabriel Okechukwu, whom Mr. Uwem Bright believes might also be the Super Eagles saviour in today’s match.
