Tales from Africa

Soaring Eagles; Galloping Stallions

Once upon a Nations Cup, several heroes gather for a fight of supremacy. Elephants with big names, Antelopes with sleek slim fighters, Stallions with muscles and resilience, Eagles with weary wings and outstanding flight history dated almost 20 years; and others. The Lions were missing in this contest.

The Eagles have been soaring slowly but steadily. They pecked the stallions once; they tore apart the Antelopes, and had an Elephant for lunch! Ahem! The Eagles finally came out of hibernation and became SUPER when they pierced the heart of a fellow Eagle (Les Aigles). They are heroes!

Have you heard of an African hero, built like a stallion? Every vein in him will put the horse to shame, his dyed dreads are fiery, his body movement is strong and swift, and he could run amidst locusts without bulging. He traversed the Black Starry night without fear. He leads a nation that has never prospered to the final of a battle; a battle for which his people has never dreamt. Valiant, gallant, brilliant... meet BANCE with the lance!!!

There is a threat to Bance’s dreams, hopes and exploit…the Stallions will have to battle Eagles. And on and on goes the tale from Africa

Against all odds

The odds were against the two finalists. The Super Eagles of Nigeria were tagged the underdog before the tournament began and no one in his right minds would give the Burkinabes any chance of qualifying from a group which had Nigeria and defending champions, Zambia. But the two defiled all odds.

The odds weren't of chance and probability. Most Nigerians believed that the odd was obviously against the country as the most populous-football-loving nation refused to pay the TV right to air the AFCON to households as it was its tradition. That's a pound of flesh for CAF worth about 2million pounds. So the insistence of the Federation on playing the nation on a bad pitch wasn't a big surprise.

Not all the odds are clearly against the two finalists. South Africa with bad pitches doesn't appear like the country that hosted the World cup barely two years ago. But that is one odd that is in favour of home-based players like Sunday Mba and a host of Burkinababes; playing on bad pitches is their forte.

Since Nigeria didn't pay for the TV right and it would be absurd and unsafe to find the President and his team at a viewing centre, President Goodluck Jonathan soared high with his wife to see the match aboard NAF.

Loyalty and Vanity

Loyalty simply implies that you don't bite the fingers that feed you. Mali was very loyal as they kept all their creativity and ambition under check while they watch the Super Eagles soar to the final. Or how do you justify the last minute dribbles of Fousseyni and Diawarra. With about 7 billion naira Nigeria oil money sunk into the Malian war, the Leis Eagles felt what does it profit a nation if it wins the Nation's cup and lose its borders to the rebels.

I remain loyal as the soaring Eagles pursue vanity with galloping Burkinabes on Sunday. I hope to give you live commentary from aboard NAF 02! 

Yinka Ojo