The focus of the football world will be on Africa's show piece football event, like it or not; a lot of European scouts will be swarming all over Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to pick on the next raw African starlet waiting to burst unto the international scene.The qualifying rounds for this year's nations cup was filled with intrigue with a number of Africa's football power houses missing out; the likes of Egypt, Cameroun and most importantly Nigeria; who failed to qualify for the first time since 1986. However, the show must go on with or without Nigeria, so we hit the streets to get the thoughts of Nigerians on the forthcoming event especially due to Nigeria's non involvement. The responses have been quite predictable as well as somewhat extreme, but all in all the degree of fans expectation and excitement towards the tournament can be said to be somewhat lukewarm and also that of disappointment in the Nigerian team and their officials. The most open and unpredictable AFCON is viewed from a Nigerian perspective (taking into consideration the thoughts of both the average Nigerian Football fans as well as some renowned experts) is as follows based on the three simple questions;
- Will Nigeria's presence be missed at the African Cup of Nations to be hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea?
- Who will be crowned winners of the 28th edition of the African Cup of Nations and who would top the goal scoring chart?
- If Nigeria had qualified, what stage of the tournament would Nigeria have gotten to?
Oludare Aderinokun (Banker)
Dare is of the opinion that the presence of Nigeria would not be missed at all as a country; although he believes its a thing of pride to represent your country and for your country to participate in such tournaments. He likes the look of Cote D'Ivoire, but believes as always the North Africans will be very dangerous especially with their exploits in the club competitions this past year. Tunisia is the team he tips to win and he believes Nigeria would have been knocked out in the quarter finals if the not so Super Eagles had qualified and believes Salomon Kalou will finish as top scorer.
Oludolapo Shofolu ($Po) (An aspiring Pundit)
The Nigerian Football supporters club would be the big miss from the tournament, according to Dolapo and not the Super Eagles due to the colour and the liveliness the group add to any tournament they attend. He is of the opinion that Nigeria may just have been able to get to the quarter finals, but strongly believes that Ghana are sure bets to add to their previous 4 triumphs and claim victory for the first time since 1982 and the battle for the golden boot will be won by Demba Ba.
Tolulope Dada (Banker and Oil and Gas expert)
The usual tag of favorites is the major reason that informs Tolu's belief that Nigeria will be missed, he is of the opinion that Nigeria would have been crowned champions if qualification was achieved. He believes a Cote D'Ivoire v Ghana final would round up the tournament with the Elephants of Abidjan crowned winners for the first time since 1992 with Didier Drogba winning the Golden Boot as top scorer.
Lateef Salami (Risk Management expert)
Lateef gives an unequivocal No to the question of the Super Eagles been missed at the nations cup stating that the world won't even notice Nigeria's absence, stating that if qualification had been achieved the quarter finals was the country's best bet. As far as he is concerned, Cote D'Ivoire are the team to beat and will be crowned champions at the end with Arsenal's Gervinho finishing as top scorer.
Osita Maduagwu (Banker)
Mr. Maduagwu believes that Nigeria's pedigree in African and World football will be missed at AFCON stating that the impact of big teams like Nigeria cannot be discounted but in terms of actual play he does not believe Nigeria would be missed. He believes the absence of Nigeria, Cameroun and Egypt will take some shine away from the competition; Ivory Coast are his favorites, although Ghana have a good looking but immature team, coupled with the exit of Kevin Prince Boateng may limit their chances so he's sticking his neck out for Cote D'Ivoire. He simply cannot place his bets on any one to finish as top scorer as he expects the tournament to be lit up with goals due to the array of strikers on display; he also believes the best Nigeria would have attained would have been the quarter finals.
Sola Aiyepeku (Administrator, COD United F.C.)
The hype that surrounds any Nigerian national team is all that will be missed about the nation at the Nations Cup, he is of the belief that the players are of average quality, there's no playing pattern, the football is hesitant, unsettled camp, too many factions and the minds of the so called big players is focused on other things such as money and clubs, the best Nigeria could have achieved would have been a quarter final berth had she qualified. Sola safely picked Ghana as his likely winners, but believes we should be wary of Senegal; he however declined to stick his neck out for a top scorer.
Alhaji Abdul Malik aka Mr. ABUT (Social Crusader)
The supporters club will be missed more than the once Super Eagles as they always add colour to the tournament as Nigeria no longer has quality players to make the country a top draw. Abdul Malik is not a betting man, but believes that the Ivory Coast have the best chance and the best nucleus of players especially with their fearsome and experienced squad even though their past appearance have left little to be desired with their Nations cup pedigree very much in doubt. Ghana have a good young squad with plenty of parental pedigree and a lot of dancing from Asamoah Gyan, but will definitely miss Kevin Prince Boateng and picks Demba Ba as top scorer.
Bode Oguntuyi (Legendary Nigerian Premier League expert)
Mr. Oguntuyi is of the opinion that Nigeria will be missed because of its constant appearance, its so called 'stars' and the entertainment provided by the supporters club, however he strongly believes the Super Eagles may have made it to the Semi Finals if qualification was achieved. He pitches his tent with either Ivory Coast or Ghana, but would prefer to watch the first two group phase games to make a decision; Demba Ba on the other hand is his pick for the golden boot.
Biola Kazeem (Renowned Football Pundit)
Biola believes that Nigeria won't be missed as the country has lost its magic and its just merely living on past glory. He believes that Didier Drogba will finish as top scorer with the Ivory Coast as eventual winners.
Moses Praiz (SuperSport Anchor/Presenter)
Moses believes Nigeria won't be missed as none of Nigeria's players are lighting up leagues across Europe with most of them turning in average performances. He is of the opinion that AFCON is an opportunity for Africa's stars to come back to the motherland to display those skills gotten from their foreign surgeon. Nigeria would be knocked out in the early rounds if it had qualified to save Nigerians from all the heart ache especially with the current subsidy removal situation in the country (Author's jara). Demba Ba has impressed Moses, but we all know that playing on African soil may just produce a different outcome; Cote D'Ivoire are in his estimation the most complete team in the competition, but that's not even enough sometimes, Ghana on the other hand, are quite ambitious and the coach has put his job on the line especially with their good young squad. He believes has Nigeria lost its fear factor, but believes the Nigerian team is currently a work in progress and may have achieved a quarter final finish if it had qualified.
Jide Ajidagba - @grandverve (Fantasy Football expert)
No, at been asked if Nigeria would be missed, he claims Nigeria lost its way before the 2006 world cup, team play has been horrible; he believes Nigeria would have been disgraced had she attended the AFCON. He believes Didier Drogba and Demba Ba will have a straight fight for the golden boot award and believes it is quite an open affair this time around and any one can win this; with Libya his surprise pick to win the tournament.
In Summary
This is the most open AFCON in years, to put my money on someone would be very difficult; however the Ivory Coast seems to be the unanimous favorite, but then young,vibrant and energetic Ghana can not be taken lithely as they have developed well and are two years older from the last event. Senegal are many's ranked outsiders with just one appearance at the finals; this current squad are however scary in all departments. Zambia played some of the best football at the last AFCON and were quite unlucky to lose to Nigeria; the North African contingent will always be tough customers especially with the performances of their club sides in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup especially Tunisia as well as surprise qualifiers like Guinea who play a solid counter attacking style; we may be in for a shocker and a new name may just be on the trophy stopping some of the more established and favoured nations like Ghana and Ivory Coast; also watch out for unknown quantities such as Niger and Botswana.
Now to pick a winner, Senegal will be crowned winners for the very first time in their history in a close game against Ghana in the final. Watch this space.
Oludolapo Shofolu ($Po) (An aspiring Pundit)
The Nigerian Football supporters club would be the big miss from the tournament, according to Dolapo and not the Super Eagles due to the colour and the liveliness the group add to any tournament they attend. He is of the opinion that Nigeria may just have been able to get to the quarter finals, but strongly believes that Ghana are sure bets to add to their previous 4 triumphs and claim victory for the first time since 1982 and the battle for the golden boot will be won by Demba Ba.
Tolulope Dada (Banker and Oil and Gas expert)
The usual tag of favorites is the major reason that informs Tolu's belief that Nigeria will be missed, he is of the opinion that Nigeria would have been crowned champions if qualification was achieved. He believes a Cote D'Ivoire v Ghana final would round up the tournament with the Elephants of Abidjan crowned winners for the first time since 1992 with Didier Drogba winning the Golden Boot as top scorer.
Lateef Salami (Risk Management expert)
Lateef gives an unequivocal No to the question of the Super Eagles been missed at the nations cup stating that the world won't even notice Nigeria's absence, stating that if qualification had been achieved the quarter finals was the country's best bet. As far as he is concerned, Cote D'Ivoire are the team to beat and will be crowned champions at the end with Arsenal's Gervinho finishing as top scorer.
Osita Maduagwu (Banker)
Mr. Maduagwu believes that Nigeria's pedigree in African and World football will be missed at AFCON stating that the impact of big teams like Nigeria cannot be discounted but in terms of actual play he does not believe Nigeria would be missed. He believes the absence of Nigeria, Cameroun and Egypt will take some shine away from the competition; Ivory Coast are his favorites, although Ghana have a good looking but immature team, coupled with the exit of Kevin Prince Boateng may limit their chances so he's sticking his neck out for Cote D'Ivoire. He simply cannot place his bets on any one to finish as top scorer as he expects the tournament to be lit up with goals due to the array of strikers on display; he also believes the best Nigeria would have attained would have been the quarter finals.
Sola Aiyepeku (Administrator, COD United F.C.)
The hype that surrounds any Nigerian national team is all that will be missed about the nation at the Nations Cup, he is of the belief that the players are of average quality, there's no playing pattern, the football is hesitant, unsettled camp, too many factions and the minds of the so called big players is focused on other things such as money and clubs, the best Nigeria could have achieved would have been a quarter final berth had she qualified. Sola safely picked Ghana as his likely winners, but believes we should be wary of Senegal; he however declined to stick his neck out for a top scorer.
Alhaji Abdul Malik aka Mr. ABUT (Social Crusader)
The supporters club will be missed more than the once Super Eagles as they always add colour to the tournament as Nigeria no longer has quality players to make the country a top draw. Abdul Malik is not a betting man, but believes that the Ivory Coast have the best chance and the best nucleus of players especially with their fearsome and experienced squad even though their past appearance have left little to be desired with their Nations cup pedigree very much in doubt. Ghana have a good young squad with plenty of parental pedigree and a lot of dancing from Asamoah Gyan, but will definitely miss Kevin Prince Boateng and picks Demba Ba as top scorer.
Bode Oguntuyi (Legendary Nigerian Premier League expert)
Mr. Oguntuyi is of the opinion that Nigeria will be missed because of its constant appearance, its so called 'stars' and the entertainment provided by the supporters club, however he strongly believes the Super Eagles may have made it to the Semi Finals if qualification was achieved. He pitches his tent with either Ivory Coast or Ghana, but would prefer to watch the first two group phase games to make a decision; Demba Ba on the other hand is his pick for the golden boot.
Biola Kazeem (Renowned Football Pundit)
Biola believes that Nigeria won't be missed as the country has lost its magic and its just merely living on past glory. He believes that Didier Drogba will finish as top scorer with the Ivory Coast as eventual winners.
Moses Praiz (SuperSport Anchor/Presenter)
Moses believes Nigeria won't be missed as none of Nigeria's players are lighting up leagues across Europe with most of them turning in average performances. He is of the opinion that AFCON is an opportunity for Africa's stars to come back to the motherland to display those skills gotten from their foreign surgeon. Nigeria would be knocked out in the early rounds if it had qualified to save Nigerians from all the heart ache especially with the current subsidy removal situation in the country (Author's jara). Demba Ba has impressed Moses, but we all know that playing on African soil may just produce a different outcome; Cote D'Ivoire are in his estimation the most complete team in the competition, but that's not even enough sometimes, Ghana on the other hand, are quite ambitious and the coach has put his job on the line especially with their good young squad. He believes has Nigeria lost its fear factor, but believes the Nigerian team is currently a work in progress and may have achieved a quarter final finish if it had qualified.
Jide Ajidagba - @grandverve (Fantasy Football expert)
No, at been asked if Nigeria would be missed, he claims Nigeria lost its way before the 2006 world cup, team play has been horrible; he believes Nigeria would have been disgraced had she attended the AFCON. He believes Didier Drogba and Demba Ba will have a straight fight for the golden boot award and believes it is quite an open affair this time around and any one can win this; with Libya his surprise pick to win the tournament.
In Summary
This is the most open AFCON in years, to put my money on someone would be very difficult; however the Ivory Coast seems to be the unanimous favorite, but then young,vibrant and energetic Ghana can not be taken lithely as they have developed well and are two years older from the last event. Senegal are many's ranked outsiders with just one appearance at the finals; this current squad are however scary in all departments. Zambia played some of the best football at the last AFCON and were quite unlucky to lose to Nigeria; the North African contingent will always be tough customers especially with the performances of their club sides in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup especially Tunisia as well as surprise qualifiers like Guinea who play a solid counter attacking style; we may be in for a shocker and a new name may just be on the trophy stopping some of the more established and favoured nations like Ghana and Ivory Coast; also watch out for unknown quantities such as Niger and Botswana.
Now to pick a winner, Senegal will be crowned winners for the very first time in their history in a close game against Ghana in the final. Watch this space.
Adeyemi Adesanya
Tactics IQ Limited
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Nice article, let's go Libya, let's go - @grandverve
ReplyDeleteWell, our pick just got off to a poor start, but then we chose Spain for the World Cup and they also had a bad start.so we keep watching the space.
ReplyDeleteThank you
ReplyDelete