Can Kenya again give Eagles 2014 ticket?
Joel Obi (right) vs Kenya in a friendly in March
Nigeria 2014 World Cup fixtures
Nigeria have since 1997 qualified for the World Cup when they are drawn
against Kenya’s Harambee Stars. Will the Kenyan lucky charm continue after both
countries are again drawn in the same group for Brazil 2014?
Nigerians who follow the Super Eagles World Cup qualifiers carefully are already in boisterous mood ahead of the Brazil 2014 World Cup African zone qualifiers.
Reason is that the Eagles have more often than not qualified for the Mundial when pitted in the same group with Kenya’s Harambee Stars.
During the qualifiers for the France 1998 World Cup, Nigeria were in Group 1 alongside Kenya, Burkina Faso and Guinea.
Nigeria beat Kenya 3-0 in Lagos courtesy of goals from former captain Sunday Oliseh, Emmanuel Amuneke and Wilson Oruma.
The Eagles had earlier held the Harambee Stars to a 1-1 draw at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi with a late strike cancelling out Kenya’s 22nd minute opener.
The Eagles also beat the Burkinabes 2-0 and 2-1 in Lagos and Ouagadougou respectively, before they sealed qualification before the final day of the qualifiers after edging past Guinea 2-1 in Lagos.
Even though they lost 1-0 in Conakry to the Guineans, the result proved too little, too late as Nigeria qualified on 13 points while Syli Stars, led by the legendary Titi Camara, were second with 12 points.
The Kenyan World Cup charm had just begun.
Nigeria qualified for the next edition in Korea/Japan in 2002 though without the Kenyans, but they also failed to make the trip to Germany four years later, losing out to Angola.
And then came the qualifiers for the South Africa 2010 World Cup, which was combined with the 2010 African Nations Cup qualifiers. And the Kenyan charm returned to see the Eagles through.
The Eagles trailed Tunisia from the beginning of the Group B matches after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Mozambique at the Estadio da Machava Maputo, while the North Africans defeated Kenya 2-1 in Nairobi.
On the final day of the qualifiers, Tunisia had 11 points while Nigeria were on nine.
With Nigeria’s hope hanging by a thread, Tunisia surprisingly fell 1-0 away in Mozambique, while a brace from a fired-up Obafemi Martins and another goal from Yakubu Aiyegbeni helped the Nigerians to a 3-2 win at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi. And Nigeria had qualified through the skin of their teeth once again.
Now, four-time World Cup finalists Nigeria again have the Kenyans alongside Namibia and Malawi to contend with in Group F of the qualifiers for Brazil 2014 and would be hoping that long may the Kenyan charm continue.
Kenya are billed to play Nigeria on March 22, 2013, while the reverse fixture takes place in the East African nation on June 7, 2013.
“I think the Kenyan magic will see us through again this time around. Kenya being in our group is a pointer that we will qualify for the 2014 World Cup,” says ex-Eagles defender Taribo West, who played against the Harambee Stars during the 1998 World Cup qualifiers.
“Kenya will open the qualification door for the Eagles. I am particularly happy that we are in the same group again and with the new tactics and strategies the new coach is bringing to the team, we are sure of qualifying.”
But West, one of few players to have played for both San Siro sides AC Milan and Inter Milan, warns that only hard work and adequate preparation would make the Kenyan charm work.
The ex-player-turned-pastor adds, “We must do our homework well. The preparation must be there because only that would ensure qualification. We need to look at a lot of quality players for the team, not junks.”
The Eagles will play their opening 2014 World Cup qualifier against the Brave Warriors of Namibia at home on June 1, 2012 with the reverse tie fixed for Windhoek on June 14, 2013.
The Brave Warriors lost 4-0 in Nigeria in September 2000 in a 2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, before they again fell at home 2-0 in June 2001 in their last meeting with the Eagles.
The Flames of Malawi, who tackle Nigeria on June 8, 2012 and then on September 6, 2013, gave Nigeria a big scare at the 1984 Africa Nations Cup in Cote d’Ivoire.
The Malawians took an early lead through Harry Waya (7th minute) and Clifton Msiya (35th minute), before Clement Temile restored parity in the 39th and 41stminutes in a group game.
But the Eagles have reigned supreme in their last clashes against The Flames, winning 4-1 and 1-0 at home and in Blantyre respectively in 2004 Nations Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria will above all need to win again on the road in these qualifiers to ensure they are not in a tight corner for a place in the third round of the African qualifiers to Brazil 2014 as has been the case since the 2002 qualifying series.
Nigerians who follow the Super Eagles World Cup qualifiers carefully are already in boisterous mood ahead of the Brazil 2014 World Cup African zone qualifiers.
Reason is that the Eagles have more often than not qualified for the Mundial when pitted in the same group with Kenya’s Harambee Stars.
During the qualifiers for the France 1998 World Cup, Nigeria were in Group 1 alongside Kenya, Burkina Faso and Guinea.
Nigeria beat Kenya 3-0 in Lagos courtesy of goals from former captain Sunday Oliseh, Emmanuel Amuneke and Wilson Oruma.
The Eagles had earlier held the Harambee Stars to a 1-1 draw at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi with a late strike cancelling out Kenya’s 22nd minute opener.
The Eagles also beat the Burkinabes 2-0 and 2-1 in Lagos and Ouagadougou respectively, before they sealed qualification before the final day of the qualifiers after edging past Guinea 2-1 in Lagos.
Even though they lost 1-0 in Conakry to the Guineans, the result proved too little, too late as Nigeria qualified on 13 points while Syli Stars, led by the legendary Titi Camara, were second with 12 points.
The Kenyan World Cup charm had just begun.
Nigeria qualified for the next edition in Korea/Japan in 2002 though without the Kenyans, but they also failed to make the trip to Germany four years later, losing out to Angola.
And then came the qualifiers for the South Africa 2010 World Cup, which was combined with the 2010 African Nations Cup qualifiers. And the Kenyan charm returned to see the Eagles through.
The Eagles trailed Tunisia from the beginning of the Group B matches after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Mozambique at the Estadio da Machava Maputo, while the North Africans defeated Kenya 2-1 in Nairobi.
On the final day of the qualifiers, Tunisia had 11 points while Nigeria were on nine.
With Nigeria’s hope hanging by a thread, Tunisia surprisingly fell 1-0 away in Mozambique, while a brace from a fired-up Obafemi Martins and another goal from Yakubu Aiyegbeni helped the Nigerians to a 3-2 win at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi. And Nigeria had qualified through the skin of their teeth once again.
Now, four-time World Cup finalists Nigeria again have the Kenyans alongside Namibia and Malawi to contend with in Group F of the qualifiers for Brazil 2014 and would be hoping that long may the Kenyan charm continue.
Kenya are billed to play Nigeria on March 22, 2013, while the reverse fixture takes place in the East African nation on June 7, 2013.
“I think the Kenyan magic will see us through again this time around. Kenya being in our group is a pointer that we will qualify for the 2014 World Cup,” says ex-Eagles defender Taribo West, who played against the Harambee Stars during the 1998 World Cup qualifiers.
“Kenya will open the qualification door for the Eagles. I am particularly happy that we are in the same group again and with the new tactics and strategies the new coach is bringing to the team, we are sure of qualifying.”
But West, one of few players to have played for both San Siro sides AC Milan and Inter Milan, warns that only hard work and adequate preparation would make the Kenyan charm work.
The ex-player-turned-pastor adds, “We must do our homework well. The preparation must be there because only that would ensure qualification. We need to look at a lot of quality players for the team, not junks.”
The Eagles will play their opening 2014 World Cup qualifier against the Brave Warriors of Namibia at home on June 1, 2012 with the reverse tie fixed for Windhoek on June 14, 2013.
The Brave Warriors lost 4-0 in Nigeria in September 2000 in a 2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, before they again fell at home 2-0 in June 2001 in their last meeting with the Eagles.
The Flames of Malawi, who tackle Nigeria on June 8, 2012 and then on September 6, 2013, gave Nigeria a big scare at the 1984 Africa Nations Cup in Cote d’Ivoire.
The Malawians took an early lead through Harry Waya (7th minute) and Clifton Msiya (35th minute), before Clement Temile restored parity in the 39th and 41stminutes in a group game.
But the Eagles have reigned supreme in their last clashes against The Flames, winning 4-1 and 1-0 at home and in Blantyre respectively in 2004 Nations Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria will above all need to win again on the road in these qualifiers to ensure they are not in a tight corner for a place in the third round of the African qualifiers to Brazil 2014 as has been the case since the 2002 qualifying series.
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