Around this time last week, every Nigerian football supporter must have been looking forward to the weekend because by the end of it, Nigeria would have played her two biggest games of the year one after the other. On one hand, the Super Eagles (a name which just doesn’t feel right to say anymore) were playing their last group game for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Qualification for South Africa was not in their hands as they not only had to beat Kenya in Nairobi, they had to also hope that group leaders Tunisia would lose to Mozambique in order to qualify. Very slim chance for Nigeria indeed and Tunisia were clearly the favourite to grab the ticket even among the most optimistic ‘naija’ supporter. On the other hand, the Golden Eaglets (another outdated nickname but maybe perhaps more appropriate) were on course to win the Under-17 Youth World Cup on home soil. Nigeria had won the tournament before, and seem to have pedigree in the competition always reaching the final stages. More-so, being the host and with the team displaying some excellent skill in previous macthes, the Eaglets were the clear favourites for the final and the cup.

Funny how 48 hours changes things isn’t it? Nigeria dramatically beat Kenya 2-3 on Saturday and Tunisia did their part to cock things up for themselves by bizarrely losing for the first time in the entire qualification series to Mozambique. It means the Super Eagles will be going to the World Cup afterall against all odds. Many will say that they didn’t deserve to qualify, but I think they deserve some credit for the luck they had. With that positive result, expectation and spirits must have been high going into Sunday’s U-17  final in Abuja where the Golden Eaglets were on course to retain their own title. It wasn’t to be though as they failed to beat Switzerland losing 0-1. It seems their luck quota ran out on Saturday as they were the better team on the night. They too should be proud of their efforts.  As I reflect on Nigeria’s big football weekend, it’s fair to say it was mixed although I’m sure most fans would still choose the senior team make the World Cup rather than being crowned “teenage champions of the world” if we had to choose one outcome.

I, for one, didn’t pay much attention to the U-17 tournament mainly because of the reputation we had for fielding over-aged players  in past events; muscling our way through to glory against younger oppositiont. Besides, it’s not a tournament I rate very much anyway and seeing how the local organisers in Nigeria ran things, it was probably better to avoid watching yet another federal government PR and sports disaster for the country. But then, shouldn’t I have avoided watching the Super Eagles as well? If ever a disaster was apparent it was Nigeria being on course to miss out on yet another World Cup. I ask myself, why did I still harbour the belief that they could still somehow qualify? I guess when you love your team, it’s hard to choose. And just like love, Football is all about joy and pain.