The national team has no other option than victory over Liberia. | By Jide Alaka
With just hours to the crucial second leg against Liberia, the Super Eagles know that there will be no chance for any kind of excuse if they fail to beat their opponents and qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Cup to be staged in South Africa.
Having missed out the last edition and fallen down the FIFA ranking ladder, there is other way than up or we would need to go back to the Presidential decree that was issued after the disastrous 2010 World Cup when the team was disbanded for some days.
While most football fans realise that the days the Eagles were feared is long gone ? at least it should not get as bad as being beaten at home by Liberia, we must at the same time realise that Cape Verde were able to beat Cameroon 4-2 and that Egypt were thrown out of the qualifiers by the Central Africa Republic.
The players that the coach asked for are all in town except Captain Joseph Yobo, who was injured for his club in league action last weekend ? though the coach needs to find a long term replacement for the records capped defender.
So as we all await the match kick-off at 4pm at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, the only thing we are thinking of is victory ? no other option is allowed.
Jide, formerly a professional footballer, is now a sports writer.
