Qatar 2022: Super Eagles Eye N5.6bn World Cup Qualification Package
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Aside the prestige of participation, an attractive sum of €12.2 million (about N5.6 billion) beckons on Nigeria’s Super Eagles if they soar above Black Stars of Ghana to pick the ticket for Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup in their double-header qualifying play-offs.
According to the world football governing body, FIFA, each of the 32 nations taking part in the tournament will receive the princely package to boost their preparations after qualification.
However, to have custody of this enticing prize money, Coach Augustine Eguavoen and his Super Eagles must today rise above quandaries with the right personnel for the job.
There should be no excuse to scupper Nigeria’s chances of featuring at this year’s World Cup that holds in Qatar from November 21 to December 18, 2022 with Les Blues of France as the defending champions.
Amid the global economic turndown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FIFA has been magnanimous increasing the qualifying bonus from €10m to €12.2m to assist all qualified teams prepare adequately for the global soccer carnival.
In the face-off with Ghana, the Super Eagles are two games away from achieving the feat of making their seventh appearance at the World Cup.
That tasking journey to the oil-rich nation, Qatar begins today Friday, March 22, 2022 with the first leg encounter slated for the Baba Yara Sports Stadium (also known as Kumasi Sports Stadium), while the second leg comes up on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
In qualifying for the 2018 World Cup competition held in Russia, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) received €10m from FIFA to put the Super Eagles in shape for fiesta that saw Nigeria crashing out at the group stage.
The Eagles lost to both Croatia and Argentina with a consolatory 2-0 victory coming in their match against Iceland
As the two West African countries march out for today’s confrontation, the media space has been awash with flowery memories of the age-long rivalry between them, which dates way back to their first meeting in 1951, when the Nigerians romped to a 5-0 victory over their neighbours.
Interestingly, the Super Eagles have maintained a clean sheet in each of their last three World Cup qualifiers against Ghana with the statistics showing one win and two draws.
Also noteworthy is the fact that the Ghanaians have remained unbeaten in their last five games against Nigeria in all competitions, winning three and drawing two, with just a single goal scored across the last three meetings.
The goal was Asamoah Gyan’s winner for Ghana at the 2010 AFCON and their last two encounters ended goalless in a 2010 friendly and most recently at the 2014 African Nations Cup (AFCON) tournament.
In qualifying for the play-offs, both countries shared the same records in the second round fixtures, winning four, drawing one and losing one of their six matches.
Like Coach Eguavoen admitted, this is a special game for the three-time African champions and regardless of the issues, the confidence level must be high to dim the Black Stars in their backyard.
Though the Coach’s bullishness is recognised, but it will count for little if his men falter in this make or mar two games against the Ghanaians.
