Whither Eagles, after roasting Algerian Foxes?

Some analysts tagged it "The Battle of the Desert," orthers coined it "The Battle of Survival;" yet another looked and christened it "The Battle of Oran."...the Africa Zone, World Cup 2006 qualifier match between Algerian Desert Foxes and Nigerian Super Eagles, that was. The day has since come and slided its way into the annals of World Football Books of Record, as one on which, the Nigerian giant soccer birds, Super Eagles, left none in doubts, as to their superiority over the Algerians, when the chips are really, really down via their bold 5-2 victory statement.

But that feat spelt another one ,for which most candid analysts have again, haunched in their library all-night, burning candles in frantic searches for what life would be as far as the lone Germany 2006 World Cup ticket in their Group, would be to the Eagles, after their demolition of the Algerian baricade. As it were, while some make bold to predict a "no chance situation" for the Nigerian soccer flag-bearers, some pundits have their "Eagles-will-be-in-Germany" fact files jealously tucked away under their armpits.

Hear the first group of 'Doubting Thomases': "You see, we are easily carried away by sentiments. The fact that, we succeeded in beating the Algerians at home ... infact, whipping them harshly and harder than even the Gabonese did, does not denote the fact that, we are already through. Do not forget that we were able to beat the Gabonese 2-0 at almost the end of the encounter after a heart-tearing first half.

The same Gabonese team was whipped 3-0 by the Angolans; so what informs the confidence of some of us, of the ability of the Rwandese, who are the whipping babies of the Group, to beat the Angolans in the final encounter of the Group in Kigali? We agree that, we will beat the Zimbabweans here in Abuja;what about the Rwandese, who were beaten silly by a Zimbabwean side that we humiliated 3-0 in Harare?

Can they even attempt to hold the smoking Angolans, who are not only thirsty of World Cup actions, but so power-packed now, that they are ready to smash any team, which constitutes a hinderance to their World Cup first appearance next year. Did you see how determined and aggressively the Camerounian Indomitable Lions swooped on their Ivoirien hosts? Did it not surprise you that, they could put up such a fearless show to beat their hosts in Abidjan? Let us not decieve ourselves...I am a Nigerian and would be happy to see my country at the Finals, but I tell you, we are making "hey" when the sun is almost covered by the cloud."

As far as the Eagles' staunch believers are concerned, that was a self-defeatist recitation by fevered brain cowards in human skin. " What is the talk about Rwanda not being able to either, hold Angola to a draw or, beating them outrightly? What makes them feel that, the Rwandese would entertain two straight losses - having been humiliated by the Gabonese last weekend?

"This is football and in this game, anything can happen. The so-called low-rated Rwandese also want to prove a point and that would be their watchword in their encounter against the Angolans in October. They would not want to entertain any speculations or rumours of match-fixing if they loose to Angola in October; whether they have a Nations Cup attendance ticket at stake, or not.

"I see a situation, where the Angolans would be too careful so much, so that, they would be putting the wrong foot in the right places during their encounter against the Rwandese Wasps in October. This could be due to the excessive preassure that the thought of a World Cup qualification, would mount on them mentally. And one cannot rule out such situations in such stressful matches," the othe group countered.

These were the reactions of Nigerians back home, soon after the Super Eagles whipped the Algerians child-likely in Oran last weekend in their highly orchestrated World Cup qualifier encounter.