Congo vs Nigeria: They say it's ''do or die'' against the devils

By Amos Joseph
It is reported that Super Eagles of Nigeria will depart Nigeria for Congo Brazaville on Thursday to keep a date with the Red devils of Congo on Saturday in the AFCON 2015 qualifying match billed for Saturday 15 November.

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The spirit is high, the fitness of the boys is at satisfactory level and they are ready to battle for a place in the competition which is scheduled for next year with the host unknown at the time of publishing. That's what hear from the camp of the team in the nation's capital city, Abuja.

Of course the Super Eagles want to avoid the dire consequences of losing a point in the remaining two games - Congo and South Africa. Victory is non-negotiable, so to speak. That is the situation the Eagles find themselves, after losing to Congo in Calabar, Falcons of Sudan in Khartoum, and securing a draw with South Africa on away soil before coming home to beat Sudan 3-1 at home.

The Team still has a chance of qualifying especially after the spirited 3-1 win over Sudan which placed the Eagles in third spot on the group log. They fought hard, played hard, kicked hard and won the hard way. 

It could be recalled that the Coach of the Nigeria senior national team, Stephen Keshi was then relieved of his position but was later reinstated after ''interference from superior authority'' as the news made the rounds. And now that he's back along with his assistants ''to continue from where they stopped'', hard ball is what Nigerians expect, may be a replica of the last performance against Sudan. 

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, Keshi expressed his confidence and positive attitude in the squad. ''The boys are focused and of course they know why they are here; it’s the business and so we have to go and do what we need to do.'' Said Keshi.

''We just have to be ready. This is African football.

 ''It is not European football and so I always tell my players that once they leave Europe they must switch from the European to African mentality''. 

Nigeria currently has four points, trailing South Africa who are on eight and Congo on seven, and that explains the reason why the Eagles must play hard ball. 

As the November 15 date approaches, without any pessimism, Nigerians should bear in mind that the head of the Congolese delegation Claude Leroy has always had his way with the Super Eagles, from his days as coach of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun. Just a note anyway, it doesn't make him Lord but the Eagles must prepare for counter his tactics.

''Ba ba gunyan ninu ewe ba sebe ninu epo epa eni mayo mayo'' - Yoruba Proverb

That proverb can simply be translated as ''dire situations can be advantageous'', however, one can only be patriotic and wish that the Eagles get the best of the challenge and come out satisfied with the result from Pointe-Noire.