The Nigeria Eagles on Sunday at the Huye Stadium in Rwanda dropped their appellation of Super Eagles and went back to be common Green Eagles sporting Green shirts as she played an encore of their 1-1 game against Lesotho to on Match Day 2 of 10 again force Warriors of Zimbabwe to 1-1 draw.

A direct kick in the 26th minute brilliantly taken some 35 meters away neatly and as usual beat Nigeria’s best choice goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho to his left in a similar manner Ghana and some other countries often beat him via free kicks.

In fact, I report that the Zimbabwe camp had assured they would use the weakness of Uzoho to beat Nigeria and the team almost did exactly that. The direct kick proved Uzoho is not worthy of wearing the Nigerian shirt at high level as the Nigerian coach claimed against the cry by fans to drop him from the team.

Seeing imminent disgrace Paseiro quickly made three changes in the 46th minute of the second half bringing in Kelechi Iheanacho for Tella; Victor Boniface for Onyeaka and Osayi – Samuel for Aina which made pressure come on the warriors who were as calm and cool in the match like Cucumber.

Cover photograph incidentally shows the Nigerian Eagles covering their faces on arrival at the Rwanda Airport except for Semi Ajayi who scored the equalizer in Uyo.

In the process, Moses Simon collected a telegraphic pass from the Nigerian defence, sold a dummy to a Zimbabwean defender without collecting fees in foreign currencies and found Senior Man, Iheanacho who was lurking at the periphery of the 6 yard box and superlatively put the ball to the right far corner of the net for Nigeria’s so relieving equalizer in the 67th minute.

The Nigerian Eagles rated 39 in the world and 6th in Africa squandered 5 corner kicks to Zimbabwe’s (rated 125 in the world) nothing and had 3 yellow cards to 1. The ratings and the performance put Nigeria in doubt to win the AFCON trophy for the 4th time in Ivory Coast negating a new song of LET’S DO IT AGAIN the officials and players just waxed.

The draw keeps Nigeria in a limbo as South Africa had beaten the Squirrels of Republic of Benin 2-1 on Day 1 yesterday. South Africa leads Group C with 3 points; Nigeria and Zimbabwe has 2 points each; Lesotho and Rwanda chalked a point each while Republic of Benin is yet to earn a point in the group.

Football fans are asking for the head of Portuguese coach Paseiro sent by Jose Maurinho; they are singing Uzoho must go for this is no more Super Eagles but mere Green Eagles. The Eagles were called Green Eagles from the 60s to the 90s when they had superlative runs at all the world cup tournament until Ghana ousted the team from the last world cup.

The fans told Paseiro to shut up on the allegations that FIFA and CAF are routing for South Africa to qualify from the group telling him to perform and shut up any speculative enemies.

On 21st November, Lesotho will host Benin Republic at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa same day South Africa will play Rwanda at Butare before the break for the finals of the AFCON games in Ivory Coast from January to February 2024.

By Eniola Olatunji