The world awaits the day of June 12, 2014: on this day, the world keeps watch for the kick off of the 2014 FIFA World Cup hosted by Brazil. This edition of the World Cup is viewed to be different because; as the records stand, no European country has ever won the World Cup on South American soil and Brazil is like another home for the one continent that was tipped to win the World Cup before the end of the 20th century, Africa.
If this history should remain, then this may just be the time for Africa to fulfill the age long prophecy of Brazil Legend, Pele. Africa is represented by five countries in this year's World Cup, Nigeria is one one of them; Cameroun, Ghana, Algeria and Ivory Coast. Dubitably, the Super Eagles of Nigeria are considered to be Africa's best bet.
Some football fans would argue the choice of Nigeria being Africa's light bearer in Brazil. But the current African Champions have done well enough to deserve credence and respect from the football world; They won the African championship back in 2013 with little faith, even the passionate believer hardly bet his all on Nigeria being champions but they are.
The Eagles are grouped alongside old foes Argentina with a Ballistic Messi in their squad, Little known Bosnia and Iran, the group's seeming 'underdog.'
Nigeria's participation in Brazil 2014 was under threat when a certain unknown author of the book 'Kelong Kings' alleged Match Fixing claims against the Nigerian football authorities, in a bid to divert attention and create distraction for the team. Singaporean Wilson Raj Perumal, known to be a match fixer accused the NFF of rigging matches leading to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, his 'match fixing' in respect of the Federation did not only begin in 2010, he noted that he had been signing the wins and loses of games involving Nigerian teams for since the Atlanta 1996.
Such allegations have stopped teams from taking part in championships peding the investigation of the allegation and any team found wanted is eventually sanctioned with a ban or a fine. FIFA did institute an incestigative panel to look into the issue and the result is yet unknown. This allegation could have halted World Cup plans but it did not. The Super Eagles are getting in tune for Brazil.
The NFF was quick to debunk the claims of the Singaporean and is considered sue Raj Perumal. The bogus accusation has not stopped the players and they are seen to be the ones to make history in Brazil if Africa is going to make any at all.
Hawks of Togo Skipper Emmanuel Adebayor believes that Nigeria will be the best representative in South America. He praised the technicality of Nigeria's coach Stephen Keshi who he says ''knows a lot about football and everything. He has been there as well as a player for Nigeria.'' He concluded on the Super Eagles that they ''have all the ingredients to be good in the World Cup."
Nigeria's goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who was awarded with the Marc-Vivien Foe award, also believes that the African champions can make historic progress at the World Cup despite being drawn into Group F against Iran, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina.
"We are focused on the World Cup, to make Africa the proudest continent. I think we are going to make big progress, We are going to achieve a better result and be the first African team to get to the semi-finals of the World Cup." The Nigerian Skipper emphasized.
Whether or not Perumal's match fixing allegations are true, Nigeria seems undeterred and would not let an unknown Singaporean haunt its fifth World Cup appearance.
M Brothers Africa
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