Defeat of Ghana a great year-end gift for Nigerian football

What a great way to end the year, beating your arch-enemy Ghana 3-1 on aggregate to qualify for your first African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament in six years.

Bravo to our lads, who made it happen. They went to the first leg and clawed out a goalless draw in Ghana. This faintly reminded me of the debacle of 2022, when we lost the second leg in Abuja to an away goal draw that the Black Stars pulled off to deny us a ticket to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

This time, the Eagles did not leave anything to chance, racing into an early 3-0 lead in the first half. They broke Ghana and made them feel the pain we felt two years ago. Getting one over the neighbours in our never-ending derby contests is always nice.

It was a most satisfying year-end gift to close out 2024, a positive year for Nigerian football internationally. Now, we can look forward to participating in the CHAN in East Africa early in 2025.

The AFCON – Continental resurgence

2024 was a watershed year for the Super Eagles. They reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan but narrowly lost out to the hosts 2-1.

It was our first trip to the final since 2013 when we won it in Johannesburg. This experience made us dream again – a country united by the love of the game.

The Super Eagles took the continent by storm, and our stars shone brightly amid the rib-cracking banter on social media platforms.

We saw the emergence of goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili to the number one position while William Ekong and Ademola Lookman starred in that beautiful run to the final.

However, the Super Eagles have been unable to match their AFCON performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where we trail Rwanda, South Africa, Benin and Lesotho. Six more matches to be played offer us a glimmer of hope that the Eagles could still reach their seventh World Cup.

“Getting that FIFA World Cup ticket will set the momentum for a sterling outing at the AFCON in Morocco later in the year,” said NFF president Ibrahim Gusau in a recent year-end message.

A return to the Olympics

The Super Falcons scored a sweet victory against reigning Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions South Africa, reaching their first Olympic Games in more than a decade.

After an impressive second-round finish at the 2023 World Cup in Oceania, Nigeria needed to confirm their resurgence, and they did it with grit and determination.

While they did not light up the Olympics in Paris, the team has evolved by shedding old players to build for the future. After a long decade of dominance, Asisat Oshoala’s international career seems to be winding down as Rasheedat Ajibade leads the team into the next WAFCON in Morocco.

The Super Falcons can return to the big stage and retrieve their lost glory from a competitive field that now includes the South Africans, Moroccans and Zambians, who have a potent force in reigning Footballer of the Year, Barbra Banda.

We have lost ground on the club scene, save for an outstanding third-place finish for Edo Queens at the CAF Women’s Champions League. It is time to build and create a more solid footing for the women’s game.

I hope that 2025 will bring greater achievements for Nigerian football, both domestically and internationally.

The current economic difficulties in Nigeria will continue to impact the sport's growth. Hence, a new way of thinking that will bring progress despite the tough times is needed.

Happy new year 2025, everyone!