Chris Maduewesi
Member
It is 2015 and the wish of many Nigerians would be to have good tidings from the different national teams that would represent the country on the international scene this year.
The Super Eagles would have been the ones to herald Nigeria's participation at major tournaments this year, however echoes of last year's non qualification for the 2015 Nations Cup tournament still reverberates.
While other sixteen African countries jostled for the Nations Cup trophy in Equatorial Guinea, Nigerian fans ate the humble pie watching on tv as Ivory Coast emerged champions, two years after they won the same trophy.
Well, it will certainly not be all gloom and doom for Nigerian football this 2015 as there are so many things to look forward to.
There are three Nigerian teams who will hopefully put smiles on the faces of their teeming fans this year. These teams are: Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles and the Super Falcons.
So below, we have tried to examine what exactly Nigerians should expect from these three national teams.
* Golden Eaglets
The Nigerian under-17 Men's national team will be playing at the African championship which is being hosted by Niger Republic.
They will be coming up against the host country Niger, Guinea and Zambia in the group stages of the Championship.
It is from this tournament that Nigeria could possibly qualify for the FIFA-under-17 World Cup tournament taking place later this year in Chile.
Only four countries would make it to the World Cup tournament later in the year, the semi-finalists in the competition.
Being the current champions of the FIFA under 17 Championship, it would be disastrous if Nigeria does not make it to the competition.
One thing Nigeria has got going for them will be continuity from the technical crew, with Emmanuel Amuneke leading the charge this time around.
Already, the Nigerian team touched down in Niamey on Thursday and will be playing their first game on Sunday.
* Flying Eagles
Just like the Golden Eaglets, the Nigerian under-20 team will be competing at the African Youth Championship, but theirs will be in Senegal in March.
And if they make the semifinals of that competition, a place at the FIFA under 20 World Cup tournament is guaranteed.
What this team has going for them is continuity. Majority of the players who win the under-17 World Cup tournament in 2013, have now made the step-up to the present Flying Eagles team.
And they are still learning from their great tutors, coaches Manu Garba and Nduka Ugbade. There is this blend that both Garba and Ugbade have which has led to a greater success of the team.
The Flying Eagles team haven't lost any of their preparatory games, and the Super Six tournament in Abuja is testament to their abilities.
Even without the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakili, the team exudes an aura of inspiration when they take to the pitch.
And they look like a team who would make Nigerians smile in 2015.
* Super Falcons
The Super Falcons will be participating in the FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada this year.
There is a growing feeling that this year they could surpass their quarter-final record in the competition.
With the likes of African Women's footballer of the year, Asisat Oshoala, and also Desire Oparanozie, it could be that the wait is about to end.
The Super Falcons would first be hoping to scale their group that has difficult propositions in USA, Australian and Sweden.
The success of the Falconets over the last five years would be an advantage to the Super Falcons, as some of the players are expected to provide youthful vigor, however, the experiences of veterans like Perpetua Nkwocha should provide calm in the team.
Nigeria have not been able to crack it on the senior side of international women's football, it could be the year that the world takes notice of them.
The Super Eagles would have been the ones to herald Nigeria's participation at major tournaments this year, however echoes of last year's non qualification for the 2015 Nations Cup tournament still reverberates.
While other sixteen African countries jostled for the Nations Cup trophy in Equatorial Guinea, Nigerian fans ate the humble pie watching on tv as Ivory Coast emerged champions, two years after they won the same trophy.
Well, it will certainly not be all gloom and doom for Nigerian football this 2015 as there are so many things to look forward to.
There are three Nigerian teams who will hopefully put smiles on the faces of their teeming fans this year. These teams are: Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles and the Super Falcons.
So below, we have tried to examine what exactly Nigerians should expect from these three national teams.
* Golden Eaglets
The Nigerian under-17 Men's national team will be playing at the African championship which is being hosted by Niger Republic.
They will be coming up against the host country Niger, Guinea and Zambia in the group stages of the Championship.
It is from this tournament that Nigeria could possibly qualify for the FIFA-under-17 World Cup tournament taking place later this year in Chile.
Only four countries would make it to the World Cup tournament later in the year, the semi-finalists in the competition.
Being the current champions of the FIFA under 17 Championship, it would be disastrous if Nigeria does not make it to the competition.
One thing Nigeria has got going for them will be continuity from the technical crew, with Emmanuel Amuneke leading the charge this time around.
Already, the Nigerian team touched down in Niamey on Thursday and will be playing their first game on Sunday.
* Flying Eagles
Just like the Golden Eaglets, the Nigerian under-20 team will be competing at the African Youth Championship, but theirs will be in Senegal in March.
And if they make the semifinals of that competition, a place at the FIFA under 20 World Cup tournament is guaranteed.
What this team has going for them is continuity. Majority of the players who win the under-17 World Cup tournament in 2013, have now made the step-up to the present Flying Eagles team.
And they are still learning from their great tutors, coaches Manu Garba and Nduka Ugbade. There is this blend that both Garba and Ugbade have which has led to a greater success of the team.
The Flying Eagles team haven't lost any of their preparatory games, and the Super Six tournament in Abuja is testament to their abilities.
Even without the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakili, the team exudes an aura of inspiration when they take to the pitch.
And they look like a team who would make Nigerians smile in 2015.
* Super Falcons
The Super Falcons will be participating in the FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada this year.
There is a growing feeling that this year they could surpass their quarter-final record in the competition.
With the likes of African Women's footballer of the year, Asisat Oshoala, and also Desire Oparanozie, it could be that the wait is about to end.
The Super Falcons would first be hoping to scale their group that has difficult propositions in USA, Australian and Sweden.
The success of the Falconets over the last five years would be an advantage to the Super Falcons, as some of the players are expected to provide youthful vigor, however, the experiences of veterans like Perpetua Nkwocha should provide calm in the team.
Nigeria have not been able to crack it on the senior side of international women's football, it could be the year that the world takes notice of them.
