BRAZIL 2014: MEXICO VS CAMEROON

First a quick recap of yesterday’s match,

To say the least, yesterday’s match was really volatile. Who would’ve predicted that a match that started badly for Brazil would actually end up a victory for them, 3-1 on the first day of the tournament! Of course Brazil’s football squad has always been a team to contend with and after that mistake from Marcelo Vieira- the “own goal” which gave Croatia its first goal- there was definitely no way they were going to let it get them down. The man of the hour was Neymar; after getting a yellow card, he made up for it by equalizing and then shooting a second goal, via a penalty kick and then an unexpected third from Oscar seconds before the final whistle. Poor Croatia!

Today, Nigeria’s neighbour Cameroon went against the Mexico’s squad and I can’t wait to see how the Lions are going to battle those guys. Mexico has a very  good reputation on the field but Cameroon’s Lions are known to be very fierce and stubborn. I still remember Nigeria-Ghana 2000 where they ruined our hopes at the final match and took home the trophy. Poor Sunday Oliseh sobbed in his jersey and I felt like bawling myself at the pitiful sight.

Anyhow... let’s see how they perform today. Cameroon of course would be  rooted for by us, they are after all our neighbours and them winning maybe be a good omen for us. On the 16^th, we’re going to go against Iran- and we need all the prayers and positive vibes we can get.

Today’s match was a snooze fest, compared to yesterday’s. First off the Mexican team recited their national anthem, followed by the Lions; solemn determination on their faces and no doubt praying for victory.

The starting whistle and the match began. The rainy weather didn’t deter the players’ performance- actually both teams played as fiercely as I expected. From what I saw, Cameroon’s Benjamin and Enoh are players to contend with especially as well as Mexico’s Giovanni dos Santos.

Speaking of Santos, he scored but the goal wasn’t counted as it was offside. Bad...

The game goes on and the fierce determination is in every one of those players, despite the pouring rain; Cameroon was stubborn as always but Mexico more so- determined to own the game with their clever manoeuvres and passes while the Lions were determined not to let them. But still, not exactly exciting like yesterday’s first half. An offside goal from Cameroon, much to their frustration and a near one quickly defended by the Mexican guys. By the way, kudos to both teams for being able to play in the rain!

A corner kick for Cameroon, taken by MBia and another near goal but the Mexicans defend! Ah, the Lions maybe stubborn but the hombres meant business! Mexico’s Moreno was especially fierce.

23 minutes and still no goal. Cameroon’s Song got kicked- by accident- by Mexico’s Vaquez so he narrowly dodged a yellow card. And just when I was giving a yawn, a goal from Giovanni dos Santos but no... no.. the ref ruled it to be offside and no doubt Santos and the rest of the team were pissed off! It was bad enough running about in the rain and they get such nonsense thrust at them!

Lord but this match was boring compared to yesterday’s; the players couldn’t help it of course because of the rain but we viewers needed more action than this.

Corner kick given Mexico though it seemed it was supposed to be a penalty; what’s with this hard hearted ref?

Before we knew it, it was half time and it’s 0-0.

Second Half...

Cameroon called for a sub; Djeugoue for Nounkeu and both teams looked more determined as they parry each other over the ball. Mexico’s Moreno is given a yellow card(careful chap) and Cameroon given a free kick, taken by Assou- Ekotto... no goal but so close. Moments later...

GOAL!!! 1 for Mexico , shot by their Peralta. Cameroon’s E’to had a little mishap when he collided with another player. Mexico in turn called for a sub, Guardado for Fabian. And to my surprise, moments later, the man of the hour, Peralta was replaced by Hernandez- why that sudden move I can’t imagine. Giovanni especially stood out with the way he manoeuvred his way across the fields and came close to a second goal but the Lions got him good.

And just after yet another sub by Mexico, the final whistle was blown.

Mexico 1, Cameroon 0. Snooze fest but competitive at the same time. 

BRAZIL 2014: BRAZIL VS CROATIA

Today is the first match of the 20th FIFA World Cup,  Brazil 2014; between Brazil and Croatia. No doubt in the stadium and in many homes across the world, the air is electrifying; no doubt a lot of supporters for Brazil- a country known for its football reputation. But we must not underestimate other countries mind... back in France '98, the world was stunned when France beat Brazil in the final match and in South Africa 2010, the country was beaten by the Netherlands in the Quarter Finals.
Today, the first goal in the tournament was for Croatia; 11 minutes in the game by Brazilian player Marcelo Vieira, (jersey #6) and no doubt he's going to get a lot of chewing out by his mates and their coach later on for allowing that mishap to happen.
Neymar da Silva Santos Jr (Jersey #10) got a a yellow card but then unexpectedly redeemed himself by making the score 1-1. One would call that a miracle, the last thing any player hopes to get throughout the tournament is the dreaded yellow or red card!
A mishap from a Croatia player (knocking Neymar over) earned Brazil a free kick but alas, over the goal post it went- to the great relief of the Croatia boys no doubt! The game is aggressive from both sides; after all it's the first match- who doesn't want to make a first impression?

I felt rather sorry for Marcelo; not exactly a good performance on his part on the very first day- scoring a goal for the opposing team!  But thanks to Neywmar, they were able to equalise so let's see what's going to happen in the second half!


SECOND HALF...


And they kick off, the air even more tense, no doubt. Another free kick for Brazil but nothing. Brazil for sure wants to live up to its huge reputation of owning a match but like I said earlier, they must learn not to underestimate the opposing team, Crotia appears determined to get on top on the first day. And as this this the first day, just anything can happen! Both teams need a second goal before the whistle is blown...
Croatia called for a sub and Mateo Kovacic (Jersey #20) is replaced by Marcelo Brozovic (Jersey #14). Brazil in turn also called for a substitution- Paulinho (Jersey # 8) for Hernanes (#Jersey #18).


A yellow card for Croatia's Jersey #14 Vedran Corluka , thus a free kick for Brazil again and alas... over the net! And Brazil called for a sub again, Hulk(Jersey #7)  replaced by Bernard (Jersey #20).

 Another mishap and ANOTHER yellow card for Croatia, this time to Lovren( Jersey #6)! Man, these guys are feeling the pressure and this new mishap gives Brazil a penalty!!! Oh dear, Oh dear...
Neymar takes the shot and it goes in to the delight of the Brazilians and the stadium goes wild! Well, Well... what a moment, Brazil 2, Croatia 1!
Minutes later, a near third goal from Neymar and more aggressive playing from both sides... before we know it, 8 minutes remaining. A goal from Croatia is not counted, as it's off-side! Sorry boys.

4 minutes left...

A yellow card for Brazil's Gustavo (Jersey #17) and  Neymar is substituted by Ramires(Jersey #16).

90 seconds...

Another GOAL FOR BRAZIL and more yells from the crowd! 3-1, thanks to Oscar(Jersey #11). Poor Croatia... they tried so hard too.

The final whistle and the match is over.
It's true when they say the first match is always exciting!

Tomorrow, Cameroon vs Mexico

IN MEMORIAM : JUNE 12 AND M.K.O ABIOLA

Politics is  a subject I'm  very reluctant to talk about; much less write about; it's honestly not my thing.  But 21 years today was an important day in the history of Nigeria and to all Nigerians. On the 12th of June, 1993, I was too young to vote but I could sense the excitement in the air even then. It was the era called "Hope '93" and Alhaji M.K.O Abiola was running for President under the Social Democratic Party (S.D.P) against Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (N.R.C). People singing the campaign slogans and lining up to vote- a lot of excitement and a time of hope as the election would give the country a new President and mark the end of military rule. And the candidate most rooted for was Alhaji M.K.O Abiola.
But what happened?
 The news reports informing us all that the election was  annulled and the country thrown into confusion. M.K.O Abiola was later imprisoned and died in 1998. By then I was a college student and vividly remember how everyone was thrown into confusion that day, wondering what was going to happen next.
Today marks the 21st anniversary of the election and the country remembers the S.D.P candidate and winner,  M.K.O Abiola. He was the symbol of hope, a philanthropist and a man who promised so much and a lot expected from him. What I think most Nigerians most remember today is how our hopes were dashed by the annulment and HOPE '93 became a dream instead of a reality and more or less an unsettled ghost. But M.K.O Abiola will never be forgotten by us nor the day the first free and fair election since the 1983 coup.

May he continue to rest in peace.