The Red Devils of the Republic of Congo walloped Nigeria 3-2, in Calabar, to send chills down the spines of the Super Eagles faithful, but who is to blame for the defeat?
FEATURE
By James Ezimoha

It was a cold, wet evening at the UJ Esuene Stadium. An evening, like a failed movie scene, that had no affiliation with the pre-written script whatsoever. For many, the fixture, which turned out to be a classic David-vs.-Goliath match-up, couldn’t have come at a better time; one desperately needed to serve as a sweet distraction from the quite shameful episode bedevilling the Nigeria Football Federation.  
At the end of a very long evening, however, the lads from Congo, like a vibrant Makosa band, made sure that Nigerians, both those present at the stadium and those watching from the comfort of their homes, had—as reward—mouths full of sighs; the only meaningful expression to sum up the dreadful display. 
As is always the case, surely, someone (or something) has to take the blame for this defeat of catastrophic magnitude.  
And in no particular order, the nominees are... 

The NFF 
When I was younger, as I remember, football administrators at the time were not ‘superstars’ whose names appeared frequently, in red, on the front and back pages of the daily tabloids. In fact, I’m quite positive that I didn’t know the name of the vice-president of the football association at the time. That information meant nothing as my attention was fully focused on the real stars: the players.  
But today, a kid in Lagos is capable of writing a three-page essay on the Chris Giwa vs. Aminu Maigari debacle. 
The unending drama surrounding the presidency of the NFF, which has already attracted a ban from football’s world governing body FIFA, has undoubtedly posed as a distraction from the main event: the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Prior to the match against Congo, it was no secret that Nigeria was on the brink of yet another ban from FIFA.  
The question is: were the players really bothered about Chris Giwa, Aminu Maigari and co. while on the field? Also, did the knowledge of the imminent ban affect their performance?  

Stephen Keshi 
Stephen Keshi, believe it or not, is a legend. He is also very tricky, and quite a stubborn man.  
When the 23-man list for the pair of qualifiers against Congo and South Africa was released, many thought it had more balance than the team he took to Brazil, and were expecting some tactical changes, to be enforced by the change in personnel.  
However, the starting XI reeled out for the Congo clash had many scratching their heads in wonderment.
How and why should Uche Nwofor lead the attack for the Eagles when Emmanuel Emenike is fit and available for selection? 
Reports suggested that the latter, whose introduction in the second-half, after his so-called replacement huffed and puffed without significant impact for 45 long minutes, added pep in the Eagles’ attack, was axed from the team for reporting to camp late. 
Was this really necessary? And how costly was the decision for the team in the aftermath of the defeat? 
Also, still looking at the common sense behind the choice of personnel by the Big Boss in the starting XI, the persistent logic to have Ramon Azeez in the no. 10 position despite the woeful experience at the World Cup is perplexing.  
Did his stubbornness, which, I must add, also portrays a show of faith in the aforementioned players, cost the team against a beatable Congolese side?   
 
The Pitch 
Goal’s Solace Chukwu described the pitch as “a surface that looked like a fallow potato field.” It was that bad, and the heavy dow pour didn’t help matters.  
The UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar is supposed to be a fortress; a slaughterhouse where the Eagles destroy opponents. But against the Red Devils, it was the Eagles that lay hapless on the slab, their heads unceremoniously cut off. 
The players found it extremely difficult to string slick, meaningful passes together and had to resort to the ‘famous’ kick-and-follow, which is quite understandable owning that the pitch was messed up—and majority of the players are accustomed better playing surface at the their respective clubs. 
That said, (for those who look to find humour is this sort of situation) the Congolese, for large periods, enjoyed home advantage on a pitch that was supposed to thwart any sort of swagger they had hoped to enjoy. 
So can the pitch really be blamed for the poor result? 
In truth, there are no winners. All the participants, including the players themselves, contributed one way or the other in defeat to Congo. 
However, nothing should be taken away from the Red Devils and their technically-astute manager Claude Le Roy, who once again masterminded the fall of the Super Eagles. 
Nigeria lost the battle but the war is not over.