Nigeria can learn a few lessons from the just concluded Nigeria Vs Iceland match as below:


1 SCRAP FEDERAL CHARACTER AND GIVE POSITIONS BASED ON MERIT ALONE: The starting lineup did not in any way reflect any form of federal character the North only has a representative (Ahmed Musa) the South West too has two representatives or so most of the team (both the starting lineup and the bench) are mainly from South East and South South, yet we performed very well to get the much needed victory, worthy of note is that the only northerner in the lineup gave Nigeria the much needed goals that have restored hope for Nigeria to qualify to the next stage and even won the Man of the match. Lesson learnt if we put our best team forward irrespective of tribal affiliation we shall move forward and develop and if we continue to use quota system instead of merit we shall continue to lag behind the others.

2 I watched the match in a public space where there were Nigerians from all tribes but surprisingly no one bothered about tribal affiliations, everyone supported the Nigerian team and whenever anyone was about to score everyone shows excitement same when any player misses an opportunity to score everyone shouted in dismay when Ahmed Musa scored the whole place erupted in frenzy, nobody bothered about the tribe of who scored the important thing for everyone was for Nigeria to win the match. Lesson learnt let us learn to give our total support to whoever is leading and those in positions of authority irrespective of their tribal affiliations that way Nigeria can progress and be respected among comity of nations

3 PLAYDOWN ON RELIGION: Just as there was only one northerner in the starting lineup, there was only one Muslim in the starting lineup same Ahmed Musa as a matter of fact there are about just two Muslims in the entire 23 man team Nigeria has in Russia, but during the match Christians, Muslims, Traditional worshippers , atheists , naturalists etc all stood together in one voice to unite and pray for the victory of Nigeria as matter of fact when Musa scored the first goal I heard a lady shouting thank you Jesus repeatedly despite the fact that Ahmed Musa is not Christian, Lesson learnt , as a nation let’s play down on religious differences and come out together as one for the country to progress let us always join hands and pray along with whoever is leading us and in position of authority this is one of the things the developed have imbibed in their character that is making them to progress.

If Nigerians can unite at all times the way we do when the Nigerian team is playing a football match, we would by now have been ahead of the rest of the world.

Admin please let this be moved to front page as it promoted national unity which is much needed in Nigeria at this time.