PRESIDENT Umaru Yar'Adua's optimism that Nigeria will not only qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, despite its precarious situation in the qualifying series, but will one day win the most coveted prize in world football, is expected but can be realised only when all concerned play their roles properly.

Yar'Adua had while performing the symbolic unveiling and lifting of the FIFA World Cup trophy in Abuja last week, said he looked forward to being in South Africa to support the Super Eagles. The 18-carat gold trophy which weighs 6.1 kilogrammes, was in the country as part of its traditional worldwide tour before next year's World Cup finals.

"One day by the grace of God, the World Cup will come to Nigeria, if not for keeps, at least for a year," said an elated Yar'Adua at a ceremony witnessed by his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, as well as FIFA and other officials.

President Yar'Adua's reassuring words are expected of any well-meaning leader, especially in a country where the round-leather game is a national obsession and a vehicle for promoting unity. It is also a known fact that sports, particularly football, remains the most effective tool for mass mobilisation and national integration, as well as for projecting Nigeria's image to the world.

However, it must be stressed that for the President's lofty dream to materalise, it must be backed by action. Qualification for the World Cup finals does not come easy. It requires years of hardwork and meticulous preparations. Brazil which has the distinction of being the only country to have consistently qualified for the World Cup since its inception in 1930, and has won the coveted trophy five times, knows that qualifying for the Mundial is serious business.

We align with the President's views and aspirations that a South Africa 2010 ticket is still achievable, and that Nigeria has the potential to lift football's premier trophy. Having already conquered the world at the Olympics and the U-17 level, nothing suggests that the country cannot replicate same feat at the World Cup. Yar'Adua's dream may appear far-far-fetched, but it is not unattainable, especially when it is realized that the likes of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay who have won the World Cup a combined nine times, are no more endowed than Nigeria.

Sadly, Nigeria has given every indication that we don't want to win the World Cup. Our tardiness concerning such a critical issue as World Cup qualification, does not portray us as a country eager to follow in the illustrious footsteps of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

In our past editorials, we had raised strong reservations about the competence of our national team coaches and indeed, Nigeria's overall approach to the final round of the Mundial 2010 qualifiers. We had equally warned that the Super Eagles' perfect record in the earlier qualifying rounds, against weak opposition, did not remove the fact that the team was lacking in several key areas, particularly in depth and tactics. The outcome of this has been the unenviable situation the country has found itself in the race for a ticket to South Africa 2010.

A series of very uninspiring performances even before home fans, has left Nigeria's World Cup chances hanging by the thread. But for the timely intervention of law enforcement agents, disappointed fans would have manhandled the players and officials after the team laboured to a 1-0 win over visiting Mozambique in Abuja. The Super Eagles as currently constituted, is anything but super. Aside from its very unprofessional approach, the Eagles hardly inspires confidence.

The poor state of the team was succinctly brought home by the Mozambique coach, Mart Nooij, who described the Super Eagles as 'very heavy and tactically naïve.' He said Nigeria has been playing the same style since both teams drew the first leg in Maputo last year. The ease with which the Eagles have conceded goals and dropped badly needed points, has left a sour taste in the mouths of many. It is pertinent to add that the team has yet to undergo significant changes since Shaibu Amodu came on board after Nigeria's disastrous campaign at the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.

Yet, the support given the present Super Eagles is unprecedented. Early this year, the President set up a special committee headed by Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to ensure that the team is fully motivated to qualify for South Africa 2010.

Our destiny may no longer be in our hands, but Nigeria still has a fighting chance of making it to South Africa. While we are condemned to beating Kenya in Nairobi on November 14 , and hope that Mozambique gets the better of Tunisia in Maputo, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) must begin to put in place the necessary logistics for the all-important match.

It is not out of place for Amodu and the NFF to work towards organising a Grade A friendly for the team before the Nairobi cracker. This will enhance team cohesion and blending that have all along, been lacking in the Eagles.

Yar'Adua's dream of the World Cup coming to Nigeria starts today. The President must muster the political will to liberate our football from all its encumbrances, most notably what is commonly called Decree 101, which has not only left the NFF at the mercy of civil servants, but has seen control of our football in the hands of a powerful clique.