Abuja — No doubt, this is going to be a very important week for Nigerian football. It is one week many will not forget in a hurry. Just like September 6, which some analysts have already termed the "black" September, this weekend shall also remain one that will be much talked about.

This weekend shall also shape a lot of things. This week, as a nation, Nigeria is aiming a double. Today in Calabar, Nigeria races against history and a jinx first with the Golden Eaglets in a journey to win as host in the U-17 cadre and then eye a world cup berth with the Super Eagles in Nairobi from almost an impossible situation. First, the Golden Eaglets are only three games away from making history and breaking an age long jinx of emerging as the only team to host and win the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Nigeria's slogan for the 13th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup as host "is hosting to win" and to do that, they have history to contend with. Good enough, the Golden Eaglets are improving with every match. They have bounced back from their shaky opening campaign against Germany in defence of the title they won two years ago to attain great composure and confidence to the delight of many. And today in Calabar, they shall battle the team from Korea Republic to make it to the semi final.

Their real tests are this week. After Calabar, should they scale through, they move to Lagos for a semis date on Thursday before a showing at the grand finale on Sunday at the National Stadium Abuja if they are able to pull through. Interestingly, Nigerians are already appreciative of the boys no one gave any chance before the commencement of the tournament for obvious reasons and are gradually coming out of their shelves to support the team after retrieving due to the disappointments of both Super Eagles in their qualification bid and Flying Eagles in Egypt. Nigeria's joy will only be full should the team at home make history as the first host country to win the 24 years old trophy. The Eaglets, banking on home support are aspiring to do it as the first host to win the trophy. No country except Brazil has been able to win the trophy back to back in 1997 and 1999, and no host nation has been able to win the coveted cup on home soil. Therefore, John Obuh this week, is on the verge of making history not as the Nigerian or African coach, but first in the world to do so. Nigeria won the maiden edition in 1985 in China with the Chinese failing to progress beyond the second round. In Canada, in 1987, the Canadians as host, could not even make it past the group stage as they were sent packing early in the tournament. In the 1989 edition in Scotland, the Scots played up to the finals but lost to Saudi Arabia. In 1991 in Italy, the Italians as favourites, could not win the trophy.

It was Ghana that beat Spain to it in the finals. Nigeria won the Japan '93 edition after an all African finals against Ghana before the Ghanaians returned in Ecuador '95 to beat Brazil for the ultimate prize. In Egypt '97, as Africa's first host because the Egyptians were unimpressive, they left Brazil to experience a sweet revenge against Ghana 2-1 in the finals. Brazil was the first nation to defend the title successfully in 1999 which New Zealand hosted beating Australia in the finals. In 2001 in Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria fell to France in the finals and the 2003 edition in Finland saw Brazil again coming tops by defeating Spain in the finals. In 2005, in Peru, it was Mexico that won at the expense of Brazil while Nigeria conquered the world in the 2007 edition in South Korea. Now, Obuh says himself and the boys are hungry to make history. It will take this week to achieve that. For Shaibu Amodu, very few Nigerians envy him. He is indeed in a tight spot.

While passionate Nigerian football followers can understand and be sympathetic with Obuh even if he eventually fails to play in the finals due to the circumstances that surrounded the team before the tournament, Amodu will have between now and this weekend to redeem his image. Worse still, his performance and that of the Eagles has largely been responsible as to why fans have refused to troop in their numbers to the Abuja National Stadium. Of all those involved in Nigerian football, Amodu's case is most pathetic, and the outcome in Nairobi if unfavourable, will no doubt, attract widespread clamour for his head. There are two schools of thought already at work over Amodu's predicament. The first is of the view that since the coach has not lost any match since taking over the national team, he should be allowed irrespective of this weekend's must win encounter in Kenya to take the team to Angola.

This school of thought also believes should the Eagles manage to qualify, Amodu will have enough time to prepare the team since FIFA has provisions for enough time for teams to be together before the mundial. This school's excuse is that the Eagles have failed to impress because the team comprises 100% of foreign players who only get assembled few days to an encounter without having to be properly knitted as a bond. But that the situation will be different if the team qualifies since there would be more time for camping. The other school of thought will have nothing of these excuses seeing it more as trying to explain tactical ineptitude. While our opponents were playing friendlies, Amodu was shying away because he was scared of criticisms the matches will expose him to coupled with the players' angle of turning such games down because he is not in control.

They simply believe even though Amodu has managed not to lose any match, the wins have not been convincing and therefore he cannot be entrusted with such huge and important responsibility as a world cup coach. They feel as a manager, he is not in control of the team and only get dictated upon by the 'big boys' in the team. They query why Amodu and his team are singing tunes of going to Nairobi to 'shed blood' when they had every opportunity to be on top in Abuja. This school equally believes if Amodu is struggling with African oppositions like Kenya, Tunisia and Mozambique despite all his 'pep' talk trips to Europe before any match, how would he fare against world's bests in South Africa?