Two liners mark reportage of Eagles fall to Black Stars

That Nigerians, particularly the football fraternity will find it difficult to believe how it was that a not too enterprising Black Stars could clip the wings of the hitherto high-flying Super Eagles at the CHAN tournament found ample expression in the manner of how the defeat was reported.

After boasting to kick out the Black Stars from the ongoing tournament in South Africa, the Super Eagles were bundled out of their quest for championship glory courtesy a 4:1 penalty defeat by their perennial rivals.

But hours after the loss and coach Stephen Keshi was seen on television mumbling his displeasure at his boys who squandered several opportunities during play, it was the deafening silence of the news sites that told most.

Only a handful of them reported the defeat, and when they did, the reportage went no further than two sentences. With a bitter defeat especially to no other than Ghana, the lack of appetite to write was understandable. It’s widespread nature made the whole episode an even more interesting observation.

CHAN 2014: Ghana stop Nigeria read the headline of vanguardngr.com which reported:

"The Black Stars of Ghana, Wednesday, stopped the Super Eagles from qualifying for the final of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.

"Ghana won 4-1 on penalty after 120 minutes of play" before proceeding to ask readers their reaction to the Eagles defeat.

Then there was the Punch which titled its account "CHAN 2014: Ghana defeat Nigeria to qualify for final". The story was that;

"The Ghanaian national team defeated Nigeria to qualify for the final of CHAN 2014. The match was decided by a penalty shootout after the two teams failed to score in full time, and extra time.

"Ghana will face Libya in the final match on Saturday."

The Nigerian Tribune and Thisdaylive still fielded pre-match bragging scripts.