THE
Super Eagles got their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign off to a
promising start with a 2-1 victory over Chipolopolo of Zambia last weekend in
Ndola. After tweeting my congratulations to the team, I asked jubilant fans to
send me ONE WORD to describe the Eagles win. Here is a selection from the
avalanche of responses.....
Kayode@Suberu
– Exciting! El-Hadji Pablo – Impressive! Folarin clich Media – Splendid!
Solomon Anekwe – Dream! Joseph E.O. Able – Scintillating! Oderinde Adedayo –
Unbelievable! Chibuzor Amosu – Youthful! Emile – Enormous! Ayimora Olatunji –
Exhilarating! Kel Ugagu – Magical! Alfred Saiki – Inspiring! Ayodele Ismail –
Superb! Olibey – Awesome! Ben Olusoji
Idowu – Promising! Alex Rotimi Sadare – “Fantabulous!”
(Don't bother checking the last one in the
dictionary; you won't find it!).
Those
adjectives aptly illustrate the feelings of millions of Nigerians, including
me. Indeed, we ought to be satisfied considering the remarkable facts that the
result was only the Eagles first away win in two years; it was Zambia's first
ever defeat at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium; and, for the superstitious ones
amongst us, the victory must have been a pleasant surprise seeing that the
Eagles played in the infamous “unlucky” white jerseys!
Perhaps
the icing on the cake of a great weekend for Nigeria was the 1-1 draw played
out by Algeria and Cameroun in the group's other match, which has placed us
first on the table with three points after the first round of the games. That
is where we want to remain throughout the qualifying series by the special
grace of God, amen.
However,
the flip side of that 1-1 draw between Algeria and Cameroun is that it has
stung Algeria, the top seeds in our group, into a very, very a bad mood for
their next game which is against Nigeria next month. And rather than coming
with a minimum objective of securing a draw which is their usual practice, the
North Africans will be coming now with the maximum objective of winning the
match. Make no mistake, the Super Eagles are in for a helluva fight when the
Desert Foxes come visiting on November 12, 2016.
The
Eagles deserve all the plaudits we have showered on them for the victory in
Zambia, but I have decided not to dwell on it because I am writing this article
48 hours after the match and I think the celebrations should be over by now
since there are greater challenges ahead. The result in Ndola was excellent but
the performance was not excellent. Football is a team game, but any time your
goalkeeper is picked by most as the Man of the Match, you must face up to the
reality that your opponent has had the better of the attacking play,
irrespective of the outcome of the match.
Coach
Gernot Rorh must take a hard look at his team with a view to shoring up the
weak links in the Eagles. Red flags have been raised about the performances of
full backs Elderson Echiejile, Wilfred Ndidi and center back Kenneth Omeruoh
against Zambia. In midfield, captain Mikel Obi's lack of playing time at
Chelsea meant it took him time to settle into the game, while Ogenyi Onazi also
struggled. In attack, Brown Ideye was a surprise starter for me although he
takes the credit for the assist that led to Kelechi Iheanacho's brilliant
second goal for Nigeria. Overall, the performance level of the entire team
dropped dramatically in the second half, although the hot weather has been held
partly responsible for that.
I am not
in the habit of picking players for the coach because I believe that is his
primary prerogative. I wait to see the coach's selection perform, then make my
observations thereafter. On the evidence of the Eagles showing against Zambia,
it is. clear that we need to strengthen the team to face an Algerian side that
would be a totally different prospect.
For
example, Iheanacho and Alex Nwobi who were the brightest outfield players for
the Eagles against Zambia are young players who will need a stronger support
base to be able to inflict damage on a more organized and more experienced
Algerian team parading players who played at the highest level of the FIFA
World Cup in Brazil 2014. I'm sorry, but I doubt very much if an Ideye can
provide such “leadership” in attack against Algeria. We need a sharper and more
rugged striker that can distract and disrupt the Algerian defense hard and
persistently enough for Iheanacho and Nwobi to feed from and make hay.
I have a
few suggestions for Rorh and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). First,
Cameroun have just demonstrated how to stop Algeria. Let's get a tape of that
match, see how they did it and see what we could learn from them. I didn't
watch the game but, from past experience, I suspect that Cameroun would have
paraded some really big and tall players capable of a fight because the
Algerians themselves are no push-overs in the physical side of the game.
Second,
Nigeria's most recent confrontation with a North African side was the
two-legged AFCON qualifier against Egypt which the Pharaohs narrowly won 2-1 on
aggregate to eliminate us earlier this year. Although we lost, I think Samson
Siasia who was interim coach of the Eagles at the time paraded a very strong
line-up and deployed an effective strategy. With a little luck (we narrowly
missed a second goal that would have sealed the first leg 2-0 in Kaduna) and a
bit more concentration (a lack of which cost us a late equalizer for 1-1), that
team could have been beaten Egypt to the AFCON ticket. I suggest that Rorh
should also look at the tapes of the two matches and then go one step better
than Siasia against the North Africans, this time, Algeria.
In
particular, one player that I would like to see from the Siasia team but who
was absent in Ndola is Oghenekaro Etebo. His raw physical strength, rampaging
runs and powerful shooting were simply too much for the Egyptians to handle.
I'm sure that the Algerians would find him a handful as well. The North
Africans respect (even fear?) big, strong sub-Saharan African players because
of their athleticism and physicality. It's not a coincidence that their best
club sides (Zamalek, Al-Ahly, Esperance, Entent Setif, etcetera) are always
recruiting strikers from West Africa. We must take full advantage of our
physical attributes.
To
conclude, my view is that nothing has really changed yet about the dynamics of
our World Cup qualifying group. Nigeria lead the group now on three points, but
we are not the favourites to win it yet. We defeated Zambia but, with all due
respect to them, I said before the game that they were the “weakest team in a
very strong group” and the least that the Eagles must get was the full three
points. The balance of power in the
group will start shifting decidedly in Nigeria's favour only if we beat the
favourites Algeria in our next game. Another win and another three points for
Nigeria will open up a five-point lead on the top seeds after two rounds of
matches. That will be a clear sign of intent on the part of the Super Eagles
that they truly want to go to Russia 2018. I am predicting that 13 points will
be enough to take us there.
For what
Cameroun might likely do or the impact they may have on Nigeria's qualification
chances following their own equally impressive start with that precious away
point secured in Algeria, let's leave that for now. We will talk about the
Indomitable Lions only after we might have beaten the Algerians next month.
Every single game in this very tough group will be a fierce battle and we must
take them only one at a time. Good luck to Nigeria.
NFF: OLD
HABITS DIE HARD
LAST
WEEK, I challenged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) hierarchy led by
president Amaju Pinnick to focus on their priorities and stop spending scarce
resources on ego trips while complaining of paucity of funds. It appears that
for the NFF, old habits die hard as they had gone ahead to book “between 60 and
70 hotel rooms” in Zambia for “stakeholders” that travelled on the chartered
flight with the Super Eagles even when the flight had not been paid for. My
question to the NFF leadership is, how do you expect players to believe that
you're broke when they continually see so many joy-riders lapping up freebies
right before their very eyes?
Apparently
to deflect further criticisms, the NFF reportedly issued letters informing the
“stakeholders” on the trip that only the flight was free and that everyone
would be responsible for their own accommodation and feeding. Don't ask me if
that “instruction” was adhered to because I don't know. People who should know
are not willing to talk! But having flown “stakeholders” all the way from
Nigeria to Zambia and with “between 60 and 70 rooms” already booked, I leave
you to draw your own conclusions on what the NFF would have done.
To be
honest, I have no problem with the NFF taking people along to games. Some of
the “stakeholders” are genuine and deserve their places. But the problem is
that too many joy-riders who have absolutely no business on the trip slip
through the net simply because they're well connected.
When we say Nigeria is
in a recession and that the NFF is broke, surely we cannot continue with
wasteful habits of old. I hope Pinnick will prevent a reoccurrence of the Ndola
near-embarrassment.
While on
the subject, I heard from a reliable source that ticket refunds and outstanding
bonuses were paid to the players before the game in Zambia which must have
boosted their motivation. What is unpaid now is the bonus for the win in Zambia
itself. The NFF should settle that, too, before the next game against Algeria.
Also, I
hear that coach Gernot Rorh has been paid his salaries up to date from where he
settles his foreign deputies. But his Nigerian assistants are not so lucky.
Salisu Yusuf, Alloy Agu and Imama Amakapabo have not even been given signed
contracts by the NFF, much less paid a salary. President Pinnick, why the
double standards? Why are you treating your own people like second class
citizens in their own country? Correct the situation, please. And do it fast.
My last
word today goes to minister of sport Barrister Solomon Dalung whom I also
challenged last week to write a memo to President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue
the cash-strapped NFF. I don't know whether Dalung read my column, but
coincidentally, it was his memo to Mr. President that reportedly yielded the
funding to execute the Zambia game. If we will need another memo to get funding
for the Algeria game, Dalung shouldn't wait till the last moment again. He
should write that memo now!
FEEDBACK
· #SOARSUPEREAGLES! In 1993, captain
Stephen Keshi of blessed memory shed tears of joy when Nigeria finally picked
the sole World Cup ticket in a tough qualifying group comprising of Nigeria, South Africa, Ivory Coast and
Algeria. Nigeria has started another campaign 22 years later and I see history repeating
itself.
–
Omojola Kelly, Ikorodu, Lagos.
· MY DEAR Mumini, tanks for bringing it back Soccertalk. Your write-up on #SOARSUPEREAGLES was a very good one. It is now left to Mr. Amaju Pinnick and his NFF management team to support the coaches with the logistics needed for the successful prosecution of the World Cup qualifiers. I missed your story on Rangers International. How can I get it? I have followed Rangers since 1974 and will love to read that great story and keep it in my library. – Chime, Lagos.
*You can
read the article and other past articles on my blog, www.soccertalknigeria.
blogspot.com. Thank you.
· #SOARSUPEREAGLES! Alhaji good morning. I am a 73 years old follower of your paper from the days of Sports Souvenir. I am proud of your sports information. Of late, you are no more giving comprehensive reports as before on the CAF matches whether involving Nigeria or not. This new trend is not for old readers like me who are very much used to your paper and cannot afford to read other sport papers. Please do something. – Banjoko.
*Your
request is noted, sir.
· You did it again! Your #SOARSUPEREAGLES! was vintage Mumini Alao. Honestly, there is nothing to add to or minus from the piece but I HOPE the Eagles would heed your advice and play for Nigerians and themselves no matter what the NFF does or does not do. Nigerians now respect Mikel Obi better because of his attitude at Rio 2016 Olympics. This class of Eagles should just do the same. – Howard Odigie.
· #SOARSUPEREAGLE! Thank you Mumini for your piece of advice on how NFF and the sport minister should handle things administratively. I pray they heed to this advice for a better future. – Gabriel, Sango-Otta.
· #SOARSUPEREAGLES! I'm from Benin Republic. I give all my support to Super Eagles because I like them. And I want them to qualify for World Cup where my country can't reach. Good luck. – Romain.
· #SOARSUPEREAGLES! From A Nigerian in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. – +24055132****
· #SOARSUPEREAGLES! I have just realized this week that your Soccertalk is back. Welcome sir. – Abiodun.
· #SOARSUPEREAGLES! After failing to qualify for two consecutive AFCON, it is mandatory for the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. I wish our darling team good luck. – Blo Kenny, Alagbado, Lagos.
· #SOARSUPEREAGLES! The players should just forget about NFF and do their job. God bless Nigeria.
–
Obanimo Bash, Kogi State.
· #SOARSUPEREAGLES! Until I got to the memo part of your article, I was thinking justice was not done especially on the part of the players but I'm happy that you nailed the coffin with your advice to them to focus on their goal. Kudos Alhaji. – Adewusi Adewale, Ibadan.
*The NSC
“campaign box” is back.
· #SOARSUPEREAGLES! FIFA World Cup without Nigeria is sickening. All parties involved must play their part well beginning from the football officials, the gladiators and their technical crews, stakeholders, fans and Nigerians in general. Zambia, Algeria and Cameroun must not kill our dream. Let the right players be invited and selected for the game and we'll be good to go.
–
Tolulope Atobatele.
Fantastic write up Alhaji Mumuni, Etebo is really needed for the Algeria game, by the way the Algeria vs Cameroon game is on youtube and honestly after watching that game almost 5 to 6 times my heart was beating very fast...the Cameroonians were very physical and that helped them.
ReplyDeleteRohr 4-2-3-1 formations may not be the best, against Zambia the formation kept going to a 4-2-4 (a formation of the 1970s) Simon was not helping the matter and Iwobi burning out fast and this showed in the 2nd half until Esiti came in for Ideye and the midfield stabilized a little in a 4-3-3 formation.
Mr Rohr also need to look into possibility of a new fullback as Ndidi was left exposed by Kalaba(Simon did not help the matter).
Hopefully we can take another 3points come next month.
It's fantastic. Thanks for your posting!!!
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