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FEATURE ARTICLE
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Saturday, November 16, 2024 |
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[email protected] Belgium ![]() |
Coach Eguavoen played his favourite 4-3-3 pattern with the Super Eagles: Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, was in goal, after a two-year absence. But his performance was not -too- convincing. He takes part of the responsibility for the second goal. A goalkeeper of his class should have prevented the goal. Some of the defenders, also, didn't cover themselves in glory for the second goal.
The four-man defence: Bright Osayi-Samuel, at right-back, was average in his performance, and has a share of the blame for the opponents' second goal. A tougher-tackling right-back could have stopped or helped stop the adventurous Rwandan attacker(s).
Bruno Onyemaechi, at left-back, was ok in his performance. Skipper William Troost-Ekong, at centre-half back, was ok, in the way he marshalled the defence. But was beaten in the aerial battle that resulted in the first goal to the Rwandans. Gabriel Osho, at left-half back, was good; more especially in his footballing ability. But one is not yet convinced of his defensive abilities. He allowed himself to be beaten to the ball by the Rwandan attacker, for the second goal of the Rwandans. A tougher-tackling defender could have stopped the opponent, as the last line of the Nigerian defence, in the circumstance. The mid-field trioka that starred : Alhassan Yusuf, Raphael Onyeadika and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, as the creative part of the mid-field, didn't quite click in the first half. Their non-performance resulted in the paucity of chances for the Super Eagles in the first half. The offensive trio starred: Winger Kelechi Iheanacho, he didn't have a great game because, in one's considered opinion, he was played out of position! Kelechi Iheanacho, is a player with proven class. Coach Eguavoen could have gotten the beter part of him by using him as a main striker, a supporting striker, an offensive mid-fielder or a "false winger", who may be positioned on the right flank, but darts all over the Super Eagles' offensive line, connecting beautifully with the Super Eagles attackers with his link-up play, and of course giving those characteristic creative passes of his. Coach Jose Peseiro used him as a "false right winger" in the match against Sao Tome and principe, in Uyo, in September, 2023, in the AFCON 2023 final qualifier. And he was super on that day; he gave some assists that resulted in goals for Nigeria! If Coach Eguavoen sacrifices him, as a consequence of calls by some inexperienced socccer analysts, who do not understand the above-stated facts of Kelechi Iheanacho's playing style, it would be a big loss to Nigeria. A loss Nigeria cannot afford in the crucial World cup qualifiers next year! Winger Moses Simon had a good game. Centre-forward Victor Boniface, didn't have a great game, as evidenced by his not being on the scorer's charts. The lack of creativity in the Super Eagles' game, didn't help matters for him. But over the whole AFCON 2025 qualifiers, and coupled with the fact he hasn't scored for Nigeria in over one year of appearing for Nigeria, makes his position as Super Eagles' striker somewhat vulnerable. He needs to start finding the net or else Coach Eguavoen may be forced to review his options in this regard. The substitutes: Frank Onyeaka, replaced Alhassan Yusuf in the second half and this improved the mid-field productivity. Samuel Chukwueze, replaced Kelechi Ihenacho, and scored a beautiful 'world goal'! Victor Osimhen replaced Dele Fisayo- Bashiru, as Coach Eguavoen changed to a more offensive 4-2-4 formation. Umar Sadiq, replaced Victor Boniface. Conclusion: Complacency may have subconsciously affected the Super Eagles in the match, given the reality. The changes made in defence by Coach Eguavoen may have unbalanced the defence somewhat and resulted in the loss of concentration that led to the Rwandan goals. Creativity remains a problem in the Super Eagles' mid-field. Coach Eguavoen may need to try other 'unconventional' players in the Super Eagles' set-up , to try to solve or at the very least, alleviate the Super Eagles' mid-field creativity problem. Players that come to mind in this context are : Samuel Chukwueze - the beautiful goal he scored through a briliant solo dribbling run, shows he has qualities that can be helpful in this regard! Kelechi Iheanacho with his earlier-stated qualities can be helpful in this regard. Ejuke Chidera, is another player that can help in this regard, given his baggage of skills. Coach Rohr, had started using him in this position before he was removed as Super Eagles' coach. The loss puts a big question mark on Coach Eguavoen's future as Super Eagles' coach. Though Super Eagles' coach on an interim capacity, a beter result would have made some of us carry 'placards' for his retention as Super Eagles' gaffer in the World cup qualifiers. The loss will strengthen those in the NFF that favour a foreign gaffer for the Super Eagles. My take on the issue of foreign coach is: If the NFF can get a beter gaffer than Coach Eguavoen, that coach would be most welcome, considering the precarious position of the Super Eagles in the World cup qualifiers. If, however, nature rules otherwise, as we saw in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, when a foreign gaffer contracted to coach the Super Eagles, disappointed the NFF at the last minute, then continuing with Coach Eguavoen would be ok by me. One must confess, Coach Eguavoen has shown significant improvements in his technical and tactical abilities, in comparison to two years ago, when he last coached the Super Eagles. The Super Eagles need to improve big for the World cup qualifiers in 2025, given the odds! UP SUPER EAGLES! UP NIGERIA!!!!!!!
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