PLAYER POWER & SUPER EAGLES VICTORY AGAINST COTE D'IVOIRE

A day after Nigeria’s victory over Cote d’Ivoire at the AFCON2023, Nigeria’s Coach Jose Peseiro posted the quote below on his Twitter handle @JosePeseiro

 

"Yesterday we won an excellent match against Côte d'Ivoire, supported by a strategic plan that was impeccably executed, by the quality, intelligence, determination, and mutual help of our boys. It's up to us to keep our FOCUS on training, rest, and nutrition in order to beat Guinea Bissau"

 

THE POSSIBLE RESURGENCE OF THE SUPER EAGLES

After struggling to a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their first match of the AFCON 2023, players of Nigeria's Super Eagles were reported to have held a no-holds-barred meeting to articulate the way forward in their quest to win the AFCON 2023 title. Playing against the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire in their second match on the 18th of January 2023, the team came out differently! Though not firing at their full potential, the Eagles subdued and snuffed life out from the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire. The Super Eagles won 0-1, through a penalty converted by Captain William Troost-Ekong. They broke the jinx of the Super Eagles always losing crucial matches whenever they adorn their all-white Jersey and beat the Ivoirians at home for the first time. The boys showed they have the grit to squeeze out results and overwhelm severe pressure! Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, and Stanley Nwabali showed their inestimable passion to excel whilst getting some support from their colleagues. Possibly, they have come to the realization that their indisputable legacy in Nigerian football folklore, can only be realized through good results that would attract the love and absolute support of the Nigerian football supporters and not otherwise!

 

For a nation boasting a huge collection of skilled football players plying their trade in some of the best leagues in the world, the dilemma of seeing the Super Eagles stumble and crumble even against the least opposition has remained a painful reality for every Nigerian football supporter.

 

 

THE ROLE OF PLAYER POWER

The striking reality about their performance was that it showed the success of the players meeting before the Cote d’Ivoire match, as we also witnessed a remarkable change in their tactical approach hitherto noticed since the Peseiro era began. The fluidity of their play, aggressiveness to subdue the opposition, and resilience to succeed was far better than their performance against Equatorial Guinea and most of their past matches.

 

The capability of football players to take their destinies into their hands, support and/or undermine their coach is well reported in World Football. As articulated by coach Peseiro in the above tweet, the support of the Super Eagles players was a game-changer that positively enhanced Nigeria's chances in the AFCON 2023. Hopefully, they shall further improve in their subsequent matches and their realization could be a turning point in the fortunes of Nigerian football.

With a single group match remaining in their group, the Super Eagles stand a very good chance of qualifying for the next round and their continued success in the AFCON2023 would be a lasting testimony to confirm that the victory over CIV was not a fluke.