SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA AND LESSONS FROM ABIDJAN

 

The Super Eagles of Nigeria narrowly lost 2-1 to the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire in the 34th AFCON Competition.  Several Nigerian football supporters felt a deep loss but in retrospect, the team exceeded the expectations of Nigerians by getting to the final of the tournament. For some, it was a good result for Nigeria and for many others, the result could have been better.

 

ASSESSING THE SUPER EAGLES AT AFCON

For the past two years, it has been an underwhelming performance for the Super Eagles in their matches. The team plays without a style, character, or purpose, leaving their matches boring and abysmal. Though they qualified for the 34th AFCON despite losing to minnows such as CAR, their records of losses and draws in friendly matches were mind-boggling. To further exacerbate the situation was the perennial errors in the back line, but specifically with goalkeeping. For a long period, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have been a great pain to watch, despite the large collection of Nigerian footballers across the World when Joe Peseiro took over; everyone expected that this journeyman could take Nigeria to paradise, and truly he did but at great tool to the mental health of most fans. Even at the 34^th AFCON, the Super Eagles performed far below their optimal level and despite the final result, Nigerian Football must do their utmost to get the right coach to take the team to a better level.

The capabilities of a coach to use the assets available to meet the desired mandate given to him remain the greatest yardstick by which they’re judged throughout their reign. Apart from match results, it’s also important for teams to create excitement for their supporters for herein lies the essence of every sport. Fortunately for Jose Peseiro, the outcome of the 34th AFCON competition counts in his favor but everyone would admit that the team played far below their potential. The players sacrificed beyond their physical capabilities and the spectators toiled to watch these matches due to formations that put unnecessary pressure on the team.

 

EXPECTATIONS FOR THE SUPER EAGLES AFTER AFCON

Nigerians look forward to the World Cup qualifiers and the next AFCON with positive vibes and expect the Nigerian Football Federation(NFF) to use the lessons of the 34th AFCON to rejig the coaching team to enable the team seamlessly achieve their desired goals. Stanley Bobo Nwabali has solved the goalkeeping conundrum for the moment and we must find a lasting solution to getting some creative playmakers to enable the Super Eagles to operate at full throttle. Frank Onyeka and Alhassan Yusuf, at different times, did their best as spoilers in the midfield but the team needs a better ball-distributing player; this was greatly lacking at the AFCON. Victor Osimhen barely used his hustling instincts to make himself relevant as he never got optimal services to excel and the same can be said about many other players.

The rebuild has started and this is the best time to upgrade to a better future for the Super Eagles. Congratulations Nigeria!

SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA ON THE RISE AGAIN!

 

Yesterday at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan, Nigeria's Super Eagles walloped the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 2-0, at the AFCON 2023 Competition. This victory takes Nigeria to the quarter-final phase of the competition to play against the Palancas Negras of Angola. With this result, they have exceeded their performance in the last AFCON Competition.

Several things stand out from yesterday's performance of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. With the huge criticism that greeted their 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea, the players were said to have a meeting, wherein legendary captain Ahmed Musa, assured Nigerians of better performances in the subsequent matches. They beat hosts Cote d’Ivoire 1-0, Guinea Bissau 2-0, and Cameroon in the group of 16. They put up very solid performances in these games to register their resolve to ink their names on the sands of time in Nigeria's rich football history.  There's no doubt that the Eagles have landed!

 

THE RESURGENT SUPER EAGLES

Watching the entire team, from the elasticity of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lukeman, and Moses Simon, attacking and defending from the attack to Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Onyeka, and others attacking from the defense, cutting opposition passes, it's obvious that for any team to beat the Super Eagles in the 34th AFCON 2023 competition, they'd have to climb the Mount Everest within ninety minutes. This team has conceded just one goal in four matches and they look like a brick wall to break down. Their confidence has continued to increase in their successive matches and so is the team cohesion. Virtually every player in the team has proven to deserve his spot.

Senegal, the defending Champions and the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists, Morocco are yet to play their second-round matches and look the greatest threat to the Eagles quest but the optimism about their success is overwhelming. The Super Eagles’ collection of players is astounding and it would take extreme tact for any team to beat the Eagles if they continue with the level they've raised their game.  Several quality players have not been given a minute on the pitch, yet the Super Eagles glow with so much radiance.

 

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REST OF THE AFCON

Watching the Palancas Negras beat Namibia gives an insight into how entertaining their quarter-final match with Nigeria would be. Coach Pedro Goncalves appears to have built a very solid team, anchored by the midfield creativity of their captain, Fredy, the attacking trickery of Gelson Dala, and Mabululu, and not to forget the defensive doggedness of Gaspar. The Angolan team appears a very strong unit and their results during this competition affirm this. Striker, Dala, has scored four goals, so far in this competition.  The Eagles team looks strong enough to tackle Angola, though the outcome could be determined by little details.

The results of matches at AFCON 2023 remain a true reflection of how much African football has transformed within a few decades. Like in the evolution of political states across the World, we have witnessed the rise of several Nations and the decadence of others. This is the excitement that makes sport a veritable ointment to remove pain and give excitement to its enthusiasts!

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.