Here are 10 major observations on the Super Eagles from a 2-1 win over arch-rivals Ghana in a friendly played in Marrakesh, Morocco, Friday.
[1] We appear to be knocking the ball around nicely in midfield
[2] We are retaining possession in midfield very well too. I suspect this is to do with the return of Wilfred Ndidi
[3] Chidozie Awaziem is offering us the additional option of another one of the centrebacks being able to bring the ball out of defence. At the Nations Cup, only Ajayi was doing that
[4] Benjamin Tanimu has shown a few good touches, but let us give him the benefit of the doubt and see him a bit more before judging him
[5] Likewise, I would also like to see a bit more of the leftback Bruno Onyemachi before passing judgment on him
Klopp's Reds ✖️
Pep's City ✖️
Finidi's Super Eagles ✅
What a build up!pic.twitter.com/z0vsLBCOKX— The 𝘛ó𝘺ò𝘴í 𝘈𝘧𝘰𝘭á𝘺𝘢𝘯™️ (@Toyosi4layan) March 22, 2024
[6] This 3-5-2 formation appears to suit us well
[7] My one worry with this formation though is that both Frank Onyeka and Ndidi are anchormen. Neither of them offers that offensive capability to drive forward. Neither is a box-to-box midfielder
[8] Upfront, Cyriel Dessers and Kelechi Iheanacho have been very wasteful. Surely if Osimhen and Lookman had been playing we would have been three up by halftime
[9] Well done to Finidi for this, but I will still not gamble on him. Nigeria cannot afford to play kalo-kalo with our World Cup chances. We need a tried and tested coach like Herve Renard, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Guardiola, Zidane, etc. Finidi can be his assistant. We cannot risk missing two World Cups in a row
[10] This team appear to have legs because the average age is less than usual. We need to gradually wean all the 30-something-year-olds out ahead of the 2026 World Cup
By Ayo Akinfe
Re: Point 9 – I’m not sure I’ve seen any reports that Klopp, Zidane, Mourinho or Guardiola have applied for the job. What we have is poor man’s Guardiola (Torrent) and Coceicao who failed with Cameroon at AFCON. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Finidi, Amuneke, or Oliseh. They can qualify us for the World Cup.
Point 10 is what cost us the Afcon in the final. Experienced legs tend to be over 30 and they are natural leaders who can help youngsters when the tide of the game goes against them as was the case in the second half of the final. Youth can only do so much without experience. Or are you saying you fo not realize the average age of the Croatian national team is 34?