Group winners Nigeria, fresh from qualifying for the 2025 AFCON with two games to spare, against an average Rwanda side that lost at home to lowly Libya.
On paper, it was supposed to be a stroll in the park.
Coach Augustine Eguaveon, rang seven changes from the previous match and playing in a 4-3-3 formation. The players played disjointedly.
The first half was disappointing even though the Eagles had more ball possession but lacked fluidity especially in the final third, only the defence line looked very strong and stable.
The midfield was bereaved of real creativity, clear-cut passes were not locating the attackers.
No coordination among the front three of Moses Simon, Victor Boniface and Kelechi Iheanacho.
The Introduction of Samuel Chukwueze for inactive Iheanacho brought life into the attack.
His individual brilliance and solo runs gave Nigeria the lead in the 59th minute.
After the goal, Nigeria went to sleep, allowing the opposition too many chances and space, thereby
conceding two avoidable quick goals.
First the defence line was ball watching from a free kick allowing a free header inside box-six which resulted in the equaliser.
Three minutes later, the Eagles conceded a free kick in the opposition half and all the midfielders and forwards were lazy against the urgency shown by Rwanda, the quick counter resulted in the second goal.
After conceding the second goal the players now became serious, but it was a little too late.
Conclusion:
Regardless of qualification before the match, it was embarrassing to lose in front of your home fans.
The team did not show enough zeal, urgency and determination to want to win the match.
Victor Osimhen and Chukwueze were the ones showing hunger and desperation to score.
Victor Boniface is a very good player, but it seems the system was not to his strengths.
He played better as the second striker not a lone striker, being a lone striker makes him look lazy.
The Eagles midfield urgently needs creative midfielders, alternatively midfielders that can drive well with the ball and good passers of the ball.
The depth in the team must be formidable and fortified with qualities rather than quantities.
Without Ademola Lookman and Osimhen we should be able to produce positive results.
Players’ invitation must be on merit, based on form.
The technical crew must be more proactive rather than waiting for the deed to be done before reacting.
The Eagles conceded from set pieces against the Benin, same against Rwanda.
We must begin to look beyond this qualifier and take a deep look if this present team can win a tournament.
The NFF should take the right decision about a permanent high-grade Technical Adviser/ Head Coach.
By Arc. Jay Jay Oyekale
We must not deceive ourselves the best coach for the super eagles now is foreign coach.The reason we have not got it right all these while is because all the foreign coaches Nigeria Hired in the last decades were low and quack coaches with low or poor portfolio. When herves Renard was available why Nigeria couldn’t go for him, when Claude Leroy was Knocking why Nigeria couldn’t go for him like wise Milosevic etc, so wrong appointment of foreign coaches has been the problem in my own opinion. If the NFA want to get it right , they should appoint a sound,credible, tactical,discipline and goal oriented Coach for the super eagles.Also in his contract NFA must muddling into his team selections all entitlement must be fulfilled as at when due. I promise you nigeria football will be catapulted to the next level
However if Nigeria should want to try with local coaches, they should go for those that are coaching or have coached in Europe with good results and port folio. Thanks
NFF SHOULD EMPLOY A COACH THAT IS HIGHLY TECHNICAL & BE RESPECTED BY PLAYERS.
THE REASON WHY SOME EX-PLAYERS AND SOME PRESENT SUPER EAGLE PLAYERS ARE IN SUPPORT OF INDIGENOUS COACH(especially Equaveon) IS BECAUSE THAT, IT WILL BE VERY EASY FOR THEM TO PENETRATE IN HIM, CONTROLLING HIM & DICTATING TO HIM WHEN IT COMES TO PLAYERS SELECTION, WHICH IT CANNOT BE POSSIBLE ON FOREIGN COACH. ALSO, IT WILL BE VERY EASY TO DO BUSINESS BY INTRODUCING PLAYERS TO INDIGENOUS COACH AFTER COLLECTING BRIBE FROM SUCH BE PLAYERS.
** NOTE: We should not be deceiving ourselves in this country because of the way things work for other countries (e.g. Democracy work well in America, S/Africa, Ghana but it doesn’t work well in Nigeria).
THE WAY THINGS WORK FOR COACH H. SHEHATA(EGYPT), COACH ALIOU CISSE(SENEGAL) BY WINNING AFCON FOR THEIR COUNTY (and also qualified for next AFCON easily) MAY NOT WORK IN NIGERIA DUE TO CORRUPTION, IMPROPER PLANNING, LACK OF STRUCTURES, BAD MANAGEMENT.
IN NIGERIA, WE ARE TOO RELIGIONISTIC, REGIONISTIC, TRIBALISTIC & SENTIMENTAL.
EVEN when Keshi won AFCON in 2013, he failed woefully to qualified for next AFCON due to bad management(Pinnick VS Giwa), sentiment, jealous, hatred towards some players (e.g. Yobo, I.K. uche, V.moses).
**** NFF SHOULD GO FOR THE BEST COACH.***
What matters most is to move our football forward & not celebrating FLUKE WINNING again. We struggle/manage to beat CIV by penalty in group stage. But E/guinea beat CIV 4-0 convincingly.
*** KESHI WON AFCON IN 2013, BUT WE CANNOT BOAST OF PLAYERS, THE TEAM FOR THE FUTURE (for instance: Sunday MBA, Uzoenyi, Oshaniwa, Agbim are nowhere to be found in future football). AND NIGERIA FAILED TO QUALIFIED FOR NEXT TWO CONSECUTIVE AFCON.
WHAT A SHAME!!!!
**** WESTERHOF WIN AFCON IN 1994, BUT NIGERIA CAN BOAST OF FUTURE FOOTBALL (for instance: Oliseh, Okocha, Amokachi, Amuneke shine for future football).
WHAT A BRIGHTER FUTURE!!!!!
### NFF SHOULD EMPLOY A GOOD DISCIPLINE, TACTICAL, HIGHLY RESPECTED COACH ###