The Super Eagles 10-0 pounding of Sao Tome & Principe in Morocco brought back memories of good old devastating form of Eagles that made them world beaters but will their Portuguese coach step up on this to fire his team back to their glorious past of the late 80s and the 90s, IKENWA NNABUOGOR takes a hard but cautious look…
Jose Peseiro restored some pride and dignity with ruthless abandon whipping minnows Sao Tome & Principe scandalously 10-0 in the match day 2 of the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers enroute to Cote d’Ivoire.
This comprehensive result was the only thing that would be music to the ears of Nigerian fans going into the game in neutral Agadir, Morocco, judging by their unimpressive outings in the past years and Peseiro’s three-game unimpressive record preceding the massacre was surely going to put Peseiro on the edge.
The former Venezuela coach came out of smelling of roses, reminding the unhappy fans that Eagles could be super and ruthless after all, but against a rudderless ship from the island off the Indian Ocean?
The last time Eagles were that dominant was their 4-0 mauling of Cameroon in Uyo in 2018 as they flew to Egypt for 2019 AFCON in grand style and never really impressed thereafter.
Eagles had struggled to justify their moniker ‘Super’ that had forced even home fans to rename them ‘Super Chickens’ shooting blanks first at Russia 2018 World Cup, failing add to their third continental title at both AFCONs in Egypt and Cameroon and grinding their wings, failing to fly Qatar.
Peseiro had played a sweet yoyo song with the soccer apex body Nigeria Football Federation over the Eagles post but was eventually let into the Abuja Glass House as Eagles renewed a fresh new chase for honours.
The 60-year-old coach from Coruche in his native Portugal may have brought back sweet memories with the brutal “mass killing” of the Islanders, but many are still far from impressed with the cricket score judging by how weak the opposition was.
Indeed, Peseiro may have set the tone to return Eagles to their brutal ways, but will have to test this brand-new might against bigger opposition going forward and the fans are waiting to embrace their estranged darlings again.
Sierra Leone were in town few days earlier before the Agadir flight and resisted their big brothers though the poor Abuja pitch may have excused the desperate Eagles, but the truth must be told of the impressive showing by the Leone Stars, who gave everything for the maximum points.
Could the heavy defeat handed to Sao Tome & Principe signal the return of the Eagles to winning ways?
As blissful as the memories of the Eagles late 80s and 90s may seem, setting adrift on it despite big win in Agadir may well be one of the wishing thinking as walking the talk may not be so easy as it seems.
Tougher oppositions against Eagles should paint a clearer picture sooner rather than later and it remains to be seen how Peseiro’s Eagles will fly.
Peseiro has admitted in several quarters that he’s got the most talented players in his Eagles, but getting down to business and beating the world beaters is another thing altogether.
Getting down to business and smiling home with good results should be his top priorities and it remains to be seen if the former FC Barcelona assistant coach will achieve this going forward.
The fans smiled again after the Agadir game, but yet to be in bed with their once beautiful team and will be expecting good results.
Eagles are a global brand, once fifth best in the world, with players whose performances in Europe have got the international transfer market buzzing again since the George Finidis, Victor Ikpebas, Sunday Olisehs, Austin ‘Jay Jay Okochas, Daniel Amokachis left the scene and Peseiro got the world on his feet to make this brand great again.
The coming games will surely determine what becomes of Peseiro’s Eagles.
