Nigeria’s Super Eagles Not Yet World Class - Elli Ikechukwu

Africa’s football is still in a process of its full development and no country can lay claim to really be a super power in Africa as the smaller nations are beginning to give the acclaimed big footballing nations a stiff competition as can be attested to the recent finals of the 2013 Orange CAF championship between Burkina faso and Nigeria.

But the question is, can Africa’s best be rated at par with contemporaries of other world footballing nations as Europe? 

Reminders can be traced to histories of past encounters between African champions and Europe’s best where technical deficiencies have played out as our greatest bane. African players are naturally endowed with physical energy and their strength towers above the rest when put to test but their technical ability calls for serious concern.

Modern football has evolved from physicality to a combination of technicality and physicality. 
A complete football side must be equipped with the ability to totally attack and totally defend; whereby attacking formations change from ball possession in terms of attack to defensive depending on the progression of a game.

Modern football has shown how every player must be attack oriented in ball possession and defensive in the loss of ball control; all working together for each other not minding their primary roles. Today, a winger runs to either support the mid-pack or wingback defensively and vice-versa while in attacking mode. 

For a fact, the goalkeeper remains one still maintaining its primary role of manning the sticks, however, there have been instances where the goalkeeper joins in the attack during the dying minutes of a game or taking penalty kicks or free kicks (a few comes to mind).

Just as merits and demerits exist in life’s application same can be said of technical formations whereby discipline to tactics is key.

  
As Nigeria’s super eagles trod on to rekindle old flames of glory and hopes for a successful outing in Brazil, I personally hold the opinion that the super eagles still need fine tuning even though its present personnel are good enough.

It will be a disservice to the present crop of players who have laboured to attain this new glory to be replaced now with any of the old guards. I affirm that it will be better to bring back some of the in-formed “old guards’’ to fight for a place to prosecute the world cup campaign than trying out fresh rookies.

A few comes to mind like Osaze, Martins, Uche, Yobe, Anichebe and Shittu. 

These aforementioned players in my opinion will bring the experience required at this level of the world cup campaign.

The defence with a Joseph Yobo and Danny Shittu will definitely create a sealed and water-tight defensive line-up.

Uche Kalu in the mid-pack will surely hold the midfield firmly.

And the addition of Obafemi Martins, Osaze Odemwingie and Victor Anichebe will add bite to the attack.

Tactical formations must be introduced according to a player’s natural abilities to assimilate.

Tactical discipline must be followed through by players and the bench must realise players who are willing to bring an extra effort to play; die-hard for coach, team and nation.

The team’s mental well-being is another department not to be handled with levity, as this will come in good stead in-times of a disadvantaged position during the course.

Please note that the aforementioned players only came to mind at the time of this write up.

I wish the SUPER EAGLES a successful campaign in Brazil 2014 world cup.

Elli Ikechukwu is a soccer scout and a blogger

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