Latest News | News Break Nigeria Nigeria’s Super Eagles would have to do some stock taking after they crashed out in the second round of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The team left for Brazil with most Nigerians not having much confidence they will go beyond a first round group that included Argentina and the highly-rated Bosnia-Herzegovina. And they started rather poorly with a barren draw with Iran in the opening game they were expected to win, went ahead to beat Bosnia 1-0 courtesy of the returning Osaze Odemwingie and lost the last group game to Argentina 3-2 with Ahmed Musa grabbing a brace. Their performance against Argentina won them back millions of fans and the belief they will beat France to progress to the quarterfinals for the first time in their history. •GETTING SET: Super Eagles of Nigeria during a training session.ke Much was expected of the Eagles against Les Bleus, but that was not to be as they lost concentration in the closing minutes of the match when they were expected to be up and doing. The team were not disgraced out of Brazil as they were the first African team to qualify for second round in and only one of two to reach the last 16. The positive side of the story is that this outing brought forth a number of young players who can still make it to the next World Cup in 2018 as well as excel at AFCON 2015. Kenneth Omeruo, Juwon Oshaniwa, Ahmed Musa, Godfrey Oboabona, Victor Moses, Ramon Azeez, Ogenyi Onazi, Babatunde Michael and Uche Nwofor can be the nucleus of the team to Russia 2018. The Eagles must know that they need full concentration ahead of a crucial game as their pay strike, which made them skip a training session before the second round game against France, must have been a huge distraction. The administrators too must brace up and sort out every monetary issues before they go to any competition to avoid unnecessary and avoidable distractions. Vincent Enyeama proved he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world with some spectacular saves off some top-class strikers, from Lionel Messi to Edin Dzeko. He has to be convinced to stay on, because like good wine, he has got better with age. Onazi proved to be the key man in the Eagles midfield with Oshaniwa and Babatunde Michael the team’s revelations at the tournament following their performances against all odds. Nigeria have lost two key players in Joseph Yobo and Osaze, who have called time on their international career. Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona will be worthy replacements for Yobo, while Brown Ideye and Sunday Mba will hope for a second chance after they were left out of the World Cup party. It’s now four years to Russia 2018 and so preparations should start in earnest with the scouting out of top quality players, who will replace the departing Eagles and those who will leave the scene before the next tournament. NFF must also hire a tactically astute coach to replace Stephen Keshi, possibly an expatriate with local assistants to learn from him.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 18:30:44 +0000
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