From top: IK Uche - the new Okocha, Uwa Echiejile - the best new discovery,and Super Eagles' Coach Shaibu Amodu (great photos from Zimbio)THE 'NEW' SUPER EAGLES
It is heartening to observe that Nigeria's Super Eagles have suddenly become an object of affection to local football buffs again ; a feat achieved after some impressive performances against France and Tunisia in particular.Beginning with the friendly game with Ireland, several 'new' players were introduced and the pattern was consistently followed right till saturday's World Cup qualifying game against Tunisia in Rades ( I note however that, but for Sone Aluko, virtually all the other players were named in the coach's inaugural list a year ago !).
With victory over France in particular, a lot -if not all - of the hitherto diehard critics of Amodu Shaibu's team seem to have changed their position, at least for now. I'm happy for these developments, especially now that our World Cup qualification dream is now in our own hands. But the team is yet not the dream team we crave, and I will proceed to give my personal opinion on the shape and character of this 'new' team.
GOALKEEPERS
Clearly an area of strength, with Vincent Enyeama partiularly in splendid form.
DEFENCE
All the full-backs - Odiah,Mohammed,Olubayo,Echiejile and Taiwo - are good enough. However the same cannot be said of our central defence.The combination of Adeleye and Sodje may be high in grit and potential, but both still have some learning to do : Our best pairing, bar fitness, in my opinion for now remains Yobo and Shittu.
Uwa Echiejile was the most complete and effective among the 'new' faces. This is cheering as this will put pressure on Taiwo to keep his game up always. I also see a further advantage in having the two players in the team: See details below.
MIDFIELD
I have seen enough to be convinced that Olofinjana and Kalu Uche are just not it (more especially Olofinjana). Rather than continuing with them, I think it's better to keep trying out new players until we find the right quality. Kanu and Mikel however remain the essentials.
I think it is time we accept the reality that Mikel is a defensive midfielder and just keep him in that position.If Mourinho was a fool, Scolari and Hiddink surely could not also have been. In Tunisia he held the midfield very well , so let's know at least that we have that position coverred, while the search for the new Okocha continues.
And talking of the new Okocha, I think IK Uche has demonstrated enough skill and vision to merit being given a try. Therefore, I strongly suggest that ,when Yakubu and Martins are back fully fit, IK should be given the playmaker role. At least Kanu is there to guide him along. Then, there is the young lad Sone Aluko. He has a wonderful left foot and good dribbling skills (an Ilerika type of player, which we have not had for a long while), and should be kept in the team to gain experience and build self- confidence.
ATTACK
On the strength of what I saw in the last four matches, Eneramo and Akpalla are still far from international quality. Obinna Nsofor has world class qualities but is also one of the most inconsistent footballers I've ever known; which leaves us with just Osaze Odemwigie. This is therefore one critical area that we need to look inwards at the local leaque for, and we can start by trying the lad who just broke the long-standing goalscoring record, Orok Akaranduk.
Secondly our attack line is very weak on the left side. As a solution I will suggest that one of Taiwo or Echiejile be moved upfront to provide the needed balance. Remember that Otto Gloria played two hitherto outside-lefts, Adokiye and Felix Owolabi in our 1980 Nations Cup winning team, so it's nothing strange to work outside the box when faced with a problem. What really is the big difference between a wing-back and an outside-left anyway ?
MY BIG PICTURE
In summary, I will wish Amodu to try out this sort of line up in his next friendly matches:
Enyeama
Olubayo Yobo Shittu Taiwo
Mikel
Odemwigie IK Uche Echiejile
Martins Yakubu
Essential subs: Kanu,Nsofor,Adeleye,Sodje,Aluko.
POINT OF CAUTION
I strongly disagree with those who say that the World Cup ticket for thie group will be determined at the Nigeria v. Tunisia match in Abuja. Mark my words; there is a very strong likelihood that either of these countries will lose valuable points in their forthcoming matches against Kenya and Mozambique: Remember that there's also a Nations Cup place to play for.
My advise to Amodu is to repeatedly play back the tape of today's USA v. Spain FIFA Confedereations Cup match to his players, as there are abundant lessons to be learnt therein on commitment, total football, and above all that the concept of the underdog in football is outdated,myopic and potentially fatal.
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