Super Eagles quest for glory in SA 2010…. the jury still out !!

Posted on 08. Jun, 2010 by Pappy Dee in Sports Gist

Yes my football-loving fans and followers of the Super -Eagles !!! Nigeria’s first World Cup game is only 4 days away aptly on June 12 against Argentina at the Web Ellis Stadium Johannesberg.Most of us are already unsure of our new technical adviser Lars Largerback , with people already calling the Swede all sorts of nicknames such as largerbeer and largerfront just to name a few. So people is this current Super Eagles squad ready to take on the World at SA 2010?

The preparations leading to the World Cup as usual have been characterized by a manifest lack of co’ordination by our football administrators .Starting with the failure to select appropriate accommodation for the players .The Hampshire hotel selected by the management of the NFF under the Amodu regime was rejected by Largerback and Sports minister Ibrahim Bio as being sub-standard and thus leaving the Federal Government to pick up a tab reportedly in excess of $250,000 .There was also the genius proposal of a London camp right in the middle of the domestic club season !!!(which obviously failed ).Even the rudimentary task of organizing friendly games seemed to be an arduous task for the NFF!!A case in point was the friendly against Columbia which was played behind closed doors at Milton Keynes. The venue originally slated for Craven Cottage was moved to Upton Park and then Luton before being shifted to Milton Keynes (all as a result of poor project management and failure to supervise the promoters adequately ).I can go on and on about the lack of organisation prior to this World Cup but I am sure by now you get my drift!!!

But to more important issues!! How have we fared on the field since Largerback took charge ? His mandate from his employers is seemingly easy , turn the Super Eagles into a fluid side with tactical nous and organisation .The Amodu regime was heavily criticised for providing a brand of football that was predictable and lacking the cutting edge Nigerians are accustomed to (passes going side ways and back wards and an over-reliance on a 4-3-3 formation) . Peter Odemwengie’s comments to Reuters sums it all up ‘There was no logic in our game and that’s why we could not win We had three defensive midfielders who don’t create goals. In these circumstances we couldn’t cross or create chances. Our tactics failed us in the nations cup ‘ So has largerback turned the tide ? Are we playing any better or is there potential to do so based on the 3 friendlies so far against Saudi Arabia, Columbia and more recently yesterday against North Korea.

I can assure readers that I have not missed a single second of the 3 friendly games leading up to the World Cup. Firstly, I can categorically tell you that if you were expecting to see Barcelona or Arsenal type of football then the 3 friendlies are likely to have been a total catastrophe in your opinion ( You will likely be one of those who hiss at mention of the Super Eagles )The performance against Saudi Arabia was simply horrible with the players looking sloppy and lethargic . Nevertheless the team had a much improved performance against Columbia and more recently against North Korea on Sunday !This can be expected as Lagerback has only worked with these players for 3 weeks!!

But the following positive points must be noted.Firstly, it seems Nigeria now have a decent attacking midfielder in the form of of Haruna Lukman who featured prominently in the 3 friendly games .Since the departure of the mercurial Jay-Jay Okocha from the squad , there has been a search for attack-minded central midfielder .Amodu relied heavily on John Mikel Obi to perform this role . Frankly speaking Mikel was hardly effective as Number 10 due to the very slow tempo of his passing and his propensity for a backward or a square pass (which is now ingrained in his DNA).Haruna represents a player more suitable for that role with his busy style of play and quicker tempo of passing . His link up play with strikers is another positive aspect of his game. He is no Okocha but for now he certainly must do .Lukman captained Nigeria at both Under-17 and Under-20 levels but became the subject of government, media and fan displeasure at the 2009 African Youth Championships when he was caught on camera chewing gum during the national anthem.Things did not improve when he missed a penalty in a 1-2 loss to South Africa, and his hairstyle and general attitude drew widespread condemnation.He was also axed by coach Ladan Bosso during the tournament.He has recently assured the Nigerian public that he is a changed person willing to listen to the coaches instructions .He will certainly be for me the joker for Largerback in his pursuit for success at SA 2010.

Secondly, barring the game against Saudi Arabia it seems the Super Eagles are playing with a higher level of organisation .Especially in the second half against Columbia , the passing and movement of the eagles was the best I have seen in at least a year.(showing Largerback is at least beginning to get some things right on the training ground) .The new role for Sani Kaita on the right side of the midfield has also won praise from a lot of analysts due to his sheer industry (he is Nigeria’s own Darren fletcher).

Having said all this ,there are certain areas that are of grave concern and could be Nigeria’s undoing in South Africa .The defence really gives me sleepless nights .The full back positions leave much to be desired .On the left side , Taye Taiwo despite his cultured left foot and ability to overlap is prone to losing his concentration at the back and losing sense of positional play .He unfortunately is the best left back that is in the squad , for me his replacement Echijelle is not yet at international level and has looked like a fish out of water every time I watched him in the friendlies(he was at fault for the North Korea goal by playing an unexplainable back pass). On the right side ,Odiah apart from his ability on the ball is also weak defensively and hardly plays in efficient crosses in the higher third of the pitch.The problem here is that there is only one right back in the squad . The centre of the defence is also not as solid as people think , Largerback seems to have pencilled in Danny Shittu and Joseph Yobo as his preffered pairing but they are both heavy footed and will be found out by attackers with pace and skill. I am of the radical opinion that the best pairing would be Dele Adeleye and Rabiu Afolabi as was used in the Colombia game .

Our striking department seems certain to produce enough goals provided they are given enough supply from wide areas and the midfield.Martins, Odemwingie, Nsofor ,Obasi and the highly criticised Yakubu are strikers capable of scoring goals and this is certainly a department in which Nigeria is strong . The omission of Victor Anichebe for Kanu was one of the few calls I feel the coach got wrong .Only time will tell whether Largerback got it right

So will Nigeria do well in SA 2010 ? Well the team keeps improving every time I see them notwithstanding some of the flaws I have pointed out .The Eagles I feel have got every chance of qualification from a group which includes Argentina,Greece and South Korea.The only factor counting against the Super Eagles is time to successfully digest Largerback’s instructions .Despite the negativity and scepticism surrounding the team from the Nigerian fans .I feel this team has the potential for a successful outing . I predict they will grow in stature as the tournament goes on and just might surprise all the critics . In any case we as Nigerians should support the Super Eagles (win or lose) after all they confounded us by qualifying in the first place.

Tags: largerback, Lukman, Odemwingie, Super Eagles