QUALIFICATION FIRMLY IN SUPER EAGLES’ HANDS
As the race for
qualification for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019, in Cameroon hots up,
the destiny of the Super Eagles remain firmly in their control after four match
days. The newly adopted expansion to 24 teams—as
against 16 previously—means twelve group winners and eleven
runners up will join hosts Cameroon in the showpiece event in 2019. Nigeria’s
tally of nine points so far—which has plummeted them to the top of the
group, despite an opening two-nil loss at home to South Africa in June
2017— stands them in good stead in the race for AFCON 2019. Currently only five
teams (Tunisia, Senegal, Uganda, Madagascar Guinea) have more points than the
Super Eagles’ tally of nine, which is equaled by Egypt and Mauritania only.
After the heartbreak of missing on the last two editions, Gernot Rohr—
who took over in 2016 —has his side well placed to make it to the
next AFCON. They would do well though, to avoid complacency with games still to
come away to South Africa in Johannesburg and at home to the group’s
whipping boys, Seychelles.
CAPTAIN MUSA LEADS THE WAY IN MIKEL’S ABSENCE
It would not be
amiss to say Ahmed Musa has warmed his away into the heart of fans of the Super
Eagles in recent years. The jet-heeled, tricky, and sometimes erratic winger drew
the ire of fans for his inconsistent displays in the green-white-green in the
early stages of his international career. Those days are long forgotten now
though. In the absence of regular captain, Mikel Obi, he stepped up in the two
games against the Libyans, continuing his impressive form on the back of a strong World Cup outing. Though his final ball is sometimes found wanting,
his work rate, intensity, and commitment allied with his blistering pace is a vital
component of the Eagles play. Across both legs, he stretched the back-line of Al
Maryami’s side with his darting runs in behind, offering a vital counter-attacking outlet for the Eagles against opponents well adept at keeping hold of
the ball. His ability to either come infield, thus allowing left-back Jamiu Collins to stretch play, or
stay out wide and pin the Libyans back was crucial in securing much needed
three points. One of such runs infield led to a silkily worked first goal.
Dropping a shoulder, he played a pass infield to Alex Iwobi on the edge of the
box, and made an intelligent run behind a static Libyan rearguard. Iwobi’s
cushioned return pass was jaw-dropping, but Ahmed Musa showed immaculate
awareness to pick out Ighalo at the back-post for the simplest of tap-ins in
the 14th minute. He got the goal his performance deserved in the 17th
minute, showing nimble footwork to fool 3 defenders, off an assist from Odion
Ighalo. A bit fortunate with the finish, but luck comes when hardwork meets
opportunity. Musa has regularly shown the former, and grabbed the latter when
it came.
Now
plying his trade for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr after his summer move form
Leicester City, and the highest goalscorer for Nigeria at the FIFA world cup
with four world cup goals, it is easy to forget Musa is only 26. About entering his prime, the prospect of
just how far he could go for club and country remains a juicy one.
UZOHO OOZES
POTENTIAL BUT NOT YET THE FINISHED ARTICLE.
Still only 19,
10 senior international caps to his name, and a world cup experience under his
belt, young Nigerian goalkeeper Frank Uzoho has definitely come a long way from
being back up to Dele Alampasu at the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup held in the
UAE. He still has a long way though to be mentioned in the pantheon of great
goalies such as Peter Rufai, Vincent Enyeama, and Carl Ikeme. In Sfax against
the Libyans, Uzoho displayed signs of being jittery–probably overawed
by the occasion, while he still does not seem too comfortable with the ball at
his feet. On other occasions though, he showed his class. His saves in both
halves kept the lead intact at crucial moments. A spectacular one-handed save
at full stretch on 51 minutes defied belief. Seven minutes later, he bailed his team out, with a low save to his right at the near post, after Etebo had
lost possession to the Libyans who laid siege to the Nigerian goal. A confident
lad, maybe he might one day be mentioned in the same breath as Enyeama and co.
GAME MANAGEMENT
AND CONCENTRATION HAS TO BE BETTER
A two nil lead
before the 20th minute mark is a dream for many coaches. Some though are wary of complacency creeping in courtesy of such a healthy position.
The Super Eagles amazingly let the North Africans back into the game from being
two goals up early on. In control of the game, the Eagles rotated the ball and
passed their opponents around with Panache. How they contrived to be caught in
such a lofty position is anybody’s guess. A momentary lapse in concentration
brought the Libyans back into it, from a set-piece. A hopeful ball lumped forward
to the back-post, defender Leon Balogun was caught on his toes, meekly
surrendering to Libya’s striker, Saltou (a constant threat to
the duo of Ekong and Balogun with his physicality) who nodded to the far post.
Zubya for Libya showed greater determination than any of the three Nigerian
defenders at the far post to clinch a goal just before half-time.Two headers
lost in the 6-yard box, epitomised a lack of concentration. The goal imbued the
Knights, who came out fighting, with confidence in the second half which
resulted in the equalizer, as Benali stroked the ball into the bottom right
corner, after Sand Masaud’s ran into space down the left- hand side,
and saw goalkeeper Frank Uzoho weakly parry his shot into the danger zone.
Ighalo’s second goal rescued the day, but giving their opponents a
sniff of a point from being two goals up is an issue for Rohr to ponder upon (
With set-pieces still proving difficult for the Eagles to defend against) as he
seeks to build on his amazing work done so far.
FIERCE
COMPETITION UP TOP PUSHING IGHALO
One area in
which Rohr has a glut of options is in attack with Ighalo, Iheanacho, Isaac
Sucess, Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Onyekuru, Samuel Kalu among others all vying for places in the front three. The fear of
moving to the back of the queue leaves little room for insipid displays. One
individual who seems to be benefiting from the increased competition for places
is Odion Ighalo. Powerful, skillful, but also infuriating. His propensity to
sometimes pass up “ big chances” (think Russia 2018) a jarring effect on
his undeniable all round quality. In Sfax however, he offered much more than
just goals upfront. Intelligent runs made down the channel, a huge contrast from the lack of movement in the first leg
win in Uyo. His bullying of the Libyan center-halves was akin to a heavyweight-lightweight
match-up. A nice run down the channel, riding one challenge picked out Ahmed
Musa for the second goal. On 24 minutes, a repeat
almost yielded similar outcome, but his pass to Iwobi was just cut out. Overall
his work-rate was impressive, with “that” all important second goal,
Nigeria’s third in the 81st
minute, crowning what was a confident display. Receiving the ball on the edge
of the area, he shaped to shoot before selling one defender short with a dummy,
and leaving another lying on grass, caressing the ball from right to left and
slotting a well-placed effort into the bottom corner. Five goals in two games against
the Libyans, and top scorer in qualification so far. More of that please.
The Super Eagles had a further chance to increase the lead in the 86th minute, but Galatassaray attacker, Henry Onyekuru 's shot off right back Ola Aina's cross, trickled just wide. The Eagles soar on.
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