The Nation Newspaper

Tag: eagles

  • Rohr plans to turn Osimhen to Eagles’ top striker

    Rohr plans to turn Osimhen to Eagles’ top striker

    Super Eagles’ handler Gernot Rohr has tipped Wolsburg of Germany striker Victor Osimhen to be one of the best strikers in Eagles’ fold and he has mapped out the way he can bring out the best in the youthful but talented forward.

    SportingLife gathered from a very top official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that it was the main reason why Osimhen name was included in the list of the players that would prosecute the two friendly matches against Senegal and Burkina Faso.

    “Rohr has fallen in love with the quality of Osimhen, his strong frame, his dashing runs, the use of both legs actively and his vision at goal has endeared the boy to the Franco German Coach,” the NFF top official told SportingLife in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The name of Osimhen is among the names of players released yesterday to prosecute this month’s friendly matches. This means that Rohr will definitely see this teenage sensation in action against Senegal and Burkina Faso.

    “I am particularly happy that Rohr has seen the talent and the quality Osimhen is made of and working on him will further make him to blend well with the rest of the players in the Eagles. I won’t be surprised if Osimhen becomes a serious threat to the other Eagles strikers like Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Isaac Success and others,” the impeccable source disclosed.

  • Made in China Eagles

    I’m very unhappy with the likely movement of top Super Eagles stars to the lucrative Chinese league. I wouldn’t have bothered if those moving are in their twilight of the careers, more so if they have been finding it difficult to play regularly for their European sides. I’m extremely worried about this disturbing trend because pundits will soon start to question the ages of our players, who shone in age-grade competitions organised by FIFA, a few years ago.

    John Mikel Obi’s move to China wasn’t unexpected, especially as he isn’t a striker. Mikel is the traditional defensive midfielder whose duties essentially include stopping the opposition from attacking his side. Mikel dumped Chelsea since manager Antonio Conte didn’t want him. With his contract running out, Mikel did the right thing by berthing in China.

    I’m not sure that Mikel actually went to China essentially for the cash. He lost form and his style of playing the midfield isn’t in sync with the modern game because he wasn’t scoring goals like those who displaced him at Chelsea. Otherwise, he still marked men assigned to him. He had lost pace and was slow to the ball, largely because he wasn’t playing regularly.

    It is true Mikel may be feeling home-sick in China. But that isn’t enough reason for him to lure Brown Ideye to play in the Chinese league. The Chinese league isn’t as competitive as the European leagues. Our players must strive to move within the precincts of Europe, even if it means playing for second division teams. Just when I tried to fathom why Nigerian top stars are drifting to China, I read of Oguenyi Onazi seeking to join them – for N2.7 billion yearly. Chicken fee, considering figures already spent to lure stars to the new “Mecca” for ageing players.

    Mikel, Odion Ighalo, Ideye and Onazi are ex-internationals in the junior cadre. It is too early for this kind of drift by our top stars, with less than 16 months to the Mundial in Russia. Pray, two Eagles strikers (Ighalo and Ideye) can’t be in China, yet we expect to shock the world in Russia. Over the bar, it doesn’t make sense. Mikel and Onazi play in the midfield for the Eagles. They cannot get good opposition to lift their game playing in China. They are experienced but the game at the World Cup transcends experience.

    Chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and manager Gernot Rohr should advise our players to tarry awhile about this drift to Asia. The cash in China is good, but the bigger picture rests with how well Nigeria will perform at the Mundial. Already, Carlos Tevez is thinking of leaving his China side for Argentina simply because he isn’t enjoying his game. His level of development even in retirement is too high for the Chinese. Tevez is bothered about losing the huge cash (750,000 pounds sterling) weekly, since the real deal in playing matches is to win games and improve on skills. It is quite frustrating to see one’s effort wasted because others are too far back to decode moves which should come to them naturally.

    Our players must be told that a remarkable outing for the Eagles in Russia next year could fetch them better contracts in Europe. Austin Okocha got the Paris Saint Germain (PSG) deal in 1998 because of his sterling outing with the Eagles, who were eliminated in the second round.

    NFF chiefs should urge Rohr to look for replacements. The players won’t be able to cope with the speed, skill, dexterity and acumen of more competitive boys from other countries at the Mundial.

    Brazil’s game changed from the dogmatic sam ba display when they allowed their stars head for Europe to learn how the Europeans play. Today, the Brazilians are the Olympic Games gold medalists. Many of their young stars are plying their trade in Europe.

    Playing in Europe has several advantages, including having to be groomed by renowned coaches versed in the modern tricks of the game. Coaching plays critical roles in shaping players’ game for the better. Many of our players left the country with rustic edges. But their game changed after training under better coaches, who changed the positions of many of them. Need I talk about how the right wing-back role handed Victor Moses by Antonio Conte has helped his game and inevitably Chelsea this season?

    The Chinese League is a novelty, not good for stars we hope to parade at the Russia 2018 World Cup. Rohr must set a benchmark for those who will wear Nigeria’s jersey at the Mundial. And it shouldn’t include those who are in China, no matter what they have done for us in the past.

    Rohr must tell our players to consider the country first, if they want to remain in the squad. There are only a few players who hit stardom without playing for Nigeria. You can count them on the finger tips. There is hardly any country that would accept to play against Nigeria in friendlies, if our key players are in China.

    While the Chinese need these big stars to develop their league and make it attractive for commercial purposes, there is a need to pause for a moment to consider the ‘opportunity cost’ to the player, his career and his nation. For me, young and upcoming Nigerian players rushing to China now smacks of laziness, fear of competition and greed for financial returns. It is important for players to know that building a solid career now will sustain them and make them relevant far into the future, rather than seeking a short-lived career. These players will only be used as a guinea pig to develop the Chinese league, which once set on a solid footing, may not look the way of African players again, nor offer them the much publicised lucrative contracts. Here, lessons should be learnt from the Major League Soccer (MLS), which lured ‘tired’ super stars with good money initially; but once stabilised, looked inwards, cutting down drastically on ‘importing’ the big stars.

    Playing in China doesn’t open a new vista for upcoming players. Rather, our big players should be in Europe and emulate the late Stephen Keshi, whose exploits in the Belgian League served as a launching pad for many African players, not just Nigerians, in the European game.

     

    Men of honour

     

    The domestic league has thrown up many puzzles, such that one is forced to highlight some of them and salute people who live up to their promises. It is un-Nigerian to quit ones’ job honourably. Ordinarily, coaches boast before their matches, making pledges which they don’t fulfill. Those who live up to the boasts disturb the media with their predictions. Others blame everyone but themselves.

    But Nasarawa FC’s coach Dogo isn’t one to talk and not act. Dogo boasted that his team would win its two consecutive games. He, however, promised to resign if Nasarawa didn’t chalk up the six points from the two matches. Dogo, take a bow for resigning, even though friends and players pleaded with him to rescind the decision.

    The flipside is the story of Abia Warriors’ Technical Adviser Okey Emordi, who resigned after losing a home game to El-Kanemi FC of Maiduguri in Umuahia last week Sunday. League watchers were not shocked at the result. El-Kanemi’s coach Ladan Bosso once handled Abia Warriors and knows most of the boys very well. Bosso secured the victory but Emordi chose the path of honour by throwing in the towel.

    I sincerely hope Emordi doesn’t get tempted to coach again. Emordi was the late Stephen Keshi’s coach at the defunct Africa Continental Bank (ACB) of Lagos. It shows how long ago he has been coaching. Emordi sir, quit the game now. History will remember you for all that you have achieved. He was a playmate of Christian Chukwu at Enugu Rangers. Well done sir.

     

    Tears for Siasia

     

    Samson Siasia must be wondering why he did not to secure a deal from the legion of coaching jobs he applied for. While it is easy to say that most of these countries are Eurocentric when it comes to picking coaches for their country’s national teams, Siasia needs to learn a few lessons in humility, if he hopes to get a job outside Nigeria.

    Siasia’s bane in all his quests could just be his character, not his competency, given his antecedents. Some countries may have considered his character while with the Nigerian team. They may have pulled their ears over the way Siasia conducted himself when he had the Eagles job and his ridiculous utterances after losing it.

    Siasia, like other Nigerian coaches, has not considered it wise to sign contracts using legal instruments drawn by lawyers and taken through the process of making them legal documents.

    Had Nigerian coaches done their negotiations using legal instruments, they wouldn’t have been treated with levity because of the provisions to redress broken terms in their contracts. This is why European coaches are treated differently because everything in their deals is cast in stone.

    Will you blame these Nigerian coaches? No. Most times they are unemployed and desperate. Our coaches grab anything thrown at them. They are browbeaten by the perks of the job, which come in hard currencies. They forget easily that a manager’s job is as good as his last results.

    Rather than walk away and seek redress in the law courts, starting with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Nigeria (do we have this body here?), they curry the favour of sports ministers, who ordinarily should be held culpable, since these coaches are their employees.

    Our coaches must learn from Siasia’s mistakes. They must insist on legally crafted documents. When they are removed acrimoniously, they should head for the appropriate quarters rather than engage in media wars with their employers. With Siasia’s coaching feats, he should walk confidently into Rwanda FA and get the job. There are very few coaches with Siasia’s resume, especially for countries seeking to rejuvenate their teams. But they would tread with caution, having read Siasia’s repeated vitriolics with NFF chieftains, rightly or wrongly.

  •  Ighalo West Brom swap deal fails

     Ighalo West Brom swap deal fails

     

     

     

    Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo planned move to West Brom has hit the rocks following Stoke City’s last minute signing of Saido Berahino.

    West Brom manager Tony Pulis has never hidden his admiration for the Nigerian international and was hoping to a swap Burundi born Berahino who has been itchy to leave West Brom for Ighalo.

    Last night made all the difference as Berahino ended his Hawthorns hell hitting   the jackpot when he signed a five-and-a-half-year contract at Stoke City worth £70,000 a week.

    Stoke moved to sign the unsettled West Bromwich Albion striker, 23, for an initial £12million fee rising to £15m if he meets performance targets.

    Albion had rejected Stoke’s first offer but a breakthrough in negotiations came at around 2pm on Friday.

    England Under 21 star Berahino, who was a Tottenham target in 2015, has hardly played for two seasons and because of fitness issues was recently sent to a training camp in France. Yet Stoke chiefs soon agreed personal terms.

    Berahino is desperate to kick-start his once promising career and was named by Roy Hodgson in an England squad in 2014.

    West Brom had earlier tinkered with £17 million switch with Watford for Ighalo but also believed that a swap would have made the deal easier. But with Stoke signing of Berahino for a reported fee of £12million fee rising to £15m, West Brom may need to look for extra £5m to beef up the bid.

    Ighalo has only netted twice in all competitions this season after rattling in 17 goals last season. He got a mouth watering offer for China move which he turned down.  West Brom’s coach Tony Pulis is however reportedly still interested in the 27 year old former Granada ace

  • Iwobi, Iheanacho are Eagles’ pillars – Kanu

    Iwobi, Iheanacho are Eagles’ pillars – Kanu

    Former Super Eagles Captain, Kanu Nwankwo has said that Alex Iwobi of Arsenal and Kelechi Iheanacho of  Manchester City are the shining lights of Nigerian football and wants the players to be managed well.

    Kanu, who has predicted that the good old days of Nigerian  football will return with the next one to two years, also advised  Iwobi and Iheanacho not to rest on their oars and continue to work  very hard until they become world stars.

    Kanu in an exclusive chat with SportingLife expressed his mind  on the two players. “Nigeria football is coming back to the glorious days that we used to know. We have young players that  are playing well in their clubs. Alex Iwobi is a player I have watched and I see him as someone that is cool headed and he  listens to whatever you tell him to do and takes it on board. He works hard too. He’s got the talent and he can do it

    “My advice to him is not to be carried away by his current form  and the accolades that has been following his impressive  performances week in week out in the English Premiership. He is just starting. If he can keep it up and also double up his efforts he is going to reach where we want him to reach and he is going  to be  a good product for the country.

    “Kelechi Iheanacho is doing very well too. Whenever he comes  in or starts for his club Manchester City or the Super Eagles he  keeps scoring goals which a good striker is known for. With what I have seen from these boys, I think the national team has a future  and that is why I said in the next one or two years the Eagles will  be there and bounce back to reckoning.

    “This, however, depends on how we do as well as manage things  in the country. It is left for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to package the  players and the national team well”, Kanu said.

  • FG releases N471m to offset Falcons, Eagles bonuses

    FG releases N471m to offset Falcons, Eagles bonuses

    The federal government has released four hundred and seventy-one million and eight hundred thousand naira to settle bonuses of the Super Eagles and Super Falcons.

    This decision came after the country’s women national team staged a protest to the National Assembly on Wednesday.

    In a statement, Mrs. Kenechukwu Offie, the director of information of the accountant general of the Federation announced that the sum of 471.8 million naira was approved by the minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun and was paid to Central bank of Nigeria on Thursday.

    She stated that the sum of N358 million was to cater for the outstanding winning bonuses of the Super Falcons at the 2016 African Women’s Cup of Nations in Cameroon where they emerged champions.

    Similarly, a sum of 113.8 million naira was meant to offset the bonuses of the Super Eagles in the 2018 World Cup qualifying matches.

    She also confirmed that the approved amount has been paid to the coffers of the Nigeria Football Federation for onward payment of the teams, which President Muhammadu Buhari mandated must be executed within 24 hours.

  • FIFA-FREE WINDOW: Eagles, Senegal clash in London

    Sportinglife can reveal exclusively today that chieftians of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have secured an international friendly between the Super Eagles and their Senegalese counterparts at a yet to be named stadium in London.

    Sportinglife scooped further that the Senegalese game is the second of two matches that the Eagles would play in March 2017, the first been a game against an unnamed African country, with the venue yet to be disclosed.

    Interestingly, Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr is expected to depart the  Federal Capital Territory (FCT) tonight for France on vacation for an undisclosed period, since the Eagles don’t have matches until March 2017.

    But those who should know at the Glasshouse revealed that Rohr will cut his vacation to watch the matches of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Gabon, where he is expected to watch two of Nigeria’s group opponents in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Cameroon and Algeria.

  • NIGERIA 3-1 ALGERIA: Why Eagles are flying

    NIGERIA 3-1 ALGERIA: Why Eagles are flying

    • We’re playing younger players, says NFF chief
    • A blend of youth and experience

    The Super Eagles are flying again thanks to the young blood coach Gernot Rohr has injected into the team, according to top NFF chief Seyi Akinwunmi.

    Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Dele Alampasu, Musa Mohammed and Kingsley Madu are all under 20. The average age of the starting Eagles XI in Zambia last month was 25.

    “The key is that we have lowered the average age of the Super Eagles. This is a game for young people and you could even see at 90 minutes, when they were genuinely tired, they kept going,” said Akinwunmi.

    “There are many young players who were not here with the team – the youngster Tammy Abraham at Chelsea, Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac Success, Victor Osimhen, many of them who in a few months will be challenging for places in this team,” he said.

    The Eagles outscored one Algeria on Saturday, but the top official maintained they remain a work in progress.

    “It was a deserved victory. I predicted that and now I am happy the boys held out. Even when they pushed us in the second half, I was confident that if they scored, we will also score,” he said.

    “We are in the ‘Group of Life’, but we cannot take our foot off the pedal. We have to arrange games for the team so that there is continued competition among the players. The World Cup is still very far away so that we have to keep that tempo going. This team will surely get better.”

  • FANENDO ADI -I’M OBSESSED WITH EAGLES

    FANENDO ADI -I’M OBSESSED WITH EAGLES

    As the sun set on the Mapfre Stadium in Columbus last December, Fanendo Adi walked off the pitch with his head held high. The Nigerian had put in a shift of hustling and bustling through the 90 minutes of the MLS Cup final, wreaking havoc on Columbus Crew’s defence.

    Typically known for his goal scoring, it was Adi’s defensive pressing which influenced the Crew’s defenders into errant passing early on, leading to Diego Valeri’s opening goal. Adi’s ability to pull defenders from side to side led to the Portland’s second goal, and in spite of not scoring, the striker’s presence was felt. Adi was key in the Portland Timbers lifting the MLS Cup, both in the regular season and in the playoffs.

    Despite the dream-come-true ending for Adi, the Timbers looked far from a championship side for most of the 2015 MLS season. Portland won just three of their opening 12 matches, and didn’t find any form until late May.

    Adi’s 18 goals carried the Timbers through a season that saw the team sneak into the MLS Playoffs. The team won five of their last six games, finding form at the right time in MLS.

    The lanky striker is one goal away from his last season’s goal record after scoring 17 goals in the concluded season to remain as the club leading striker and 5th top scorer in the league.

    Adi started on a slow lane before he got off to a bright start for Portland, despite the team struggling to begin the season. His eight goals in 12 matches accounted for 38% of Portland’s goal production in 2016.

    However, Portland started slowly, much like 2015, winning a mere four times in their opening 13 matches.

    Growing up in Nigeria, Adi had very little and football was his outlet. Much of his free time was spent playing football with friends, dreaming of becoming a professional one day. Now 26, Adi journeyed around Europe before finally finding a home in Portland, even as he looks forward to his dream debut for the Super Eagles.

    “It was a nice step for me, (my first Eagles invitation against Egypt) I don’t see it the way some people are seeing it; and I understand the fact that all of us cannot be on the pitch to play at the same time, “stated Adi.

    “I have read it on numbers of occasion that I wasn’t treated well. But, for me, I don’t see bad feelings with the way I was treated. I just believe in what I am doing. Sometimes, your performances may not convince your coach but that does not mean the privileged ones are better or you are a bad player. Patience and time have taken me to this level.

    “I am a kind of person that always brings out positive from negative things, so I am always positive. Nigeria is big enough, everybody will have his or her time, though it may look tough especially when you are doing well, but that does not mean I should be feeling bad.

    “I enjoyed my first Eagles camp because I was able to see and meet great players and exchange contacts; I am not worried over what happened. I am a lover of Super Eagles and I know my debut day will be special,” he posited as he discussed other sundry issues. Excerpts…

    Nigerians in American league

    There are numbers of Nigerians here in MLS doing wonderfully well. It is just unfortunate that most scouts in Nigeria don’t consider MLS as a league to visit, probably due to love for England and Spain. Most reserves clubs in MLS have Nigerian players and they are skilful and rugged players. I am not advocating for anybody but records are there to prove me wrong. I disagree that Nigerians move here because of money. You can be contented with your earnings when you have good atmospheres. I can argue it that MLS has more publicity and proactively than some European leagues.

    Americans feeling over Eagles non-appearance

    Of course, most people felt bad but that is not the end of the world. That I was not listed for the two games does not make a bad player. I tried to convince them to keep the hope alive that I will be there to prove myself one day. I believe in what I am doing, I always prepare for every moment in order to bring out my best. It’s a matter of keep doing well for my club side, I don’t just need to lose focus in what I am doing because I know playing for Super Eagles is just a matter of time. I will still have that celebrating moment in the colours of my country. I know what it takes to play for Nigeria and I think I have gotten the power to prove a point at any given opportunity sooner or later.

    Having that invitation is different from coming to play but I think we cannot all have that 90minutes at a goal but I always prepared ahead of my chance and it’s always worked for me when I was called to prove myself.

    Hoping on Eagles return

    That I was invited on the bench does not rule me out of the national team. I can only focus on my games and not be distracted. The doors for Eagles are not closed to me as far as I am concern. I just believe it’s about being there at the best time. This is not a platform for me to express what I can do for the new coach, he must have heard or see what I can do. But the truth of the matter is still that I have gotten better credentials to be in the national team. I think Nigerians have not seen the best of me, and I can see many people are eager to see what I can do. And who knows if my own time will come at 2018 World Cup.

    World Cup ticket

    Without being sentimental, we are facing the biggest game of the year and the best way to prove ourselves is to beat Algeria. It will be tough, nobody should expect an easy ride; the players are mentally ready and they need every motivation to ensure the Algerians are down in Nigeria and wait for the next results. As for me, we must sweat to earn that result because we are playing a technically sound country in Africa, so everybody should be ready to give it all. The same thing applies to other countries but the determined team will prevail at the end. If we play like we did against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in 2013 Nations Cup, I believe we will qualify.

    Another sweet season

    I am glad I had another wonderful goal scoring season even though it was not what I intended to achieve on a personal note but I have a lot to joy about. I am still grateful to the club as a whole, the fans, the coach as well as America as country. They have made me a better and consistent striker in the history of MLS and I must thank God for that also. I knew it will be difficult to achieve some target goals because of the daily development of the league. This is one of the strongest leagues in the world where a team cannot reign for long. And that’s what makes it more competitive and attractive. Every club is recruiting to meet up the standard of other top club and that’s why European top stars are coming to experience the intrigues of the league. Sometimes it is not about the money involved but because of the intense atmosphere of America and the love of football among the fans is enough to be there and play football.

    Missing out MLS playoff

    It was a sad one losing that crucial match that could have given us another chance of competing for the cup, but as I said, we did our best and we are hoping for another big chance in the future. We played well to reach that stage but everybody is interested playing against us based on what we did last season and I was a big target for every defender, so it was tough repeating what we did last season.

    Missing out personal target for Timbers

    My main priority is to play as a team, personal target comes after the team’s target, and my team mates know that. We play for one another in Timbers because we all take the glory, so I am always ready to play for the team rather than chasing personal glory. Although my personal glory was to repeat winning the MLS playoff cup as well as to score goals and make new records, none of it came to pass because we all lose as a team.

    Seventeen goals

    Injury stopped me from breaking a targeted record in Timbers. I had wanted to score more than 17 goals, but at some point it was tough because the defenders are always setting their target against me, so I get more kicks. Bu I am happy a lot for hitting that milestone again. I have scored 17 goals before, so last season I was looking up to like 25 goals but it seems I have to wait for the coming season. It’s a great thing for me scoring and making my team progress, it is what I always fancy as a player. My team is my priority and my goals are always very much important, so I am good to go! There will be a time in my career that I will score 30 goals and no one will stop me. I started the season on a low, so it affected my game at some point but thanks to my coach and the fans for motivating me to conquer my fears. And don’t forget that I was competing with former European top strikers like David Villa and co.

    Fulfilling American dreams

    For now, I am good in MLS, I know the terrain of the league, I have had the opportunity to play against top players and it has made me better in one way or the other. I am a big fan of this great league and I love life in America because the orientation to play and develop your game is there for you as a young player. I came to America to prove myself because I had already gotten the physical ability to compete with defenders and coming here has made me develop my games technically. And honestly speaking, my goals and Timbers have spoken better for me over the years. Although, it has to do with my commitment and hard work, but the club made me. The fans accommodate me and thank God I was able to live like a true fan of the fans. I always get good motivation from the fans, even when the goals are not coming, I still live my normal life among them. So, I feel comfortable here and I have proven to a lot of things to justify their feelings. But that does not mean I am not good for another league. When the best opportunity opens for me to return to Europe, I won’t say ‘no’ as long as it’s all about football. I am a fan of MLS but I am open to play anywhere at the best time.

    Between EPL and Celtic offers

    I don’t have comment on every transfer around me, my club is entitled for that, though there are clubs who came close but I still believe that the best time to move away from MLS is close by but for now my mind is in Timbers. Many offers came but very soon, the best will be discussing by my club. It is good to be linked to clubs, especially in England where you have African players doing wonderfully well and I always like to be in that environment just like seeing Nigerians doing well in America. I can’t say ‘no’ to an England move, but as I said, the real deal is open to Timbers.

    Scoring ability

    I was born to score goals. I have learnt the scoring technicality before now and it’s really paying off for me. I always look back at my missed chances and try as much as I can to correct myself in training and also in games. It has really created an edge for me compared to other strikers and that’s just the secret. Although, I do have off days like every other striker, I played matches without scoring on numbers of occasion but I always know when I am on to score goals and I do take advantage of my peak, so it makes me relevant even when I don’t score in some games. I don’t see myself as a goal machine because a lot of strikers have done much more of what I am doing, I can only look up to great strikers who have left football and those who are still playing.

  • Eagles, this is your life

    Victor Moses owes his mates a world of duty to give his best today in Uyo against the Algerians. I imagine that Moses apologised secretly to his teammates for dodging the away tie against Zambia in Ndola last month. The manner in which Moses avoided the Chipolopolo jolted not just the coaches but the fans, who had watched him shine for his English Premier League side, Chelsea FC of England.

    It is easy for Moses to walk back into the team because we beat the Zambians at home. Had the Eagles been beaten in Ndola, Moses won’t be in Uyo. His presence therefore in today’s battle should be the elixir that the Eagles need to fly over the Desert Foxes at dusk.

    I have picked Moses out for this exercise because he appears to have the qualities needed to drive the Eagles to victory, akin to what he does at Chelsea, where his selfless displays have earned him accolades in the international media. Moses must distribute passes to his teammates who are freer to score, not shoot blindly like he did in the past for the Eagles.

    Nigerians want to celebrate from the blast of the whistle. I feel strongly that Moses is the match stick that can ignite some of the finer qualities of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi. If Moses plays for the team, Iheanacho could score a hat-trick. I won’t be surprised if Iwobi joins the scorers’ list. It won’t be out of place to task Moses to score goals too, only as the icing on the cake of the avalanche of goals expected from the Eagles.

    This isn’t blind optimism. Nor is it unrepentant patriotism. It is the fact because the Algerians are depleted in strength and should be drubbed with goals, if our players play to their potentials.

    Should the Eagles soar over the Desert Foxes with five goals, for instance, it would rule them out of the race for the sole ticket since such heavy defeats would affect the psyche of the Algerians, who are fanatical when supporting their team.

    If Nigeria’s flag must be hoisted in Russia in 2018, formidable sides, such as Algeria, who care visiting us with an injury-ridden side, should be battered with goals. With Algeria out of the picture, it would be quite easy for the Eagles to grab the 13th point in the return leg next year, since their fans won’t be keen on the outcome of the game. Drubbing Algeria with goals would also scare the wits out of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, our next opponents at home next year.

    The Eagles must restore the fear factor that most teams had for them in the past by whipping this half-fit Algerian side. We must make the Nest of Champions Stadium our slaughter slab, beginning with the Algerians. Moses, give us this day with your best performance to appease many fans, who feel strongly that you shouldn’t be in this game. But since the manager decides who plays, we wish you the best and pray that you play to your full potentials for us all to celebrate. Going to Russia in 2018 is a task that must be done.

    I have enjoyed reading the concern expressed by soccer-loving Nigerians over the absence of Carl Ikeme in today’s game. What an irony of fate because the same fear was expressed when Nigeria began her failed bid for a qualification ticket to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania.

    It was Sunday Oliseh’s first game against the Taifa Stars, with legendary goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama out of the squad. Many people panicked. I remember telling those who expressed fear about Ikeme’s ability to hold the fort in Enyeama’s absence that he was the reserve goalkeeper for the Eagles at the Africa Cup of Na tions hosted by Ghana in 2008. Ikeme was the Man-of-the-Match. As they say, the rest is history. Ikeme was also spectacular against the Zambians in Ndola.

    The figure to snatch the sole qualification ticket is either 12 or 13 points. And having a good goalkeeper makes the task easy, once the strikers are efficient in scoring goals. Eagles should aim at beating the Algerians with a margin of four goals, knowing that Cameroonians are home against the Zambians. Goals could decide the eventual winner of the group, if two teams tie on points at the top of the table.

    Sadly, the League Management Company (LMC) has cast an indulgent eye on the critical issue of naming the best players per week in what is globally known at Team of the Week. If the LMC had this rating chart in its 38-week league competition, Coach Rohr would have looked at it. He could also have asked for the match tapes to pick the man to replace Ikeme. We must learn how to replace foreign-based players with our homegrown lads, if we want to encourage them to play here.

    Sources in the team’s camp said that Daniel Akpeyi could be selected ahead of Dele Alampasu. But what I know from foreign coaches is that they like to see players perform during training to make their decisions. And with the way those who saw the game between the possible and the probables are singing Alampasu’s praises, I won’t be surprised if he is picked ahead of Akpeyi.

    It is easy for cynics to talk about Alampasu’s lack of experience. But I differ here because Alampasu has been incredible playing for his Portuguese third division side. Goalkeepers don’t attract quick contracts from European clubs, like strikers, midfielders and defenders. So, if Alampasu can play regularly for his Portuguese side, I don’t see how the Algerians would rattle him. Not with his outstanding performance with the World Cup winning Golden Eaglets.

    I saw the Eagles defence in Ndola and wasn’t convinced that Musa Mohammed would have been worse off than Wilfred Ndidi who played at the right back. Not only was Ndidi unable to stop his opponents, he lacked the vision to locate his team mates with good passes, preferring to hit the ball aimlessly into the skies.

    I understood why Rohr played midfielder Ndidi ahead of Mohammed in the Zambian game. The German wasn’t comfortable with the fact that Mohammed wasn’t playing regularly for his Turkish side. Good decision. But it is expedient that the coach has done a recant. I hope his decision is right this time. No excuses, dear Rohr.

    I was excited when Rohr recalled Mohammed in spite of his playing few matches for his Turkish side. Mohammed is a natural right back who understands the rudiments of playing in that position. He marks his opponents closely and he is comfortable joining the team’s attack, just as he knows that he must fall back to defend when his team loses the ball.

    The Eagles defence in Ndola panicked under pressure. Goalkeeper Ikeme’s brilliance hid the defenders’ mistakes. Our wingers must fall back to help the defenders. Kenneth Omeruo panics, largely because he wants to be stylish, only to lose the ball due to lack of concentration. Rohr has the option of pairing Troost Ekong with Leon Balogun, if he is fit. But is a half fit Balogun better than Omeruo? I don’t think that the coach should parade any unfit player. Unforced changes occasioned by fielding any player with injury worries before the game would be a monumental disaster. Balogun appears not to be 100 per cent fit. Eagles’ defence needs a leader to direct others on what to do in Ikeme’s absence.

    I want to see what Moses and Iwobi will do when we lose the ball. Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger has repeatedly charged Iwobi to fall back to mark. Moses’ biggest edge over his competitors at Chelsea is his ability to fall back when Chelsea is under pressure and also join the attacking onslaughts on the counter.

    I share in Mikel’s warning that they confront the Algerians with caution. I also identify with his charge to the players that they must score goals to guarantee the result that we desire. Injuries have disrupted the plans of both managers. But the effect is more with the Algerians. And it helps our cause to drub them with goals. The midfield of Ogenyi Onazi, Mikel, Iwobi and Iheanacho look like one to deliver the goals, if they pass the ball to the freest teammate to tuck the ball inside the net.

    The pertinent question to ask the Eagles manager is where he hopes to play Ogenekaro Etebo today? Etebo is strong, fast and has the knack for scoring goals. He shoots well and I look forward to seeing how Rohr will pair him with Iheanacho. What happens to Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye, Odion Ighalo and Moses Simon, who held the Eagles’ attacking positions? Rohr, I don’t envy you.

    Like the Zambians said before the October 9 game in Ndola, the Algerian manager, Georges Leekens, has told his boys to mark out Iwobi and Iheanacho, if they hope to leave the Nest of Champions Stadium, Uyo unscathed.

    Leekens said: “We have found out the two important players in Nigeria’s team; they are Iwobi and Iheanacho. In their tight spaces, their teammates are always looking for them. They are also good at running behind unnoticed. The key is to deny them access to the ball, as whichever formation Nigeria plays, they are key, not even their captain. Stopping Iwobi and Iheanacho will neutralise Nigeria’s complex formation.”

    Such mind games won’t shock Rohr, nor would it affect his strategies today, knowing what to expect from the Algerians. Ninety minutes can be short if goal-scoring chances are frittered away. And such missed chances return to hurt such wasteful teams. Indeed, goals scored galvanise the fans to root for such winning teams. They want to see goals scored and quickly too so they can beat their chests to say: “I said so.”

    Will Rohr hand Iheanacho the task of scoring the goals? Or will he evolve a scoring template that will make the scorers be those who can free themselves from their markers? Or will one player seize the day like Nwankwo Kanu and Austin Okocha did in the past?

    Our players owe Nigerians this victory, especially as the country will be missing out of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Gabon. Incidentally CAF has raised the winners’ prize to $4 million. Many Nigerians are still ruing Nigeria’s absence from the Africa Cup of Nations. Give us this day, dear Eagles. Up Nigeria!

  • Eagles to land in Uyo today

    Eagles to land in Uyo today

     

    Super Eagles’ players and officials  will this afternoon leave for Uyo to finalise preparation for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Desert Foxes of Algeria slated for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Saturday.

    The Eagles, who are currently top of the Group B with three points from a match after the road win in Ndola against the Chipolopolo of Zambia who are currently last in the group while Algeria and Cameroon are joint second with a point each.

    The Gernot Rohr tutored Eagles have begun their preparations for the tough World Cup qualifier against Algeria in Abuja to save time and ensure that flight hitches do not derail their build up to the tie since all the foreign based players flown directly to the capital city from their respective base.

    The Media Officer of the team, Toyin Ibitoye revealed to SportingLife that the Eagles will arrive Uyo the Akwa Ibom capital this afternoon and  be ready for training session on Thursday morning at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

    The Eagles resumed training in Abuja yesterday with 20 players in the morning before another session in the evening by 5pm and the team would have trained at least thrice in Abuja before the trip to Uyo.