An American friend of mine recently asked me what was wrong with Nigeria, and in effect Lagerback's handling of the World Cup team. My answer to him was in two words: 'big-man football'. I explained further that although Lagerback brought nothing significant to the table in his brief misadventure with the Super Eagles, Nigeria had been in stasis for over a decade, and took far too long to be rid of a clueless Shaibu Amodu. Expectedly, he asked me what I meant by 'big-man football'.
My explanation was that it is a peculiar brand of football from Nigeria where a group of physically endowed players stand on the balls of their feet and execute passes leisurely, at the tempo of 'Dum-Dum the tortoise', with next to no off-the-ball movement, while fully expecting the opponents to gift them space in the penalty area, like Moses parted the Red Sea in the old testament!
Perhaps nothing better underlines this as the Castrol statistics from the last World cup.
My explanation was that it is a peculiar brand of football from Nigeria where a group of physically endowed players stand on the balls of their feet and execute passes leisurely, at the tempo of 'Dum-Dum the tortoise', with next to no off-the-ball movement, while fully expecting the opponents to gift them space in the penalty area, like Moses parted the Red Sea in the old testament!
Perhaps nothing better underlines this as the Castrol statistics from the last World cup.
The total distance covered (TDC) by the team was 93.422m in its opening game (ARG: 95.326m), then 85.795m (GREECE: 96.792m) and finally 99.304m (S. Korea: 107.515m)
In the opening game of the world cup, the three Nigerian central midfielders had the following stats for distance covered (DC), Pass Attempt/Pass Completion (PA/PC):
Kaita: 10.109m; 26/23
Haruna: 9.845M; 46/33
Etuhu: 9.423m; 36/24
Compare this to the following African countries:
Ghana: 97,642m; 467/340 vs Serbia;
CIV: 105,125m; 458/350 vs Portugal
Compare this to the two top countries:
Spain: 109,335m; 731/590
Germany: 111,724m; 589/441
Then compare the stats of the following central midfielders:
Annan: 9856m; 58/51
Prince: 9543m; 52/39
Ayew: 10,227; 44/34
Yaya Toure: 10,995m; 72/62
Tiote: 11,378m; 58/44
Eboue: 10,603m; 37/30
Schweini: 12,260m; 70/56
Ozil: 10,966m; 47/30
Khedira: 10,780m; 48/40
Xavi: 12,321m; 106/92
Alonso: 12,199m; 85/68
Iniesta: 10,710m; 81/56
The above figures reflect the abysmal performance level of the Nigerian team as a whole and the midfield in particular at the World cup. Indeed in fifteen minutes of football as a sub, the Spanish wide forward Pedro completed more passes than Osaze made in the opening game against Argentina!
The key problem of the Nigerian midfield up until the world cup was the lack of balance in personnel, with a skewed focus on a group of technically challenged players, each slow of pace, movement and thought!
A team in stasis for nearly a decade was bereft of identity. In content, its football was lethargic and one paced. Low on fitness and athleticism, it could not pressure the opponent and lacked the dynamism to develop creative solutions on any consistent basis.
As I stated earlier (link), the key to success for Siasia begins with his ability to recruit players. Nowhere is this more crucial than in midfield. If the 2005 U-20 and 2008 Olympics teams are anything to go by, coach Siasia favors a high tempo approach, with smart possession in central midfield and explosive play in wide areas.
The first major challenge of rebuilding the Nigerian midfield would require the active recruitment of young, dynamic and versatile players, with the technique, athleticism and open minds to implement implement a flexible tactical scheme, as well as sustain a high-tempo, dynamic attacking game, whether in open play or on the counterattack. The recent introduction of Joel Obi in the friendly with Sierra Leone is thus an important step in this direction.
But much more is required and the coaching crew needs to move aggressively in this direction, with an even greater willingness to think outside the box and take risks- calculated risks. The benefits of such new players go beyond their individual contributions to enhancing internal competition in a team with too many playing from the balls of their feet, or waiting for the game to come to them!
The second major challenge in rebuilding the midfield is to fashion a clear tactical identity for the team. Where Amodu’s 4-3-3 was vacuous, Lagerback’s pitiful attempt at a 4-4-2 or its variant appeared to prioritize the system over its suitability to the players available.
In my considered opinion, addressing this challenge should begin with the placement of Mikel Obi, first as the captain of the team, as I argued previously (see here), and the development of a ‘quarterback’ role for him in front of the central defence, as part of the “2” in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Such a role recognizes the reality of his conversion at Chelsea, as well a still unused capacity to influence attacking play from deep positions. At the same time, by maintaining his deep role at Chelsea, the team can expect his positional discipline in the non-possession phase. The additional responsibility will be one that exploits his long range passing skills, while seating in the pocket, in front of the central defence.
The role of the player beside him will be one of the more traditional enforcer, who offers both physical presence and the ability and range to play from box to box. Of the players currently available for this role, Sanni Kaita’s club carrier has spiraled into anonymity. But the fact remains that he has often been a different player in the Nigerian jersey.
Yusuf Ayinla on the other hand, has not been the same player since recurring ligament injuries, while Dickson Etuhu has kept his place at Fulham.
While recognizing the immediate value of the experience of such players as Etuhu and Kaita, the truth is that in the long term, the team must move in a different direction. Long term reliance on these players along with the likes of Yobo in defence, is the difference between an Africa Nations cup title and the so-called golden bronze!
Critical in this formation is the role of the wide players who would be ‘central wingers’ rather than wide forwards.
The goal of controlled possession and the development of the attacking game in midfield would be in each case to create 1v1 situations in wide areas, and position the central wingers to run at opposing fullbacks, as well as pockets of space in the zone between the fullbacks and the central defenders.
Such a role would require highly fit and quick witted players, able to float between central midfield and the flanks, as well as provide cover for the fullbacks. Unfortunately the performance of the Nigerian wide forwards at the world cup was woeful, none moreso than Osaze and Obinna. Both have since found a new lease of life in England, while Obasi continues to struggle with injuries. The truth is that Siasia must look to develop new options in these positions. No one fits this bill better than Sam John at Bayer Leverkursen. But a concerted effort would need to be made to recruit him for Nigeria.
The third ‘central winger’ would be a hybrid ‘trequartista’ role, with all three wingers floating in and out of this zone from which to support the lone striker. The player in such a role would also be involved in the pressing game high upfield. In my opinion, Joel Obi would be well suited to such a role.
On the whole, the challenge of rebuilding the Super Eagles is today made more difficult by the changing pattern of movement of Nigerian players, and their limited presence in the major leagues or clubs in Europe. The vast majority of these players, from Godwin Samson to Nnaemeka Ajuru, be they in Europe, Africa or the domestic league are not established players but mostly on the cusp of career breakthroughs. This requires that national team selectors be willing to look for players in all possible places and have the courage to take risks and grow with them.
But make no mistake there are talented players out there, especially in the domestic game, which includes both players in the NPL and those in the youth clubs/academies, some of whom are sometimes wrongly held back by being used in the U-17 and U-20 teams.
