Nigeria-Madagascar: Match Preview

I have often argued with a friend of mine that if the world cup qualifiers were to be restructured in a manner to pit all teams in Europe and Africa in the same pool, that no African country will qualify for the world cup! My position is not from a lack of confidence in the quality of African teams, but rather the weakness in their football administration, including especially logistics planning, and all other off-field intangibles that bring about and sustain success in football.

Take Nigeria's last competitive game on the road to Ethiopia. I am told that the trip was planned; correct that; expected to be a four and half hour direct flight,  leaving Nigeria at 7pm and arriving Addis Ababa, at 2am local time, Ethiopia being 2-hours ahead of Nigeria. This would've allowed the players a 6-8 hour rest before the match. Except that nobody appeared to reckon with Air Nigeria bringing an aircraft which needed refuelling enroute. So rather than fly four and half hours direct to Addis, the team first flew nearly four hours to Entebbe, spent over an hour and a half on the ground, then nearly two hours to Addis (Link). The rest is history....

While this does not entirely explain the poor performance in Addis, it certainly contributed! Over the years, a familiar cliche that 'there are no longer any small teams in African football' has emerged and taken root as a convenient excuse for the inadequacies of the top teams in Africa. While standards may have risen generally, too many of the elite African teams have simply proved themselves unworthy of the tag.

Nigeria's inability to get the result it sought in Addis against a poor Ethiopian team was a failure of professionalism, off-field as much as on-field.

The result is that the upcoming match against Madagascar is easily the most important game of Siasia's young tenure as coach of the Super Eagles.

Having only seen extended highlights of the game, I am reluctant to make any detailed comments, except to say that the goals conceded by Nigeria highlight continued weaknesses in central defence and the overall organization of the team game in the non-possession phase. In recognition of the former and his iron-cast committment to the national team, Danny Shittu makes a return to the team. Even with a mere one substitute appearance for Queens Park Rangers in the League Cup, I would take him (in the short run) over the uncertain performance of Efe Ambrose in Ethiopia.

In my opinion, Samson Siasia and his crew need to look strongly at redesigning play,  to allow the team more controlled possession in midfield. Road games in Africa to 2nd and 3rd tier teams grow increasingly difficult to the extent that the top teams allow an open game, which in turn ensures the home team can draw extra strength from the passion on the terraces.

On the evidence of Nigeria's last match in Antanarivo, the playing surface will present some challenge to the passing game and the team will need to adapt accordingly. This could mean that the first phase of the team's attacking game be moved higher up the pitch as necessary, which would suggest the use of strikers who can play with back to goal and hold up play accordingly.

Based on the squad selected, I would suggest a continuation of the 4-3-3 formation, with consideration to bringing in Fengor Ogude on the right of Mikel and Joel Obi as a box to box midfielder, protecting the zone behind Ahmed Musa on the right flank, and sliding in to cover the right centerback when necessary, a position he is familar with from his club Valeranga.

But more importantly, Siasia must sort out the problem in central defence as it spreads a cloud of uncertainty about the team. At left back, Echiejile makes a wellcome return from injury.

Solomon Okoronkwo retains his squad place. His invitation reflects the continued confidence in his abilities by Siasia, even if the evidence from his performances at Ålesund Fotball AS has ranged from average to good. Greater effort should be made to complete the formalities with FIFA to enable Victor Moses to join the team.

In goal I do worry that there is not enough competition for Vincent Enyeama whose old problems with crosses led to the Ethiopian equalizer, a fact that is certainly not helped by his current position as second goalkeeper at  Lille. Perhaps we should look at invinting Carl Ikeme who is on loan to Middlesbrough or Dami Paul who was excellent with the U-20 team.

With Shittu's return, understandable as it may be, and Okoronkwo's continued invitation, you get a sense there is not enough movement in the search for new players. In fairness that has a lot to do with not playing enough friendlies.

And talking about new players, I would like to recommend that Siasia and his crew keep a long term lookout for a young James Abiola Ilori, an 18-year old central defender who has just been called up to the first team at Sporting Lisbon. He is clearly a special talent.

The Squad:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama, Dele Aiyenugba, Chigozie Agbim

Defenders: Chibuzor Okonkwo, Elderson Echiejile, Joseph Yobo, Yusuf Ayila, Efe Ambrose, Dele Adeleye, Danny Shittu

Midfielders: Joel Obi, John Mikel Obi, Fengor Ogude, Kalu Uche, Nosa Igiebor, Solomon Okoronkwo, Ahmed Musa

Forwards: Obinna Nsofor, Victor Anichebe, Ike Uche, Osaze Odemwingie, Emmanuel Emenike, Peter Utaka, Chinedu Obasi, Brown Ideye