Nigeria Can Win the World Cup in 8 Years...

....in women football!

Yes, Nigeria can indeed win the world cup in 2019 and be in the medal rounds in the next olympic games.

Why do I say this?

To understand this, let us begin by looking briefly at the state of women football.

State of Women Football:

Until recently, the major defining elements of women football have not changed significantly since 1999.

On the whole, the US still remains the leading nation in the sport, in spite of successful challenges from the likes of Sweden, Norway, China, Germany, Brazil and more recently Japan.

In turn, US success has been anchored firmly on physical dominance, typically with the big, burly central striker, like Abby Wambach and a mix of a few technical players, like Mia Hamm in the past, and currently Megan Rapinoe.

Tactically, the game has been based on quite simple formulations, fitness and high work rate, speed and dominance in wide areas, and especially the delivery of crosses or the set-piece into the penalty area.

Until recently, teams that have overcome the US have had to match their physical advantage, like Germany did in getting to the summit of the women game.

However this dynamic started to change with the emergence of Brazil and the influence of such technical players like Martha in the ability of the team to control the game with ball possession skills, passing, close control and movement. But the ability of Brazil to dominate has been hampered by poor support from the Brazillian Federation, and poor attention to physical fitness.

In winning the world cup however, the Japanese have built a program anchors possession and the team game on very high fitness levels and work rate.

So How Can Nigeria Win the World Cup or Olympic Gold?

Women football in Nigeria is virtually non-existent as a formal program. But interest in the sport amongst young girls remains and new talent continues to emerge.

In terms of physical strength, Nigerian women can match anyone in the sport, but their ability to use their physical advantage to be aggressive without fouling have been the major weaknesses.

Generally speaking the biggest physical constraints Nigerian women teams have in football lies in poor football specific fitness and nutrition, as well as balance and manouverability, which often impacts ball control and speed with the ball.

In my considered opinion, there needs to be a serious rethink on the focus and choice of players for the national team.

The Players:

It is my view that to win the world cup, Nigeria would need to look at a new generation of women footballers, with the following physical characteristics:

a) Lithe

b) Wiry

c) Resilient (physically and mentally)

d) Pacy (especially with the ball)

e) Great balance and low center of gravity

In addition to these physical qualities, they should have good technique, with great emphasis placed on technical training, ball skills, close control, etc.

Physical conditioning should focus on strength conditioning, enhancing energy levels, stamina and endurance, without build up of unnecessary muscles. Physical conditioning should as much as possible be carried out with the ball.

Formation:

The team structure should be based on a 4-3-3 formation, with a game based on controlled aggression, high fitness levels and pressing tactics.

The primary goal in the non-possession phase should be to physically wear down the opponent with high pressing tactics, but applied cleverly, with emphasis of training placed on giving players the know-how to identify and choose the right moments.

Because women footballers are on average smaller than men, their is more space on the field in the women game and more room for attacking, with female defenders often struggling to defend the whole  penalty area.

Consequently the attacking game should be based on two wide forwards/midfielders with pace and the ability to run at a defence from open play.

Unlike the Japanese model, the goal should not be to use possession as a defensive tactic, but to develop the game in central midfield, control the match, and as a strategic pause to conserve energy levels.

In the attacking phase, controlled possession in central midfield should be used in a manner to isolate the wide players to run at the defence from the third zone in open play, or create 1v1 situations with the opposing fullbacks in wide areas.


Coaching:
All due respects, but in my opinion Khadiri Ikhana is not equipped to coach in women football, both in temperament and overall approach and is better suited remaining in the men's game which he is much more familiar with, and where he has made his greatest impact.

What is required is to improve on the last coaching structures. In my opinion we should re-hire a technical assistant from the German Football Federation, but one with greater experience than the last one, and on a full time basis.

We should then hire Mercy Akide-Udoh as Manager to provide overall leadership of the team, as well as serve as a link between the assistant and the players, as well as the playing culture in the Falcons.

In addition to their primary jobs, they should then be given additional responsibility of establishing periodic coaching programs/clinics in 5-10 strategic locations where women football thrive in the country, both as a scouting mechnism and a strategy for grassroots development of players.

Women football as yet does not have the competitive level of the men's game. Thus the entry level is lower, which is why in a few years of launching its program, the French for instance have become contenders.

So yes, if done right, Nigeria can reach the medal rounds in the next Olympics Games in 2016, and challenge for the world cup subsequently in 2019...

The Return of the Locusts: Keshi and the Super Eagles

Failing to qualify for the 2012 Africa Nations Cup was a significant setback for Nigerian football. That ignominy hangs on the neck of Samson Siasia as the team's coach. But far more importantly, it had the unfortunate effect of erasing much of the good work that he and his crew had done in rebuilding the national team.

But if his failures erased the positives from his brief tenure, Stephen Keshi's strategy so far could to bury the Super Eagles!

Aided by a group of chorus singers, from the NFF to politicians, the sports journalists, and a conspiracy of silence by the 'SuperSports punditry brigade', an epic swindle is being undertaken under the guise of rebuilding the Super Eagles.

At the time Keshi was appointed, I had stated that he inherited:

"a team which, although it failed to qualify for the ANC, was in much better stage of development than his predecessor was bequeathed; ......a younger team, a more mobile and faster team, and which created more chances per game than previously".

"In midfield, several key young players had been integrated into what was a staid and stale midfield, such as Joel Obi and Fengor Ogude and Ahmed Musa; while in attack, both Ideye Brown and Emenike were fast settling into the team".

"But the team struggled in defence, with Efe Ambrose inconsistent in central defence, the right back position still lacking in quality players, while in goal, there is little competition for places. With FIFA's approval of change in nationality petition, both Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi are now available to the Super Eagles, while the Arsenal protege Chuks Aneke has signified interest".  http://nigerianfutbol.blogspot.com/2011/11/from-siasia-to-keshi-past-present-and.html.

Rather than build on these positives what has happened in the last seven months defies logic and any known precedence in world football. With the exception of Enyeama, Yobo and Ike Uche, an entire new team is being cobbled together from the domestic league with no empirical evidence that the new players are either superior to the players they are replacing, or bring added value to the team..

It is akin to England, after years of underachievement deciding to retain only Joe Hart, John Terry, Gerard and Rooney, and replacing the rest of the team with players from the English championship!


In the absence of such empirical evidence, we are being bombarded with tales of how these players are part of a long term 'project' or 'vision' which in time will dominate Africa. And to make the 'tales by moonlight' more believable, it becomes necessary to simultaneously undermine the established players in the eyes of the fans.


It would be perfectly understandable if these replacement players were fresh, young, talented players with great prospects for the future. Instead they are largely neither fresh, young nor particularly talented. What is worse, they are not improving, in spite of having been in camp for nearly two months, each with the same poor technique, each lacking football intelligence, and an even poorer understanding of team play in the modern game. You do not have to have the extraterrestial eye for talent of an Arsene Wenger to tell that Efe Ambrose is not a right back, and certainly not an international right back. But apparently not in the view of Keshi, who continues to indulge the tedious Ambrose, as he plods along, game after game...

In 2005 Ejike Uzoenyi was teammates with the late Rashidi Yekini (RIP), and featured in the controversial league match between 3SC and Gateway FC Abeokuta, then managed by Segun Odegbanmi. In the same year, he played for the homebased Eagles against a select Benin Republic side. Seven years later, with the same poor technique and awareness of the team game,  he is being heralded as the emerging star on the left wing who will help the Super Eagles dominate Africa!

Godfrey Oboabona who is being hailed as a new discovery in defence, joined Sunshine Stars from OSFODEC Academy in 2006!

New invitee, Sibi Gwar (and Akombo Ukeyima) were the nucleus of the Kwara United attack and led the team in the CAF Confederation Cup tournament in 2007.

In 2008, Juwon Oshaniwa was called up as Juwon Ayo, from Kwara United to the Flying Eagles team then coached by Ladan Bosso. He failed to make the cut. His full is Oshaniwa Juwon Ayo….In the same 2008, and the same Flying Eagles, Reuben Gabriel, hailed as the emerging star of this new homebased 'project' had also failed to make the team after being the established central defender at Kaduna United

Reuben Gabriel and Phillip Asuquo tangle in the league

In December 2010, Philip Asuquo, then of Crown FC Ogbomosho, was being profiled by MTN.com. He had been previously with Plateau United.

In 2004, Benjamin Francis was playing as a right back in a league game for Plateau United against Nationale. Today he is invited to mount a challenge for the right back position.

New invitee, and fresh faced Umar Zango, was playing in defence for Lobi Stars against Sharks, in the 2003 FA Cup final!

Let there be no misunderstanding! Players emerge at their own pace. Some are fast, some are late bloomers. As they say in Liverpool, form is temporary, and class permanent.

But presenting these players and the Keshi homebased experiment as the breath of fresh air to cleanse the stale Super Eagles, is nothing short of false advertising, and the protagonists of this falsehood know it! Clearly the era of the locusts is back again amongst us!

Rather than the bold new approach being advertised, the reality is that what hapless Nigerian football fans are being offered is largely a group of players recycled several times over, and who have shown negligible progress in their careers to merit the faith being placed in them.

In seven months and after about ten matches, including four competitive games, what is emerging under Keshi is a team that is prosecuting games outside of a proper tactical organization, with little attention to details, even against piss poor opposition. Within this framework, the homebased players are repeating the same mistakes and the more experienced foriegn based players have all but abandoned all pretences of team play! Not suprisingly, players like Moses and Aluko who learnt the game structurally, are increasingly struggling. Even John Utaka who played with such dash and fizz at Montpellier looked ponderous. He has since returned to the status quo at the French champions. This is a dangerous sign, for football always tells you the truth.

After seven months and about ten games, what is increasingly evident is a coach with strong leadership and motivational skills, but severely lacking the ability to develop a strong tactical framework within which to play the game.

In the modern game there are typically coaches (like Jose Mourinho, Brendan Rogers or Tito Villanova) and managers (like Alex Ferguson or Kenny Dalglish); the difference being that one is hands on, while the other sets the general direction, with an assistant as the trainer who does the actual tactical work on the ground, like Steve Clarke (for Dalglish) and Carlos Quieroz (for Ferguson). Some coaches bestride this divide, like Mourinho.

Unfortunately, many in the NFF Technical Committee do not know the difference. More importantly, it appears increasingly that even Stephen Keshi does not know on which side of the divide he belongs! Rather than hire a proper assistant, he has saddled himself (or allowed) with Daniel Amokachi. The result is a Super Eagles with a mediocre bench and a preponderance of raw talents.

This is the team around which a huge public relations exercise is being undertaken.

Nigeria will beat Liberia and qualify for the Nations Cup. On the face of it, and to simplistic followers, we will be deemed to be making progress as Keshi would've already surpassed Samson Siasia's performance in the Super Eagles. But football always tells you the truth. How you choose to interprete it is your own selenge...