Re: Victor Moses

Victor Moses arrived on loan at Liverpool FC after the club's failed attempts at its primary transfer targets in midfield and attack.

On arrival it was thought that the nature of Moses' game had the potential to address the continuing problems Liverpool had with breaking down defences on a consistent basis, even with such creative forwards as Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.

What Moses was expected to bring to the team was a direct threat from wide positions, especially in running directly at opposing fullbacks, with pace, power and dynamism to unbalance a defence, whether it be in open play or the counter.

His premier league debut suggested that Liverpool had indeed made the right choice and that both club and player appeared to suit one another. However following the injury to Phillipe Coutinho, Moses' role in the team was changed to a more central role, a role which reflected his game in his last season with Wigan Athletic.

Since then Moses has struggled, both in central and wide positions, culminating in his lukewarm performance in Liverpool's 3-1 loss at Hull City Tigers.

Today its probably safe to say that Victor Moses is at an important crossroads in his career. At the end of the season, however good his performance is, his loan terms require him to return to Chelsea. However, with the glut of talent in his position at Chelsea, the importance of a good performance while on loan at Liverpool cannot be overstated. This becomes even more important in a world cup year, with his role pivotal to Nigeria's success.

From a tactical perspective, Liverpool presented a perfect opportunity for Moses to play from his area of greatest strength- wide left, cutting onto his stronger right foot, attacking the opposing defence with pace, power and unpredictability.

This spontaneity was expected to fit squarely into Liverpool's dynamic attacking quartet with frequent rotations and switching of play and positions. This would have the additional benefit of stretching opposing defences and freeing up Coutinho to play from the center of the trio in a 4-2-3-1.

Part of the problem with Moses is that his major strength, his instinctiveness at once presents a benefit as it does a constraint, especially in his decision making, the consistency of his decisions, as well as his ability to deliver the ball at the top end. His inconsistency at this had resulted in some poor crossing statistics and his not being listed among the most successful crossers in the English Premier League.

 

http://www.bsports.com/extratime/leaderboard-crossing-success-in-the-premier-league

 

http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?4350/

 

While the stats might show an erratic player, they also reveal the start-stop nature of his playing time since leaving Wigan Athletic. This is crucial in any assessment because Victor Moses is a rhythm player and without regular playing time, his game naturally suffers.

 

For Nigeria though, his spontaneity is central to the Super Eagles way of playing and expectedly he enjoys greater freedom to play to his instincts and greater tolerance of his mistakes. As it similarly was while at Wigan.

He briefly flourished under Rafa Benitez at Chelsea playing predominantly on the counterattack. However, Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers is not a counterattacking team.

So far Moses' reaction to the criticisms he and Raheem Sterling received following the loss to Hull has been disappointing. While Sterling has come fighting back, Moses has looked diffident and a tad casual, and has remained on the bench, even with Liverpool suffering a rash of injuries in attack and midfield.

 

His personal story is indicative of a player with a strong mentality, as his former manager, Roberto Martinez attests. 

 

Failing to assert himself at Liverpool, Moses will be left with the World Cup to try and reboot his career.

 

World Cup 2014: A First Look at the African Challenge

The 2014 world cup draws were generally kind to Africa, except perhaps for Ghana, in the so-called group of death, although I share the views of those who think that tag belongs to Group D comprising three former world cup winners in Italy, Uruguay and England...

 

With six months before kick-off, it is near impossible to properly estimate the chances of the participating teams. Ultimately, the chances of the African teams will, like others, hinge on the vents surrounding the leagues in Europe, and the health of its top players.

 

Be that as it maybe, the African world cup qualifiers, especially the last phase, with its variety of teams and kaleidoscope of colors, presented an important score card of the status of African teams at this point in time.

 

Of the five African teams, Ivory Coast probably stand in the best position, in terms of its playing squad and the stability of its personnel. But that probably is as far an advantage as they have.

 

Significant vulnerabilities run through the spine of the team from Boubacar Barry in goal, to a visibly slowing Didier Zokora and Drogba in defence and attack respectively.

 

But of even greater significance is the inability of Sabri Lamouchi to establish a clear identity for this team in over two years. At the last Africa Nations Cup, its quarter final loss to Nigeria betrayed a team lacking resilience, with clear question marks about Yaya Toure's commitment to the team's cause relative to his metronomic role at Manchester City. The performance of Gervinho at Roma and Kolo Toure at Liverpool will be crucial.

 

After two successive world cups in the 'group of death', the Ivoriens will start out in a fairly even group, comprising Colombia, Japan and Greece, with no dominant favorites.

 

While the Nigerian squad may lack the profile of the key Ivorien players in European football, it more than makes up with a strong team spirit, iron cast determination and the athleticism of several young players who are starting to establish themselves. Baring the unlikely emergence of any breakout players, and based on coach Keshi's antecedents, the Nigerian world cup squad is pretty much set, give or take one or two positions.

 

Through the world cup qualifiers and the Confederations cup, weaknesses in the structure of its tactical organization have remained, while overall team performance has been consistent, without ever being outstanding. To stand any chance at the world cup, John Mikel Obi must remain healthy, even if lacking regular first team football at Chelsea.

 

Stephen Keshi's teams have often started slowly in major tournaments. In a group comprising Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran, the schedule would require that Nigeria start fast in the tournament or risk an early departure. The key match should be the second game against Bosnia. The major tactical challenge I see at this point is the vulnerability of the Bosnian backline to the speed and power of the Nigerian attack, especially the pair of Emir Spahic and Ermin Bičakčić,  as well as the Nigerian vulnerability to the counterattack and the deep runs from midfield.

 

Once again Ghana will start as underdogs in a group comprising Germany, Portugal and USA. In its last two world cup appearances, the Black Stars routinely defied the form books to emerge from similarly difficult groups, but each time based on a playing philosophy which prioritized defence and favored the counterattack.

 

Four years from its dramatic quarter final loss to Uruguay, Ghana parade a team that is a little more generous to the opponent in terms of the space it allows in midfield and defence. In my opinion, its comprehensive thumping of Egypt, reflects more on the weaknesses of the latter than its actual strength.

 

Even with a supposedly more experienced team, the Black Stars lack essential mobility in central midfield, and will struggle to deal with high tempo teams, and players adept at playing between the lines. Even at this early stage, I seriously doubt the ability of the trio of Essien, Muntari and Boateng to all stay fit, given their injury history, although they do have options.

 

In a group as difficult as this, defensive discipline and balance will be key. With two vulnerable fullbacks and an erratic goalkeeper, I think the Black Stars come up short this time...

 

Like Nigeria, Cameroon have a fairly good draw and a schedule that begins with Mexico and ends with Brazil. While world cup qualification appears to have papered over the cracks, the fundamental issues of team spirit remain and would need to be addressed. If they do, this team should pose a formidable physical challenge to Mexico and Croatia. The opening game against Mexico should be a fascinating contrast in styles and playing culture.

 

Overall, one has been disappointed with the reluctance of Volker Finke to integrate several emerging young Cameroonian players in Europe.

 

As expected Algeria overcame Burkina Faso to snatch a place at the world cup, but only just! In an ill-tempered game, riddled with woeful refereeing decisions, the Algerians showed little to imbue confidence ahead of the world cup. On paper, this team should be able to challenge any of Belgium, Russia and South Korea, but there is far too little discipline in its game and questionable temperament from key players.

Again, Why Should Africa Participate in the 2018 World Cup?

Over a year ago I asked this question:

Why Should Africa Participate in 2018 World Cup?

Now its come out that in the recent UEFA champions league game between CSKA Moscow and Manchester City, the Ivorien player Yaya Toure complained about repeated racist chants directed at him throughout the game. In the match itself, Toure could be seen drawing the referee's attention to the infringement.

In response UEFA has now charged CSKA with racist behavior of their fans, with the Russian club expectedly denying the charge, claiming that 'nothing special' happened.

It is in a way reminiscent of the Russian FA's decision to punish the Nigerian player Emmanuel Emenike for his reaction to racial abuse by Dynamo Moscow fans (while playing for Spartak), while simultaneously ignoring the incident that led to the reaction in the first place.

Today, Yaya Toure is suggesting that African players will consider a boycott of the 2018 FIFA World Cup should this continue.

One and a half years after I first raised this question, CAF President remains silent about this issue! He and his associates at the Confederation of African Football benefit directly from the sweat of African players, yet repeatedly stay silent in the face of issues directly affecting these players.

What guarantees did Hayatou receive from FIFA and the Russian Federation before supporting their successful bid?

Why should African players participate in a World Cup tournament in stadia that are cauldrons of racism?

And how long must Africa put up with the incompetence of Issa Hayatou?

But I find myself wondering which is worse, Issa Hayatou's complicity by silence or the reaction of CSKA in manufacturing quotes from Ivorien striker, and Toure's international team mate, Seydou Doumbia, who was falsely quoted as saying the following:

"I didn’t hear anything like that from the CSKA fans". "My Ivory Coast colleague is clearly exaggerating. Yes, they’re always noisy in supporting the team, and try to put as much pressure as possible on our opponents, but they wouldn’t ever allow themselves to come out with racist chants." Link

Tufiakwa!

PS: It appears now that CSKA may have manufactured the above quotes from Seydou Doumbia, as the player has denied ever making these statements on his facebook page:

Seydou Doumbia Fan Page

African World Cup Qualifiers Reaches Decisive Phase

The African world cup qualifiers has come to its critical final phase, with the rash of points deductions and disqualification threatening to make a farce of the entire process. It is a sad testimony to the administration of the game that local FAs and indeed CAF cannot keep and update their records to avoid the use of ineligible players, the case of Cape Verde being particularly pathetic.

 

Ten teams, Algeria, Burkina Faso; Cameroon, Tunisia; CIV, Senegal; Egypt, Ghana; Ethiopia, Nigeria; are scheduled for a home and away playoff series between 11-15 October and 15-19 November.

 

Looking back to the group games, it is a matter for serious concern that no team actually stood out in terms of the consistent high quality of its game, with Cameroon and Tunisia particularly underwhelming. Granted that the nature and time limitations of qualification series constrains team building and the fine tuning of tactics, and that the poor state of pitches has greatly affected the fluidity of team play, the quality of play is nonetheless disappointing. Afterall, similar rebuilding efforts, within this same time frame by Van Gaal and Fabio Capello for instance, have produced teams of much higher quality in Holland and Russia. 

 

Less than one year from Brazil 2014, the standard of the African game is not even at the level of its most successful team in 2010, Ghana. While there are notable improvements in the quality of the lower tier teams like Cape Verde and Ethiopia, standards at the top level have declined! And given the reality that some FAs will be tempted to make rash last minute decisions on coaches, the outlook for the African game vis a vis Brazil 2014 is most certainly not bright. 

 

Ethiopia has done extremely well to get to the final qualification stage. But this run should now end.. Overall, while the team has improved from its showing at the Nations cup, this remains an average African team, capable of high spirited, even if loosely organized games in front of a vociferous home crowd.

Ironically, in the last meeting between the two teams, there was little to separate both sides in terms of chances in the final third, until the decisive save by Enyeama and the quality of Moses irrevocably turned the game.

Tactically the organization of team play lacks detail orientation, with a tendency to play vertically in search of top striker Saladin Said. When it attempts to play out of defence, the positioning of the defensive players is haphazard and unbalanced, rendering it susceptible to high pressing.

The key feature of the attacking game in midfield is the play of the tall rangy Asrat Gobena, often with little interplay at the base of midfield and the delivery of the long ball to exploit Saladin's hold up play, or the hard running of Getaneh.

Further upfield, the real variety in the team's play comes from Shimeles Bekele attacking from wide right, with an appetite for running at the fullback, on the outside and a little more dangerous, diagonally.

The structure of team play and the spirited attempts to get forward quickly often leaves the team in a 4-2-4 shape, with vast opportunities for the counterattack or the quick pass and move around the reduced numbers and abundant spaces in midfield. This weakness created multiple opportunities for South Africa, with the lack of quality in the final third letting the Bafana down.

Right-back Tesfaye is especially weak in positioning and recovery, and should have plenty to chew over against Moses.

While the altitude might constrain the ability of Nigeria to engage in full-court pressing, a targeted focus on Asrat (and Adane, should he start) maybe advisable, perhaps by strategically dropping Emenike or Moses into midfield to close him down.

But the key for Nigeria will be to control the tempo of the game from the very beginning, take the fervor out of the match with controlled possession in midfield, and position the team to decisively punish the inevitable mistakes from Ethiopia.

Unlike many, I believe the Egyptians have a very good chance against the Ghana Black Stars, especially if they are able to address the problems they have in central defence, and the absence of a real screen from midfield, in front of the back four.

Two basic problems have plagued Kwesi Appiah's side for nearly two years now. First is the slow pace of evolution in terms of the injection of new energy and dynamism into the team and the continued lack of identity, from a team that was built for the counterattack by  Milovan Rajevac. The situation is not helped by the declining powers of several key players, whose careers have in some cases stalled, like Christian Atsu, or declined altogether like Asamoah Gyan.

Tactically, Kwesi Appiah has never gotten the right balance in central midfield, and the team is much too dependent on the ability of Ayew and Wakaso to unbalance the opponent in 1v1 situations, with the trademark movements between the lines from midfield often lacking or disjointed.

However the political troubles in Egypt has severely affected its domestic game and led to a largely unsettled team. But the manner in which the team came through the qualifiers is indicative of resilience and a growing team spirit. If Egypt get its organization and discipline right in Kumasi, especially between Walid Gomaa and Ahmed Hegazi, I expect them to surprise Ghana.

Burkina Faso will face Algeria as the most improved side in the continent coming from the Nations Cup. This in my opinion should be the most even contest in the series. While strong in its defensive organization, Burkina has not been prolific in front of goal, notwithstanding results against Niger. I expect an Algerian win.

The performance of the Ivorien national team in the last decade or more, has continued to reflect massive lost opportunities. In many ways, this team reflects a worrying trend of slip shod commitment to international football among this generation of African footballers. Perhaps no African player reflects this as Yaya Toure, a player who is metronomic at Manchester City, and a near wimp of an Elephant! The situation is made worse by coach Sabri Lamouchi, who in two years has never effectively defined a team ethic (like Stephen Keshi with Nigeria), or a tactical organization that maximizes the strengths of key players. The Ivoriens should prove too strong for Senegal, but not much more...

It is perhaps fitting that Cameroon and Tunisia, two teams that effectively snoozed through the qualifiers get a chance to meet in this decisive phase. With a plethora of quality players, especially young emerging talent, it is sad to see Cameroon, one of the true giants of African football struggle this way....

Predictions: Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon.

The Eternal Sunshine of John Mikel Obi

Everytime I watch John Mikel Obi, I am often reminded of Cristiano Ronaldo; yes the very same CR7!

 

The story is told of how the young Portuguese on joining Manchester United stated his career goals; not to be a starter, not to get a long term contract, but to be the best player in the world.

 

Contrast that with Mikel Obi who first came to world attention at the FIFA U20 youth tournament in Holland where he was only second to Lionel Messi.

 

Since making his first start for Chelsea in the UEFA champions league on September 12 2006, Mikel has brought to the defensive midfield the use of possession as a defensive tactic and the ability of a team to control games from a deep defensive position in midfield.

It is in the use of possession as a defensive tactic that Mikel has staked a claim in this role. His ball handling skills, close control, and quick decision-making, makes him very difficult to 'press' against. Because he is safe and efficient, Chelsea has been able to build a midfield based on speed and power around him.

On signing for Chelsea this is what his coach Jose Mourinho said: "We will make him the complete midfielder. His offensive skill set is not in doubt, it's the defensive aspect of his game we have to work on, If he listens and learn, he has the potential to be the best midfielder in the world ".

 

But last week against Spurs in the premier league, Mikel was pulled at halftime by Jose Mourinho. That in itself is no news. But what was significant was how Mikel appeared to be caught in a carousel, as the ball was easily passed around him. He lacked the speed and mobility to press quickly in midfield, or the positional sense to read the movements around him. Some will blame his central midfield partner, Frank Lampard or the tactical organization of the team by Mourinho.

 

But the reality is that Mikel has been playing one way for more than half a decade, with the same range of passes, at the same tepid tempo; the same square ball, the same half trot!

He can't shoot straight and has not done anything to correct this in over 6 years, never mind the recent goal! In six years the iphone has been improved five times! There is not a top defensive midfielder in Europe of whom there is such a low expectation with regard to goal scoring.

Let there be no misunderstanding; I understand about the player's first responsibility being to his team and the instructions of the coach. But each player brings a unique individual identity to the game. Each player possesses the inalienable right to define himself in a manner that both fulfills the goals of his team and at the same time maximizes his potentials.

 

Years ago, Ronald Koeman then manager at Ajax once complained about African footballers lacking professional ambition beyond the quest to get a contract. While I do not subscribe to such a broad brush, it has to be said that many an African footballer have made shortsighted career decisions that seemed to prioritize the short term financial gain over longer term professional development.

Where some look to be the best in their position or like CR7 to be the best player in the world, Mikel has been content to simply be a Chelsea starter, to get a contract renewed.

 

If anybody with top talent ever defined a lack of ambition its John Mikel Obi!!!

 

And still the beat goes on....The eternal sunshine of a content football mind.

    How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!

    The world forgetting, by the world forgot.

    Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!

    Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;

    
     Eloisa to Abelard by Alexander Pope

Wanted: A Football Policy for the Diaspora

It's just been announced that the NFF is looking at establishing a scouting unit for monitoring of Nigerian players in Europe and other parts of the world.

 

In my opinion this is a laudable step, but does not go far enough.

 

But first, let there be no misunderstanding. The popular, but misguided argument against this move has always been that Nigeria is better off focusing on developing its local talent than looking at players whose loyalty might be in question. Some have argued, with some merit, that many of the players in this category only seriously consider Nigeria after other options might have failed.

 

But be that as it may, the reality is that the nature of citizenship has changed. The effect of global migration of Nigerians is the full and irrevocable emergence of a generation of professionals in different works of life, including football, with Nigerian parentage and thus of dual nationality.

 

This is the reality that nobody can wish away. The question is therefore not one of if, but how we should embrace it and how best to use this resource to advance Nigerian football.

 

The oft argued need to focus instead on developing local talent is in reality a non starter. These are clearly two separate issues, neither are they mutually exclusive. They can therefore not only coexist, but mutually reinforce one another. Irrespective of how rich a talent pool lies in the diaspora, Nigeria needs to develop her local talents. That is the only long term sustainable solution to the development of Nigerian football.

 

The NFF needs to establish guidelines on when and how to engage with footballers of Nigerian parentage  in the diaspora.

 

At what point should contact be initiated: at the youth/academy level, or at the U-20 level?

 

If initiated at the youth/academy level, how best can such contact be sustained?

 

To what extent should we involve such players at the U-17 level?

 

The key to the entire process is the need to understand that what is required is not simply scouting. Scouting is the first step in what is a process. What should follow next is recruitment.

 

But lets be clear; recruitment is not to be confused with 'begging'.  Nigeria and indeed no national team should have to beg anybody to wear its colors. That is a recipe for disaster!

 

Dual nationality players have options which country to play for, hence the word 'dual'! The role of recruitment is thus to present the option of an international career with the Super Eagles.

Having presented the option of an international career with Nigeria, players then need to be left alone to make their decision, but with regular monitoring. If the option becomes available, they can be exposed to the Nigerian youth teams setup, even if they are not selected.

FIFA rules mean they do not have to make a definitive decision until they are in their twenties. What is critical is to use the time available to build a relationship between such players and the national team.

 

Therefore in implementing this policy, the NFF needs to understand the distinction between scouting and recruitment.

 

The recruitment process is best handled by high profile former Super Eagles players such as Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Sunny Oliseh, Fashanu, etc. 

 

In my opinion, the process should begin at the youth/academy level, but should not involve use of such players in the U-17 team, except in exceptional cases.

 

The scouting of U-20 and senior players must be conducted in collaboration with national team coaches, so as to avoid conflicts.

 

On the whole this is a welcome development and one that has been long in coming.

 

There a whole host of young talents of Nigerian parentage in top teams in Europe. They include Kenneth Otigba at Herenveen, Tiago Ilori and Jordan Ibe at Liverpool, Chuba Akpom at Arsenal, Godswill Ekpolo at Barcelona, and Derik Osiede at Real Madrid, to mention a few.

 

These players, should they become available, will not solve all Nigeria's problems in football. But they will certainly expand the options available to national team selectors, which in turn should make the Super Eagles better.

Nigeria: Lessons from the Confederations Cup

As expected Nigeria thumped Tahiti in its opening group game, but would go on to lose the next two matches to Uruguay and Spain, finishing third to confirm the expectations of bookmakers.

As stated previously, this was an important tournament for measuring the progress of the team under Keshi, especially since winning the AFCON title earlier in the year.

Expectedly following the confederations cup, the call has intensified for Keshi to extend a recall to several established internationals, notably Peter Odemnwigie, Taiye Taiwo, Obinna Nsofor, Victor Anichebe and Joseph Yobo.

As stated earlier, national teams grow through enhanced team spirit arising from playing together. In my opinion, Keshi's greatest contribution to the Super Eagles has been his ability to enhance team spirit within his squad, a factor that was recently visible in the fight back against Kenya in the world cup qualifiers.

Against this background, care should be taken in pressuring Keshi to expand the circle of his selection for fear of disrupting what appears to be a settled side. Yet the Super Eagles can only grow by expanding to include higher caliber players who are able to seriously challenge.

However, one thing is clear. Whatever new players are brought into the team will be coming to join a core group who are African champions! That is the reality that everyone must respect.

The major challenge that lies ahead for the Super Eagles following the Confederations cup are thus two fold:

 

1) how to expand the quality of talent available in the team without disrupting existing team spirit; and

2) how to drastically raise the level of tactical organization of the team.

Personnel Issues:

 

I will highlight some key personnel issues:

 

i) Central Midfield:

In the modern game, it is often said that a team is as good as its central midfield. In central midfield, five core players (Mikel, Mba, Onazi, Ogude, Nosa) have emerged from where Keshi has drawn his team (seven if we include the injured Reuben Gabriel and Ogu). Within this group, Mikel Obi stands head and shoulders above everybody. The gulf in quality between him and the rest is in itself evidence of a serious problem that deserves urgent attention.

The issue here is how to raise the quality of players available to the team.

There is little doubt that Ogenyi Onazi has come through at a rapid pace this past season. But weaknesses remain on the defensive side of his game and his temperament, as well his use of the ball. However his fast tracked pace of development can only bode well for the Eagles, should it continue into the new season at Lazio.

 

In the case of Ogude, the central issue has been his long term injury. The 2013/14 season will thus be crucial. He needs a new challenge beyond Valerenga...

With respect to Sunday Mba, the issue is a little more complicated. While he provided some very decisive moments at AFCON, his overall contribution was lacking in many areas, a fact made more obvious at the Confederations Cup. Mba must move to Europe to be able to raise his game and stay competitive in the team.

In the immediate period, we need to bring back Nosa Igiebor to the team as he continues his full return from an injury at Betis. While his performance at AFCON was woeful, his overall abilities mean he can challenge for a place in the team.

The return of Joel Obi to active football at Inter is welcome news. His return to the team is crucial, and should provide balance on the left of central midfield, as well as a platform for deployment of a left wing back.

The case of Sone Aluko is increasingly interesting. He has been on the fringes of the team before now, but at club level appears poised for a significant breakthrough at Hull City Tigers in the new season of the English Premiership.

I have in the past advocated for the invitation of Izunna Uzochukwu who has established himself at Midjtylland. His overall tactical awareness on the defensive side of the game, and his efficient use of the ball is evidence of a player with the ability to mount a serious challenge.

Consideration should also be given to both Lukman Haruna and Raheem Lawal. While I am well aware that these are not always easy players to work with, it's also true that we hire managers on the basis of their ability to work with players of various characters. These may in truth be headstrong players, but they also come with a winning mentality, and the ability to match this.

 

ii) Defence:

 There are a lot of moving parts about the Nigerian defence. Elderson Echiejile may be moving to Turkey as has Taiye Taiwo already.

 

Kenneth Omeruo has returned to Chelsea after his loan spell at Ado Den Haag, but it is unclear whether he will go out on another loan spell, stay in the reserves or promoted to the first team.

 

Godfrey Oboabona's performance at the heart of the Nigerian defence is one of the few success stories from Keshi's use of domestic league players. But as is often the case with young defenders, his game is still inconsistent, with continuing weaknesses in reading of the game and opposition movement. But his growth path has been rapid. A lot of what happens in the future will depend on the decisions of his advisers on where he plies his trade next season, and how much playing time he gets.

 

The situation calls for the development of credible options who can challenge for starting positions at right back, center back and left back. So far none of the other domestic league players has shown themselves to be at the level that improves the team, and I see no sense in persisting with them. I think the time is ripe to look at other options, using the FIFA friendlies window. I refer to such players as Daniel Adejo at Reggina in Serie B, Gbenga Arokoyo at Mjallby and Leon Aderemi Balogun at Fortna Dusseldorf, or other players from the domestic game.

 

Tactical Organization:

 

The confederations cup proved to be a very useful tournament in exposing some of the strengths, weaknesses and future potentials of the team.

 

The first half performance against Spain exposed the potentials of this team when its athleticism is deployed in a high pressing game in midfield.

 

But it also exposed the poor detail orientation of the coaching crew in its tactical organization, with the team leaving gaps behind the line of pressure which enabled Spain repeatedly play around the Nigerian pressure and create several dangerous moments.

 

Opponents of Spain in the last few years have either stood off, packed their defensive area (a la 'park the bus') and looked to counter attack, or pressured high upfield or in central midfield to disrupt their passing game. Keshi opted for the latter.

 

The challenge in pressing Spain is typically three fold:

 

1) how to maintain defensive shape and avoid leaving gaps behind the line of pressure for through passes or the off-the-ball movements.

 

2) how to conserve energy and avoid tiring especially in the latter stages of the game, which in turn affects your ball possession.

 

3) how to maximize use of the ball within the limited time of possession that Spain allows the opponent.

 

In the first two categories, the Nigerian team fared woefully. In the third category, while it recovered the ball in very valuable zones in the first half, the lack of quality in the final third often let it down, especially in Ideye Brown, who was both physically and mentally at least one level off the pace of the game.

 

Especially lacking was a complete tactical awareness of the opponent, its ball circulation strategies, the areas of overflow and the movement patterns of its key players. The Nigerian team against Spain, played almost completely blind!

 

In his post match review, Keshi noted as follows: "In the first half we were well set-up, but once their second goal went in we fell apart and lost our shape".

 

 I beg to disagree! Here is the match analysis from zonalmarking.net:

"Nigeria suffered from problems in both directions – sometimes the defence weren’t high enough and left gaps between the lines for Fabregas and Iniesta, and sometimes they appeared too high, allowing Soldado and Fabregas space in behind. In reality, the problem wasn’t really with the back four, but started from the position of the midfield….. This, essentially, is why not many sides play this way against Spain.

Interestingly, Pedro helped exploit the space in both respects. He and Alba are crucial to Spain and Barcelona because of their width and directness, and it was interesting that as well as making runs in behind Elderson Echiejile, Pedro also darted inside between the lines, sensing space in behind Mikel and away from Fegor Ogudo".  

"That rather summed up Nigeria’s problem – there was too much space both behind, and in front of, their back four".  

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2013/06/25/spain-3-0-nigeria-alba-pedro-crucial-in-a-more-direct-match-than-spain-are-accustomed-to/

The weakness of the set-up was exposed early and it would get worse as the lead up to the first goal revealed. While Jordi Alba did get a lucky bounce of the ball, focus on the sequence of play before the slide rule pass to him and how easy it is to pass around our pressing players and the huge gaps the pressing system is creating.

http://espnfc.com/video/espnfc/video/_/id/1483466?cc=5901

Lets take a small sample of how Italy and Nigeria addressed the attacking threat of Spain from its left back by comparing Italy's success in shutting down  Jordi Alba to Nigeria's woeful attempt, which gifted the Spanish left back two goals.

 

Italy deployed the Lazio midfielder, Antonio Candreva to run at the deep diagonal balls played behind Alba, forcing him to spend the majority of the game defending and thus shutting him down as an attacking threat.

 

Nigeria kept its standard 4-3-3 formation and played Ideye Brown, a central striker as a wing forward on the right, a position he has intermittently held even with Moses available. He offered neither the pace to push back Alba or the defensive prowess to provide cover for Efe Ambrose at right back.

 

Zonalmarking.net describes both Alba and Brown's performance thus: 

"Jordi Alba had plenty of space to charge into. He was a constant force on the flank, with Ideye Brown showing little interest in tracking his runs".

Yet for much of the game, Ahmed Musa, with twice the pace of Candreva remained on the left flank, only switching occasionally in the second half. 

Positives:

Easily the main positive thing to come from Nigeria's participation at the Confederations cup has to be the emergence of Mikel Obi from the shadow of 'square-ball Wilkins' that is forever enshrined in Chelsea lore by Ray Wilkins, and in which his role was cast by Jose Mourinho and successive managers.

Year after year, and pyramids of 5-meter square passes later, many can be forgiven in thinking that an expansive Mikel is an apparition! Let there be no misunderstanding though; Mikel is a top player. But he is a top player in a limited role, and is perhaps the best example of how a manager can make or unmake a player. And a manager like Mourinho with a reductionist approach to the game can make an ant of an elephant!

A dominant Mikel, with the ability to control play further up-field, presents new tactical options for the coaching crew, beyond the increasingly predictable 4-3-3 approach.
 

Winning the Africa Nations cup was a major achievement for Nigeria and especially Stephen Keshi. He, singlehandedly has restored confidence and a winning mentality to the team. And he has done it his own way... But football never stands still. If anything, as champions, the challenges come faster and stiffer!

 

If Nigeria is to perform creditably at the World Cup on qualification, Stephen Keshi and his assistants must challenge themselves to do better.

 

With less than a year to Brazil 2014, the Nigerian team remains a work in progress. As the challenges become more difficult, existing problems will become magnified and new ones will emerge in bold relief.

But if there is any lesson from our experience in 2010, it is that this late in the process is not the time for speculation about the position of the coach, unless something catastrophic were to suddenly happen. Whatever problems emerge on the technical side are better addressed through the internal structures of the team.

Consider this an early warning....

A Cameroonian Revival?

Is a Cameroonian revival about to happen? A long term, sustainable revival?

 

What may well prove to be Samuel Eto'o Fils' enduring legacy at FC Barcelona is looking set to underline a possible long term revival of one of Africa's greatest international footballing sides, the 'Indomitable Lions' of Cameroon.

 

I refer here to the fruits of an agreement Eto'o signed with the club to bring through the best talents from the Eto'o Foundation to the La Masia Academy

Three players currently headline some of the initial success of this agreement and are highlighted in our player focus for this month.

The first player is Frank Bagnack, a center-back who has impressed at preseason, with strong assured performances. Fast, powerful aerially and strong on the tackle, he also has the ability to bring the ball out of defence in the Barca tradition. A recent poll by Mundo Deportivo found that 61% of the fans thought he was ready for the first team!

The second player is Jean-Marie Dongou, a central striker who has often been hailed as the next big thing from La Masia. He emerged joint top scorer in the UEFA NextGen competition even while playing above his age bracket, and at some point in preseason, was the second highest scorer behind Messi!

The third player and around whom there is often great excitement at Barcelona is goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa, rated as the best at the academy and seeing as a long term replacement for the departing Victor Valdes. In the typical mold of some of the great African keepers, Ondoa stands over 6ft and still growing, being 17 years, physically strong and agile, and a great penalty stopper. He brings the added quality of very good feet, and is able to pass the ball out of the goal with comfort and accuracy.

Both Ondoa and Dongou are already in the national team frame.

 

In addition to these are Olivier Moussima and Wilfrid Kaptoum who have recently been signed for the Academy.

Added to these players is Fabrice Fokobo Atud, a central midfielder from the fames Sporting Lisbon academy who has just broken into the first team. His favoured position is defensive midfield but he also plays in central defence.

Fokobo continues the long tradition of great Cameroonian central midfielders, like Theophile Abega and of course the late Marc Vivien Foe. His major strengths are his technique dominant physical presence, with a game that mirrors Michael Essien's....

 

In my opinion its time for Cameroon to begin to make a transition to this new generation of players, anchored around established players like Alex Song and Nkoulou. The one advantage it has over neighbors Nigeria, is the increasing emergence of very talented young players in top European teams. An enduring revival could be predicated on the ability to press this advantage.

Nigeria, Confederations Cup and the Super Eagles

The Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 begins from June 13-30, with Nigeria set to test its mettle against South American champions Uruguay, world and European champions Spain and the part timers of Tahiti. Unfortunately, key players such as Emenike and Moses are unavailable through injury.

 

Since the surprise triumph at the Africa Nations Cup, the team has grown in confidence, but the football has not always kept pace with its status as continental champions.

 

Post AFCON, six new players have joined the project: midfielders John Ogu and Emeka Eze, and forwards, Joseph Akpala, Michael Babatunde, Mohammed Gambo and Anthony Ujah; while Odumadi returns after injuries had earlier delayed his debut in the team.

 

National teams typically grow from enhanced team spirit arising from playing together, and Keshi has been especially proficient in developing this.

 

Beyond this, national teams especially grow from competition arising from the infusion of new talents who introduce new skills sets that enable the team grow and expand the dimensions of its game. For instance, the introduction of Sunny Oliseh to Clemence Westerhof's team in 1993, enabled Nigeria to expand the scope of its game and the quality of its tactical organization, beyond what Emeka Ezeugo before then offered.

 

Unfortunately this has not been the case with Keshi's team, although results have remained positive, but with the performance level never advancing beyond the Nation's cup standard, which in itself was average, as has been the last two or three tournaments.

 

While John Ogu looks an interesting addition, with the skills set to enable the team slow down the game when necessary and exert greater control in central midfield, the same can hardly be said of the players from the Nigerian league, in which Keshi's strategy is heavily invested.

 

There is a sense that Nigeria's national team handlers have not always kept pace with the development of its players in national team invitations. Too often emerging young players are made to go through the youth teams, even when their standards belong to the full international game or in some cases overlooked altogether.

 

It is ironic that Anthony Ujah whom I had discussed here a few years ago is only now making his national team debut, incidentally at a time he is working to rediscover his game!

 

In the just concluded European season, there was no better Nigerian forward than Imoh Ezekiel, whose pace, variety of movement and the vision to find space in the penalty area is beyond that of any current Nigerian forward. Yet he does not begin to get in the conversation, even where there is space for a Joseph Akpala, who like Ujah is seeking to rediscover his game after years of stasis.

 

In some cases, certain players who at first appeared to have been prematurely capped, have now been dropped at a time they have started to make significant progress in their careers . I speak here of Raheem Lawal whom I had earlier criticized here. His performances for Mersin İdmanyurdu in the Turkish Liga, along with the wide midfielder Nduka Ozokwo is a clear indicator of the talent which attracted the national team handlers in the first instance.

 

While Keshi's use of homebased players is truly commendable and should bring attention to the domestic game, the returns from this approach, relative to the scale of the project, has been at best paltry, with only Oboabona and Mba making any impact.

 

While his heroics at AFCON, the verticality of his game, speed and ability to get in the penalty area suggest that a talented player resides in him, Sunday Mba's overall game remains limited, as increasingly is his contribution to the team. Hopefully the enhanced exposure should enable him take his game to Europe.

 

The invitation of Gambo Mohammed may be commendable and should enhance his career development prospects, it is hard to see how this advances the national team at this time, given the level he plays at, and the opportunity foregone in not inviting an Ezekiel Imoh...

 

While I am a believer in second chances, it is hard to see the basis for the persistence in the lateral defenders, Solomon Kwambe and Francis Benjamin after repeated poor performances, especially given the opportunity foregone in not inviting a Daniel Adejo (Reggiana) or Leon Balogun (Dusseldorf).

 

What this evidences is a lack of consistency and clarity in strategy. The result is that the team is not developing viable and competitive options and the team's bench lacks players whose quality can enable the coach change a game when necessary.

 

On the technical side, the tactical formulation that led to success at AFCON has had its weaknesses exposed severally, first by a mediocre Kenyan team, and recently Mexico...

 

The lack of organization in the non-possession phase of the game was brutally and repeatedly exposed by Mexico until had a player sent off. Again and again, the lack of cover for the defence in wide areas was palpable, as is Oboabona's lack of positional awareness.

 

In midfield, the team's dependence on Mikel Obi is self evident, as is the over dependence on the raking long balls behind the opposing defence. Yet the adjustments in terms of tactics and the development of new options appears not to be keeping pace.

 

It is in this context that the Confederations cup should be a good barometer for measuring the standard of the team and the rebuilding project.  In the absence of any embarrassing result, this should be the primary value of this tournament and the metrics for assessing performance.

 

 

Squad:

Goalkeepers: 23-Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers), 16-Austin Ejide (Hapoel Beer Sheva), 1-Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv)

Defenders: 5-Efe Ambrose (Celtic), 21-Francis Benjamin (Heartland FC), 3-Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga), 6-Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), 12-Solomon Kwambe, 2-Godfrey Oboabona (both Sunshine Stars), 22-Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag)

Midfielders: 18-Emeka Eze (Enugu Rangers), 10-John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), 13-Fegor Ogude (Valerenga), 4-John Ogu (Academica Coimbra), 17-Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), 19-Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers)

Forwards: 9-Joseph Akpala (Werder Bremen), 15-Michael Babatunde (FC Kryvbas), 11-Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars), 8-Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kiev), 7-Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), 20-Nnamdi Oduamadi (Varese), 14-Anthony Ujah (FC Cologne)

Thoughts on the Nigeria-Mexico Match...

The Nigeria Mexico game unfolded in four phases:

 

In the first phase of the game, Nigeria was at sea and Mexico passed the ball around the Super Eagles and working the ball and players between the lines with fluidity and increasing ease, creating more chances than I've seen them do in the entirety of 2013.

 

In the second phase of the game, with Mexico down to 10-men Nigeria dominated and were very good in maximizing the numerical advantage, mostly by keeping the game wide and stretched, and pushing Ambrose high, with the long diagonal ball repeatedly finding him in acres of space.

 

This continued in the third phase of the game, which was the first part of the 2nd half. But Mexico even in this phase continued to find the occasional gaps in Nigeria's midfield and defence.

 

In the fourth phase, Mexico reshaped, playing more of a 3-4-2, with and dominated as Nigeria increasingly tired, with players cramping...

 

The real concern for me from this game is the weakness of the Nigerian organization. The ease with which Mexico played through the Super Eagles in the 1st phase should be a matter for concern by the teams handlers..

 

Personnel wise, no real surprises...John Ogu in his first start showed good signs but as I've often stated he is slow and was often susceptible to high pressing by Mexico in the first phase of the game.

 

On the whole, I'm not sure if the idea behind the friendly was wise and well thought out, given the long distance the team had to travel and are due to travel even more in the next four weeks. Perhaps from a commercial perspective it was worth it, but from a football angle, I am doubtful...

Re: National Technical Director

I found it interesting that Shaibu Amodu's first pronouncement as national technical director (NTD) was to speak about the Super Eagles.

The comments on their own are of little value with respect to this piece. But it bears serious significance to my long held fears about a fundamental lack of understanding of the role of the NTD and its strategic importance to the reactivation of the Nigerian domestic game.

The job of the NTD is to develop and implement programs to enhance the domestic game, not to run around the national team and make excuses, however valid, for the national team coach...

Successive Nigerian coaches, from James Peters to Kashimawo Laloko and Adegboyega Onigbinde, have repeatedly used this position, not to advance the Nigerian game but to pursue the lure that is the national team. Indeed, the controversies surrounding the Super Eagles at the AFCON in Mali in 2000, were in part the result of Onigbinde's involvement with the team rather than his actual job!

The NTD job is in reality a very demanding and very important job and not every coach is equipped to do this. All of the people who have held this job in the past have been unable to resist the lure of the SE, sadly including Onigbinde who is probably the most informed of the lot about this role...as well as Laloko who should really know better. And sadly, it appears Amodu is about to join this crowd...

For the avoidance of doubt, the key issues for the NTD to focus on are legion and some of them are as follows:

- How to reactivate football clubs as the primary institutional structure for football in Nigeria;
- Reactivation of the NPL
- Youth football, including the role of and regulation of the nascent academies
- Development of coaches, club managers and referees; training and continuing professional development
- policies/regulations on infrastructures, especially playing pitches.

This is the one position that a case could've been made for an exprienced expartriate like a Gerard Houllier or Pep Segura to help elevate the position and bring serious attention and resources to it..

I hope I'm wrong but I doubt Amodu can do it...

What is worse is perhaps the decision to place the NTD in a supervisory position over the Super Eagles coach. I am yet to see any similar situation in world football where a senior national team coach is directly subject to supervision on technical matters, in the same manner as youth team coaches. It is in effect a decision that depends on the benevolence and discipline of Amodu to find the balance between supervision and interference.

Let there be no misunderstanding, the Super Eagles is the apex of the national game. It stands to reason therefore that the key technical and systemic issues that affect the team lie at the grassfoots of the game.

That is where Amodu's work lies

Re: Anthony Ujah

Anthony Ujah's invitation to the national team by coach Stephen Keshi, perhaps marks the turning point in a young career that seemed destined for the very top in the summer of 2011.

At the end of his stay in the modest Norwegian Tippeligaen club, Lillestrøm, it appeared at times Ujah could do no wrong in front of goal! In some sense this was to lead to unrealistic expectations and comparisons to the departing Andre Schurrle, in his new club FSV Mainz 05, and undue pressure on a player who had just over one season in European football.

His misadventure at Mainz and the lack of support from the manager, Thomas Tuschel was to erode much of the confidence of the player and the loan move to FC Koln has been a career saver.

Today, the player has rediscovered some of the form that earned him near cult status at Lillestrom, but not nearly enough. At the end of his stay in Norway, he had increasingly improved his overall game outside the penalty area, dropping into midfield as well as in recieving and holding up play with back to goal, or in playing over the shoulder of the last defender, as well as in his lateral movement.

At Koln however, he has had to somewhat adapt his game, especially with the limitations of the team's midfield, and is today more a vertical striker, whose tremendous vertical leap makes him a constant threat at the end of a deep cross. The result is that his overall game is yet to hit the heights it did at the end of his stay at Lillestrom. His best games, in terms of overall contribution to offense this season, has often come when Adil Chihi has been in the Koln lineup....

I hope I'm wrong, but I suspect he is not quite ready for the Super Eagles, and would need the active support of the national team handlers to incrementally wean him into the team and put him in the best position to enhance his abilities.

For starters, the Super Eagles handlers would need to be more creative in the design of the attacking game to avoid some of the constraints Obafemi Martins had in the match against Kenya. In this regard, the delivery from midfield should look to more balls to his feet, in space, which would ultimately enhance the unpredictability and effectiveness of the long balls when he plays at the shoulder of the last defender.

Overall, this is a player whose game is based on movement, but yet retains considerable aerial threat in the penalty area with his vertical leap. On the defensive side, he is very good at high pressing...

Technically, he has a better rounded skills set, as a mobile striker, than Ideye Brown or Emenike and would most probably work better with Brown than the latter. Out wide, his best starting position would be on the left, which enables him run diagonally to arrive in the penalty area on his stronger right foot. His close control and ability in tight spaces is however not as good as Brown or Emenike.

A fluid, high tempo attacking game, involving movement with ball in space and constant switching amongst the attacking trio would most suit his talents.

Re: Godfrey Oboabona

Nigerian central defender Godfrey Oboabona is probably the poster boy for Stephen Keshi's homebased approach for rebuilding the Super Eagles.

There is little doubt that his rise has been meteoric. And for a player who has had no more than two years of football at any decent level, his performance has been commendable.

What is more, he brings considerable pace to the position, an asset that is hard to overlook in a central defender.

At the same time though, his game relies almost entirely on his athleticism to compensate for his sometimes woeful positioning and reading of the game. In my opinion, this portends considerable danger to the Super Eagles.

In addition to the above, his passing from the back and ability to play out of defence is less than average, as is his hit-and-hope long balls from defence. Against Zambia, his attempt to play out of the back gifted the Zambians a counterattacking opportunity which luckily was not converted.

Luckily, at the Nations Cup, the primary demands of his game from the opponent was largely physical, and he and the excellent Omeruo dealt with these as required. Yet there were repeated instances where his poor reading of the game and positioning would expose the team, but the familiar lack of quality in attack at the Nations cup often meant that these went unpunished.

The recent match against Kenya illustrates this vividly:

As Nigeria chased the game in the second half, Kenya would initiate what was probably the best chance of the second half, and its best, and perhaps only successful counterattacking move.

Kabuli picks up the ball from his own half.

Nigerian right back Kwambe approaches him as he crosses into the Nigerian half. Note the beginnings of Oliech's diagonal run, with Omeruo shadowing him. Note Oboabona's position behind the two..

As Oliech peels wide to receive the ball, Kabouli continues his run. Note again Oboabona's position.

Oliech plays him through with a reverse pass, behind Omeruo whose momentum means he has no chance to cut out the pass, with Kwambe's snail paced reaction, leaving him absolutely for dead!

Kabouli is through on goal....

 

He has a 1v1 with Enyeama and the nearest Nigerian is Omeruo, who ended up covering both Oliech and Kabouli!

There are similar examples from AFCON, including the final match...

The point here is not to question Oboabona's impressive achievements within a very short period, but to draw attention to the need for continued development of the player, at least until one of his proposed moves to Europe comes to fruition.

It is also made to draw attention to the need for enhanced competition for places in the team, especially with Apam beginning to show signs of full recovery.

Kenya Issues Nigeria an Early Warning Signal

Watching several games in the latest round of African World Cup Qualifiers (AWCQ) reinforces my views on the poor state of the African game. An urgent situation which if not seriously addressed, could see the continent perform even worse than it did in South Africa...

While it was good to see Cameroon return to winning ways, the dysfunction in the team remains and makes this a powder keg situation which needs to be addressed once and for all...

There are two ways of looking at Nigeria's 1-1 draw with Kenya:

One way is to see it simply as a 'bad day at the office'; a blip; a minor setback which could've been avoided with a little luck in front of goal...This assumes that Nigeria created numerous chances, a position that is not supported by any evidence, except the 'Ernest Okonkwo metric' for determinig what constitutes a chance!

The other way is to recognize this as:

(a) an early warning signal of the reality that as African champions, many a continental opponent will set up to play us as the Kenyans did, by primarily seating deep in massed numbers and attacking on the counter; and

(b) that our system of play which is largely based on the  mid to long diagonal ball from midfield, and the ability of our wide players to dominate in 1v1 situations, will struggle against an opponent seating deep in numbers.

Contrary to what many might think, I do not think Nigeria played any better or badly than it did in many of the games from the quarter finals on at AFCON, notwithstanding the poor games by Martins and Mba. Indeed in the general scheme of things, the result is a mere blip, as Nigeria will qualify from the group. My concern is with the performance..

The problem is that unlike in the games against CIV and others, Kenya was not leaving too many gaps behind; there was no Tamboura left isolated at left back to be turned inside out by Moses and the excellent Wynama was screening play superbly in front of his central defenders.

The reality is that the delivery from midfield needed to be different. First because Martins, rather than the burly Emenike was the fulcrum of the attack, and his hold up play with back to goal is different, and typically involves receipt of the ball in space in midfield to first drag out the centerbacks, then attack the space vacated behind at pace with the combination pass.

First the delivery to him was often the long ball in a crowded penalty area, which exposed his physical limitations, as compared to Emenike.

Secondly, even when he dropped into midfield, the corresponding movement around him was lacking, as was the passing and the speed of release of the ball. The situation was made worse by the movement of Ideye and Moses, who were often too isolated from Martins and not making the vertical runs into the box to attack the space he had created. This lack of verticality in movement was especially lacking from midfield. When Nigeria did attack with the combination play, the flow of the game tended to move to the right, where Martins typically runs towards his stronger left...

But let there be no misunderstanding; this is not by any means an attempt to excuse Martins from what was a poor performance. Ironically, he began brightly in terms of his movement, but appeared to give up too soon, when the play around him failed to develop.

The lesson of this game is that the Nigerian tactical formulation that led to the AFCON title in South Africa is simple to the point of being simplistic and needs rigorous reinforcement, especially in the light of the fact that as continental champions, many an African opponent will stress defence first in games against the Super Eagles.

The Nigerian bench needs to be especially commended for the character and mentality of the team, as evidenced in the manner in which they fought until the very end. What is more, the fact that two debutants, John Ogu and Nnamdi Odumadi integrated almost seamlessly into the setup, speaks volumes of the team spirit.

However, the coaching crew failed to make adjustments in the system of play, which left the team repeatedly lobbing aerial bombs at a packed Kenyan defence, and failing to translate dominant possession into any cutting edge in the last third. Even the opportunity to press high at the Kenyan defence when it foolishly tried to play the ball out of defence with no real outlets, was largely spurned in the first half...

While Martins' performance is the obvious focus of attention, equally disappointing was the lack of leadership by Mikel Obi, especially given his experience and profile in the game.

Related to this is a point I made here a few years back (Link). I am convinced that the team will be better for it, not just now but in the long run.

John Ogu and Nnamdi Odumadi made brief but impactful debuts, especially the latter who got the goal. John Ogu could be an interesting option for the team, giving it balance in central midfield to the left of Mikel, especially given the continued absence of Joel Obi. My concern for him though is with his pace...

The decision to invite both players reflects a very positive move by Keshi in continued development of the team. It is my hope that he and his crew continue in this regard, especially with options in defence like Leon Balogun at Dusseldorf, and the oft mentioned Sidney Sam...

How Nigeria Beat Ivory Coast...

I've been struggling for time and very nearly missed the game. In fact posting from Pepboys after a breakdown on the road...Car shop screwed me up first, then gave me a dud replacement vehicle which then broke down on the road with my black butt freezing on the roadside..

 

Quickly, the key issue  in my humble opinion is what seems like the eventual recognition by the coaching crew of the qualities of the players they have, and not the ones they wish they had, especially in midfield.

 

Rather than struggle to use a playmaker, they seem to have finally recognized that what we have are vertical central midfielders, with Mikel as anchor, who has no need wandering upfield when he can influence attckin play from deep.

 

The second point is the expanded role of Emenike especially and Moses, which has rendered Musa surplus. The positions taken by Emenike in the game was brilliant. By taking up attacking positions in right central midfield, as well as out wide, it enabled the team vary its passes from midfield and defence. But in some ways this was constrained, or rather could have been even better if the team had a genuine right back with the pace to stretch play and attack the space created by Emenike's movement.

 

With three central midfielders, the Nigerian team essentially played a trivote, with a base 4-3-3 formation that would transit to a 4-3-2-1.

 

For the first time in the tournament, Moses really showed his true qualities, which is not your traditional winger, but a central winger, beginning from wide, but attacking the inside of the fullbacks, as well as drifting to the center to play from behind the lone striker.

 

Brown Ideye worked hard as the lone striker but can do better, especially in his lateral movement. I think that Moses especially needs to play more to Ideye's strengths and the team as a whole can use his qualities in running from the blindside of the central defenders.

 

This was easily the first complete performance of the Super Eagles under Stephen Keshi. For me, the best testimony from the game was that no one player stood out- the entire team did!

 

Once again, Omeruo proved his consistency, and has increasingly become vocal. But I do worry for Oboabona and the tendency of Echiejile to lose focus and stray out of position.

 

Against Mali, I look forward to the return of Ogude as part of the trivote...

 

Now my misery is dissapearing fast....

Nigeria, We have a Problem!

1. I have had a hard time reaching any conclusions about this Nigeria team at AFCON 2013, mostly because the South African organizers somehow conspired to place the team, along with current champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia on a pitch unfit for cattle grazing, much less football. But not anymore...
2. This is a poor, poor team. Now I recognize that these might be early days and teams do indeed grow with a tournament. What is more, the unpredictable nature of African football and the overall poor quality of the ANC is such that this team could exit the tournament at the group stage or be playing in the final rounds in a few weeks! After all a mediocre Ivorien team did become champions in 1992...
3. The Zambian approach to Nigeria was evident as early as the 4th minute, with Mayuka flashing a header wide from a gap between Onazi, in an unfamiliar right back position, and the right central defender, Omeruo.
4. They were going to challenge Nigeria for pace in defence, but appeared not to have foreseen the absence of Yobo, and the positional skills and pace of Omeruo, without doubt the best Nigerian defender on the field...
5. Based on a 4-4-2 formation, the Zambian midfielders in the non-possession phase would drop back to sit tight on the Nigerian midfield trio, while squeezing tight at the back.
6. Either from inability to hold the ball or lack of mobility in midfield, Nigeria would repeatedly play the long ball in search of Emenike especially, and the wide players Musa and Moses, rather than use the backline in the first phase of a possession game. It would take 18 minutes before the first decent through ball would get to Emenike, inevitably from Mikel...
7. On recovery of the hit-and-hope long balls Zambia would attack quickly, repeatedly dropping diagonal balls behind Echiejile and especially the clueless right back Onazi, to match the lateral movement of Mayuka and Katongo.
8. The speed of the transition game, often meant that the Nigerian wide players were not in position to offer adequate cover for the fullbacks, with Kalaba especially, finding space to repeatedly attack an exposed Onazi on multiple occasions.
9. Against the run of play, Nigeria would get a penalty, missed by Mikel on 19 minutes. Ten minutes later, the Nigerian coach would be sighted urging greater effort from his players...Three minutes later, a 2nd through ball would get to the anonymous Igiebor from Onazi to earn a corner kick...
10. Straight from the corner, Zambia counter. Echiejile is out of position,,,34mins, Oboabona attempts to pass from the back; straight to an opponent, he fouls; yellow card! From the ensuing freekick, Sunzu finds a gap between Onazi and Omeruo but heads wide...
11. 37mins: Katongo drops into midfield and drags Echiejile out of position, ball is played in gap to Chisamba who attempts to drive into the Nigerian box; blocked by the hardworking Ogude. 39mins: long ball by Mikel to Emenike; comes to nothing...41mins: Kalaba isolates Onazi; through ball to Mayuka blocked by Omeruo. 45mins: Kalaba, wide left, counters, with Onazi isolated; poor delivery...
12. As the game wears on, the Nigerian attack is sustained entirely by long balls and the muscular endeavours of Emmanuel Emenike. The two wide players, Musa and Moses, both hug the flanks, neither attempting to run diagonally at the Zambian defence or push up to attack any flick ons by Emenike. On 42mins, Moses would drift centrally to receive the ball, create space and deliver a through pass to Emenike. That would be his only meaningful contribution in the game..Musa would see more of the ball; his runs would promise a lot, but deliver little of consequence...
13. 48mins: long ball misjudged by Sunzu; Emenike muscles his way through to release Musa- poor cross/shot evades Emenike...49mins: Mikel runs at defence from central midfield to release Emenike; shot blocked by Sunzu...51mins: Onazi runs diagonally from right back to release Emenike; blocked by Sunzu..53mins: Kalaba evades isolated Onazi, ball is worked left to right and to Mayuka; shot is blocked by Echiejile to appeals for handball..
14. 56mins: Almost from nothing Nigeria score as Mikel catches Chisamba in possession to put Emenike through....It would appear briefly like the balance of the game would change...On 67mins, the three Nigerian central midfielders would exchange passes briefly in an advanced position. It would be the first sustained sequence of passing between them in the entire game!
15. But Zambia reshuffle to attack more centrally, introducing Mulenga, Mbesuma and Sakawuha. The formation is now a 4-3-3, with Sakawuha wide right, and Mayuka and Mbesuma taking turns to drift wide to the left or drop back from the penalty area, ensuring a greater penalty box presence...
16. A sweeping five player move in central midfield would release Kalaba, running unchallenged behind Onazi, but his shot is blocked by Enyeama. Kalaba would break free twice more in space behind Onazi, once finding Mbesuma in acres of space, only for the striker to shoot tamely. And when the goal came, it would inevitably be from the right side of the Nigerian defence...
17. Clearly a soft penalty decision, but it was nonetheless a foul by Onazi who appeared to be unaware where he was at the time. It was no more than Zambia deserved to be honest...
18. It would take 75mins for Nigeria to make the first change, with Nwankwo coming in for Igiebor. How the Betis man lasted that long is beyond me! At some point the Nigerian bench appeared unsure who to substitute! But the basic shape of the team would remain unchanged, and the long balls in search of Emenike's muscular expressions will continue...
19. When will this misery end....

Preview of Nigeria-Zambia: 4-3-3 vs 4-2-3-1

1. The major focus of Nigeria following the opening match was the manner of concession of the Burkinabe equalizer with barely a minute left to play.

 

I think this is a mistake....

While it is true that greater professionalism in the final minute of the game could have won the match, there was a lot more wrong with the team than that.

 

2. My major concern as it builds up to the next match against Zambia is the structure of the team in midfield, while employing a 4-3-3 formation.

 

3. The major responsibility for winning back the ball in midfield was placed on Fengor Ogude, who missed most of the Norwegian season as a result of injury, and before this had not played a competitive game in months. His match fitness was always going to be an issue and it showed as he repeatedly struggled to come to terms with the pace of the game, leading to several late tackles.

 

4. Mikel Obi's role was clearly more expansive than his Chelsea role. In assuming a more creative role, his major arsenal was a variety of the targeted long balls to exploit the pace of Musa, Ideye and Emenike.

 

5. With such a passing range, I am unsure the wisdom and efficacy of such a general role that had him move around the field in several advanced positions, which often left several undefended zones behind the central midfield and put increased pressure on Ogude. Whats more it directly created gaps behind the central midfield that Pitroipa and Alain Traore repeatedly exploited and led to Ambrose and Echiejile being exposed..

 

6. In my opinion he could have accomplished the same goals, while retaining his typical position in the Chelsea midfield, and thus allow the team maintain its defensive integrity in the non-possession phase.

 

7. What is more, Fengor Ogude is more a box-to-box central midfielder than a defensive midfielder, and his greatest attributes neither lie in reading opposition movements and passing nor his tactical discipline.

 

8. Instead he is a vertical midfielder whose energy and hard grafting will get him up and down the field, as well as break into the box on a late run to score the odd goal.

 

9. Ditto for Emmanuel Onazi.

 

10. On the other hand, Nosa Igiebor is not your classic playmaking midfielder who can play between the lines and orchestrate attacking moves and create goal scoring opportunities. While his best position is northside of both Onazi and Ogude's, his greatest strength is in driving the ball at the opposition defence from open play in midfield.

 

11. Against this background, it would appear to me that Nigeria would be better served by a double pivot in midfield and the use of a 4-2-3-1 formation.

 

12. This would allow Mikel help the team keep its shape in the non-possession phase, while retaining his creative role, but from a deeper position. It would also provide a platform for either Ogude or Onazi to be more vertical and thus play to their real strengths.

 

13. In turn it would require the three players behind a lone striker to play more behind the ball. But more importantly, it would create a platform for Igiebor to take up positions in the zone a typical trequartista would operate in.

 

14. In the opening game, Zambia struggled to come to terms with an athletic Ethiopian team playing with massed ranks behind the ball. Against Nigeria, I suspect a return to roots of some sort, with greater emphasis on the counter, especially if Chisamba Lungu does not recover from his injury.

 

15. I expect greater use of Katongo in dropping into gaps behind the central midfield, as well as greater lateral movement from the strikers behind the fullbacks.

 

16. This would bring to an even greater relief, the need for attention to the details of Nigeria's tactical organization.