The extent of the challenge before new Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia is perhaps best mirrored by the fact that the last complete high level performance of the team in a competitive game was against Morocco in 2000.
Underlying this stasis is the lack of systematic and sustainable development of the local game, which in turn has constrained the output of talent and the quality of players available to national team selectors.
At the same time, the combined impact of the Bosman ruling and the collapse of the old Soviet bloc, has led to broad increase in the transfer of players from Eastern Europe, limiting options available to Nigerian players in the more established leagues, who are having to move to far flung leagues in Latvia, Albania, Ukraine, Serbia, Malta, Cyprus, etc.
Unlike in the past when viable national team players emerged at top European clubs, the reality today is that we must look for our players wherever available and make them international class players. This would require that we assess our players by the quality of their talent and physical conditioning, not predominantly by the profile of their clubs. It would also require that we consider active recruitment of diaspora Nigerians.
One and a half decades since Dutchman Clemens Westerhof built the last successful Nigerian national team, advances in sports science and fitness levels have redefined both movement and roles definition for players. The game today is faster, players more athletic and tactics more fluid.
In the last decade also, the role and importance of technology in in-depth performance analysis has grown dramatically. These include match video editing software, movement tracking systems, 3D technique analysis and heart rate monitors. Such systems have been developed to assist multiple needs including post-match team appraisal, individual player assessment, opponent analysis, physical preparation, etc.
It is against this background that Siasia ascends to the position of national team manager.
For the most part, our knowledge of his footballing philosophy is based on his work with the youth teams. Siasia's tactical organization of the U-20/U-23 teams in 2005 and 2008 remains the template on which Nigerian national team football has been based since then, with creative play designed around wide forwards (Abwo and Obasi in 2005; Okoronkwo and Nsofor in 2008), who begin play from midfield, provide cover for the fullbacks, and break into attacking positions as the game develops up-field.
This approach requires high fitness levels and young versatile players, willing and able to implement a flexible tactical scheme, as well as sustain a high-tempo, dynamic attacking game, whether in open play or on the counterattack.
Such a tactical scheme would in turn have several implications for how we play in midfield and defence, as well as the players we use.
In defence, Joseph Yobo's transfer to Fenerbahce signals the beginning of his transition to retirement from top level football. On the other hand, his defensive partner, Danny Shittu's inability to win a starting shirt at Bolton underlines the fact that his talent levels have never truly exceeded the English Championship, with all due respects to his commitment to the Super Eagles cause.
At right-back, Chidi Odiah has declined steadily since the UEFA Cup victory with CSKA Moscow, in 2005, while Olubayo Adefemi's career appears to have stagnated.
In midfield, the team lacks the right balance in personnel between defensive players and more creative players, although some of this is a factor of tactics.
Overall, the selection of players has not always enhanced internal competition for places nor has it reflected the broad scope of emerging prospects outside the mainstream European leagues, or the current form of players.
These are some of the broad challenges that confront Mr. Siasia as the Super Eagles coach.
