Super Eagles Evolution: Nacho and the 'Raumdeuter'

 On November 13, 2020 on Match Day 3 of the Africa Nations Cup qualifiers, Nigeria raced to a four goal lead against Sierra Leone in under thirty minutes. The match would end in a 4-4 draw, with the Super Eagles barely hanging on...

The match would have a profound effect on the thinking of erstwhile manager Gernot Rohr, who would begin a long process of trying to evolve the team around a less expansive approach, including the eventual return/transition(?) to a 4-4-2, with Kelechi Iheanacho in the role behind Victor Osimhen, and the combination of Wilfred Ndidi and Joe Aribo in central midfield.

With Wilfred Ndidi and Joe Aribo established as the pairing in central midfield (as further confirmed at AFCON), the tactical questions around the team have revolved around:

• First the role of Kelechi Iheanacho, ahead of the central midfield duo and behind Victor Osimhen; and
• Second, the potential for a further evolution of the team to a 4-3-3, especially with the emergence of the talented FC Midtjylland midfielder, Raphael Onyedika, to possibly play on the right of an inverted triangle in central midfield.

However, given the immediate challenges facing the team, a world cup qualifier vs Ghana, the focus of my piece is naturally on the current squad, specifically the role of Kelechi in a 4-4-2, and the continuing lack of fluidity in the attacking design of play.

For most managers, including the most team-oriented managers, the focus of the attacking design of play is often how to get the best out of their most important players. And in the case of Nigeria, that is obviously Victor Osimhen.

In the final year of Gernot Rohr's tenure as coach of Nigeria, the lack of clarity in Kele's role, the tentativeness of the manager, coupled with the weaknesses of the player himself, combined to produce a team of mediocre attacking intent and anemic execution.

In the support striker role, since 2020, Iheanacho has scored four goals for Nigeria in 17 appearances. In the history of the Super Eagles, this is not a new role, having been executed to brilliant effect by Nwankwo Kanu, who brought a level of intelligence beyond the reach of the Leicester City man.

In the current game, this is a role most aptly defined by Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller, as the "Raumdeuter position", literally translated as a space investigator, which combines football intelligence, understanding/appreciation of space and the movement of players, as well as the selflessness to place one's technical skills in service of the team.

At his best, Kelechi brings a decisive finishing ability in the box. But he also brings average individual technique, a limited appreciation of space or understanding of movement, an inability to play between the lines or out wide. Too often in the final attacking phase, going back to his days at Man. City, is the familiar posture of a static Kele, hands spread wide besides him calling for the ball, rather than making the movement to open up play and advance the attacking game.

If Kelechi is to be a decisive player for Nigeria, we must accept the fact of what his game is about and place him squarely in the penalty area, as a sub for our main striker Osimhen, and use the place he vacates to strengthen the attacking game from midfield.

On paper Nigeria will start with a stronger squad than Ghana. Both countries possess distinctly dysfunctional federations, both of which are scrambling at the moment, with Nigeria only marginally better. I expect that Ghana will bolster the squad from AFCON, but a lot will depend on the ability of Otto Addo and George Boateng to quickly build relationships to bring all eligible players in the fold. An unenviable task to accomplish within the next five weeks...

With Ademola Lookman now eligible, I would seriously consider him for the role behind Osimhen, especially if the team does not transition to a 4-3-3. 

Lookman's ability to play in small spaces, between the lines in the center, as well as from wide, bring a dynamism and tactical flexibility that Kelechi cannot offer the team.

The Amaju Pinnick Rhapsody

 As at the time on November 28, 2021 when Gernot Rohr submitted the Nigerian provisional list for the Africa Nations Cup (AFCON), a team five years in making, there were reasonable grounds to expect a proper Nigerian challenge for the title.

Over these past five years, a competitive squad had emerged with a mix of top young players and experienced players, and especially with options in several positions to allow for proper internal competition for places. In defence however, quality options continued to be limited. 

Still, with the excellent Wilfred Ndidi screening in front of the back four, there were reasonable grounds to expect defensive solidity.

In terms of the team play and the development of the team's game, the Nigerian game had not progressed since the last AFCON, and with unexpected losses at home to Central Africa Republic, a manager of five years was expectedly under pressure.

A conservative manager continued to string along, with a football that was as inspiring as watching paint dry, and a demeanor that reminded one of the Godfather character Ayman Roth...

Yet, in spite of those embarrassing losses, the team always met the sole objective of a qualification campaign- qualify!

Two and half weeks from the release of the list, Nigeria would fire its manager and Augustine Eguavoen appointed as interim manager. Eguavoen would formally meet his full team at the AFCON venue in Cameroon and would reportedly hold only three sessions, including a practice match, before its opening encounter to Egypt.

In explaining the decision to fire the manager with about 13 days to the tournament opener, the Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick would state that the intervention was made to "avert a disaster". 

Recall that it is the same Pinnick that resisted the initial clamor to separate from the manager post World Cup 2018, then resisted making a decision on the manager post AFCON 2019, each time pointing to the big picture perspective...

But with 13 days to the tournament, decides that Nigeria faced looming disaster and thus needed to fire the manager.

Not once in several press appearances did Mr Pinnick identify the indicative factors that led to this conclusion, nor a thoroughly compliant and useless Nigerian sporting press corps question him properly to justify this decision.

Nigeria would thus, ironically, snatch a second round exit from a potential AFCON title challenge! From a potential AFCON challenge to a second round exit, after having only played a proper half of football!!

The Pinnick rhapsody is unfortunately typical of the kind of hubris that surrounds decision making by Nigerian public officials, with little or no critical thinking and zero consultations with credible experts.

The Nigerian exit to Tunisia is entirely on the NFF President Amaju Pinnick!

The results from the group games cannot and should not absolve him from the disaster that he manufactured and the one that ultimately befell Nigeria. Football is not that simple that we can serially make bad decisions and expect to be successful!

Its more than two years since Nigeria appeared in any FIFA youth tournaments.

The Nigerian domestic league continues to flounder.

Player salaries cannot be guaranteed. Coaching and player development is decades behind modern trends,

And in response, the NFF President Amaju Pinnick has now fully outsourced the development of national team players to the diaspora!

Nigerian football, like a troubadour continues to traverse the football landscape, but unlike a Dennis Brutus poetry, with neither rhyme nor reason.

And now on comes José Vítor dos Santos Peseiro as new manager.

What is his philosophy of the game? How does that sync with our football culture and quality of available players? What is the long term vision?

Who is asking these questions?

Listen to Pinnick: "We are proud of the efforts of the players. They gave their all and tried very hard to win even when they had numerical disadvantage. It was just not our day," he said Link.

Just like that, a troubadour continues to traverse.....

The Evolution of Nigerian Wingers

 

In a recent interview, current Nigeria Interim Coach and NFF Technical Director Austin Eguavoen spoke about a Nigerian football philosophy and the integral role of wingers in this.

Against Egypt in Nigeria's opening game of the African Nations Cup (AFCON), as if to reprise this, the Super Eagles played with great emphasis on attacking wide spaces through Moses Simon and Samu Chukwueze.

Traditionally, Nigeria has always been blessed with pacy wingers. The roles of the wingers have typically been based on using their athleticism, speed and dribbling ability in going down the flanks and delivering crosses for the central strikers.

Seventies and Eighties

In the 1970s and 80s, this was typified by the performance of such players and Kunle Awesu, Ogidi Ibeabuchi, Baba Otu Mohammed. These players defined the role by their speed and dribbling, and the ability to deliver crosses.

In the 1980s, Nigerian wing play was largely defined by the performance of Segun Odegbami and Adokiye Amesimaka. But unlike the prior generation, in addition to the qualities of speed, dribbling and crossing, these wingers added the role of scoring, by cutting from wide to shoot on goal. While the likes of Awesu and Ogidi did score goals, but not at the level of the likes of Odegbami, Willie Nzeakor, Tarila Okoronwata, Friday Elaho, Ndubuisi Okosieme, etc.

In both generations, their positioning was typically high upfield, with cross field balls delivered into space for them to utilize their speed and athleticism to get past the lateral defenders.

Westerhof -Finidi Transition

But by far the most significant evolution of Nigerian wingers (and wing play) would occur with the arrival of Dutchman Clemens Westerhof and his conversion of George Finidi, a right-sided central midfielder with Calabar Rovers to a wide midfielder in a 4-4-2 formation. 

In this redefined role, his game would begin from midfield and would also involve defensive responsibilities in support of the central midfielders and the fullbacks.

Within this same period, the Nigerian winger would be further redefined by conversion to central striking roles, sometimes as a support striker or lone striker. This new role was perhaps best exemplified by the success of Victor Ikpeba as a striker with FC Monaco, in what was easily the high point of his career. Similar to him was Amunike's role, first in Portugal and then at Barcelona, although constrained severely by injury, as well as Christopher Ohenhen who would excel in this role with SD Compostela in Spain.

Wide Forward

In recent times, the role of the Nigeria winger would further evolve to wide forward, running diagonally from wide to support the central striker or as part of a dynamic trio of strikers, from both the left and right wings. This largely began with the likes of Tijanni Babangida, Pius Ikedia, Victor Moses, and is currently seen in the roles of the aforementioned Simon, Chukwueze, Ahmed Musa, etc.

In more recent years, this evolution would involve their use in inverted roles, to allow them cut in from wide and arrive in the last third on their stronger foot, with the right footed Simon on the left and the left footed Chukwueze on the right.

Further Transition

Against Egypt, Nigeria deployed Simon in a predominantly wide position on the right, with a seeming throwback to the 70s and 80s in the manner in which he used his speed, athleticism and dribbling to repeatedly overpower the hapless Al Ahly defender Akram Tawfik and later Mohamed Abdelmonem.

This approach to use of wide players is replicated in many domestic teams and in the youth national teams, with the dominant play relying on the dribble to overcome in 1v1 situations out wide.

While Simon is a good player as underlined by his performances at Nantes, his performance against Egypt was as much testimony to his abilities as it was the weakness of the Egyptian defenders, who never got their spacing right or provided enough support to deny him space. 

In any case, despite his overall influence on the game in the first half, the performance often lacked quality end product, and by the latter part of the second half, had become quite predictable. And if he and Chukwueze have to be played as traditional wingers, perhaps there's no need to invert their positions so that they cross with their stronger foot.

As teams increasingly deploy low block defensive systems and space becomes a premium, there is a need for Nigerian wing play to further evolve and rely less on overcoming 1v1 situations with the dribble, to a more nuanced approach. An approach that relies on first creating space and then positioning the likes of Simon to accelerate in open play, either on the flanks or centrally (Tijani Babangida vs South Africa).

Let there be no misunderstanding. In the modern game with limited space, the value of players who can run at a defence cannot be overstated. 

But the key is in finding space; in being able to position such players within the time and space for them to constantly break defensive lines (central or wide) and unbalance defenders squeezing the lines between zones, without frequent loss of possession as we see for instance with Dembele at Barcelona.

For the current Super Eagles, this would require greater patience and more control in central midfield and Nigeria has enough quality in Joe Aribo and Wilf Ndidi to do this. It would also require the use of Kelechi and the fullbacks to create triangles, high and wide, before the delivery into space for a late run behind the fullbacks.

RE: Maduka Okoye (GK) Reviews

 I have seen a lot of reviews of Okoye following the Cape Verde match, most negative, largely based on the goal he conceded at the near post.

The conclusion from the 19th minute goal is that he had an awful, horrendous game. Some have since called for his replacement.

Ironically, most reviews are unanimous that he was largely untested, and besides the goal he conceded, largely dealt with any other problems that came his way.

The Goal:

On the goal, he clearly gambled on the shot going to his wide side, which is often never a good decision. Most GK coaches will teach focus on the fundamentals FIRST; which in this case was simple. Cover your near post! He failed clearly.

However, the concession of a goal, often requires greater analysis than a simple finger pointing. Yes, goals can be the direct result of goalkeeping howlers, but most goals are the result of larger problems and failures, before the ball ever gets to the goalie, however much we might expect them to deal with the problem.

Larger Issues:

Against Cape Verde, Rohr largely set up Nigeria in a low to medium block. In the early part of the game though, Nigeria was pushing high, and keeping a high defensive line (see below).

                                    © 2021 Imgur, Inc

However, the integrity of that defensive line was highly compromised, resulting in three defensive lines, where there should be only one!

What is worse, save for the first, none of those other lines could've stopped a fly, much less the goal scorer Dylan Tavares, from being offsides!!!

Further upfield, there was an appalling lack of pressure on Roberto Lopes, left to enjoy the tranquil of Shamrock Island, with time and space willingly afforded to pick his head up and deliver the ball over the top...

Clearly, this was a front to back team failure, including the goalkeeper who at the very least should defend his covered side.

But it also points to larger issues in the tactical organization of the team and the choices made by a normally conservative manager.

Normally, this could be excused by the fact that this was an entirely unfamiliar defensive quartet, and this is indeed true. However, the same issues are evident in the main team.

There is a continuing lack of detail in the tactical organization of the team, especially without the ball. What is unclear to me is whether this is simply a coaching failure, individual player failure, a combination of the two, or a lack of quality in the options available to national team selectors..

Overall Performance:

The focus on the goal conceded has the unfortunate effect of sometimes overshadowing what was a functional and professional performance on the road in an African world cup qualifier.

After conceding in the 19min, Nigeria dominated the first half and was denied a go-ahead goal, following the equalizer by good goalkeeping. 

In the 2nd half, Nigeria setup a low to medium block and, bar one through ball which was marginally offside, was untroubled, as the space behind for the ball over the top no longer existed..

Looking (Slightly) Ahead:

The performance also showcased the depth of this team, and the two debuting central midfielders, Bonke and Michaels, have probably played themselves into the main squad.

With very few opportunities for international friendlies as a result of the pandemic, there is a need to push the envelope a bit in looking for options to challenge in central defence, especially with regard to Kevin Akpoguma.

The Failure of Nigeria to Develop Football

In my considered opinion, Nigeria has failed to develop football. Much like in the economic sector, it is possible to grow without developing.

Thus, it is possible to win the U-17 trophy repeatedly, but without substantively developing your talent.

How is this possible you ask; after all we have won the U-17 trophy defeating teams like Brazil, Germany, Italy, etc. What is more, several of our U-17 players have been signed by top clubs over the years!

I will answer the question this way:

At its most fundamental level, the U-17 tournament is about the primacy of individual talent. Even discounting the issue of use of overaged players, a look at the background of the individual Nigerian players would reveal certain inherent advantages, which their upbringing as footballers would confer on them over their European counterparts.

Learning football in a largely informal setting, in my opinion gives our players greater maturity from increased play time and therefore a head start, in their ability to thrive in a competitive environment. Especially in a competitive environment, defined more by individual talent, than the collective unit- tactics and organization.

But even at that, advances in training in youth academies in Europe and South America, is increasingly nullifying this gap.

This is why at the slightly higher level of the U-20 tournament, Nigeria has not done as well.

Why is this?

Because Nigeria has failed to develop football- her footballers.

Does that mean we haven't developed any players? No we have, especially in years past.

However the situation has been deteriorating from several decades back. Today, while there are supposedly structures (such as academies or NFF's youth development teams), many of these lack the knowledge to properly develop young players. This is evident from the quality of players coming through such as the last U-17 team.

As many of the readers of this blog know, I am a Liverpool FC fan. But apart from watching the first team, and the likes of Mane, Salah, Van Dijk and Bobby Firmino, I am also an avid follower of the team's academy.

Which brings me to the young player, Curtis Jones. First time I saw him play, his talent was obvious. But also visible was how rough he was around the edges.

But I have seen many a Nigerian young player whose talent would drown Jones at his absolute best!

Going back to the likes of Segun Olukanmi, Dipriye Teibowei, Fred Dumbi, Benjamin "Avenger" Uzoka, etc....

Here's Jones in his own words:

“I grew up the way a lot of Scousers do, just being a street kid, not having the best facilities, and making the most out of everything you can.
“Growing up [in Toxteth] made me the player I am today—confident, brave, knowing where I need to get to.”

Commenting on Jones, Liverpool FC coach Jurgen Klopp had this to say:

“[He is] good at dribbling and stuff like that,” he explained, “but now we need to make sure he finds the right moment to pass the ball.”

Assistant Coach, Pep Lijnders would provider a more in-depth analysis:

“You can have a lot of passion but if there’s no structure then you have no chance.
“You need organization, tactical discipline and the right distances…that’s the father and mother of football.” Link

At critical levels in the upbringing and development of the average Nigerian player, dominated by Nigerian coaches and officials, Nigeria has failed, and continues to fail to develop footballers.

It is true that at many of these critical levels, resources are often scant, and as the approaches to develop young players continue to advance, countries like Nigeria will lag even further behind.

However at its most basic level, take away all the new and fancy technologies and techno-speak, the development of a young player comes down to the quality of knowledge and guidance available to the player, and the ability of a well-informed coach to impart this to him.

The ambition of every young Nigerian footballer is to play professionally in Europe. This is understandable and is largely driven by economics.

But young Nigerian footballers should not have to go abroad to be able to maximize their talent. And even if they cannot earn the equivalent of the riches in European football, at the very minimum, they should be able to play football domestically, at something close to the maximum of their technical abilities; with an understanding of team organization, tactical discipline and spacing, something which even the most successful Nigerian U-17 teams were lacking in....

It comes as no surprise that fewer and fewer of our U-17 players are being signed by European clubs. This trend will only accelerate!

And even among those young players who secure contracts in Europe, the patience by teams and managers to invest time and effort in their development can sometimes wear thin, as we saw with Kelechi Iheanacho at Manchester City.

Increasingly, we will have to rely on diaspora Nigerians for the Super Eagles, in spite of the vociferous and pointless clamor for use of home based players. Irrespective of nationality, any Super Eagles coach who wishes to succeed will have no alternative...

Time and again, the debate over the Super Eagles coach will swing back and forth between use of local or foreign coaches.

Totally lost in this pointless debate is the fact that at every facet of the development path of a young footballer in Nigeria is a local coach or official.

The inability of these coaches and officials to develop football in Nigeria is a critical issue that Amaju Pinnick must begin to address, with the same passion as he pursues diaspora Nigerians for the Super Eagles.

On a technical level, there is value in first properly developing young Nigerian players at home than in Europe, further down in the player's developmental timeline. 

First, developing young Nigerian players domestically ensures proper grounding in the culture of Nigerian football.

Second, not many teams or managers have the patience, the inclination or the understanding of each player to implement development in the best interests of the player.

The result is that far too many of our best talents are being lost to football. Oliver Ndigwe, Kingsley Ogbodo, Rabui Ibrahim, Chidera Eze, Kelechi Nwakali....

Random thoughts on Nigeria vs Brazil

1. First, a creditable result against one of the powers of world football.

2. Overall a very impressive defensive organization. But a bit strange watching a tournament-style defensive performance in an international friendly.

3. Great communication and transitioning of roles/assignments between players in the defensive phase. Using the wide players to pick up Brazilian players breaking into space on the switch of play, with great communication between the wide players and the fullbacks. Iwobi and Osimhen would do a lot of work in controlling the space high up in the center of the field, making it difficult to run at the defence in open play.

4. The Nigerian defense would repeatedly bend but not break. A deep seating defensive organization would force Brazil to play quicker through midfield, but great work rate and organization between the lines would considerably reduce the final impact of the South American's dominance in possession.

5. Brazil's reliance on crosses and of course set-pieces for the goal and the shots off the woodwork was ample testimony to the defensive shift put in by Nigeria.

6. Disappointing though to see Ajayi lose his aerial duel with Marquinhos, leading to the equalizer. Should've been quicker in closing down Firmino on the snap turn and shot in the first half. Despite that, he had a strong game, especially in his reading of the game and I look forward to seeing more of him. Nigeria needs an upgrade in central defence.

The second header by Marquinhos was a foul on Collins. But you expect the SC Paderborn defender to be stronger...Thought he was really good in recovering his position as well as his 1v1 defending against a very tricky opponent.

7. Brazil would make two great breakthroughs as Nigeria started to tire from about the 75min. You have to wonder why Genort Rohr, even in a friendly is slow to make changes!

Of Possession, Beauty and Bravehearts

8. The beauty of possession is in the eye of the beholding coach! Brazil had 70 percent of possession. You expect Brazil to dominate possession against Nigeria, so the focus should rightly be on the quality, not the absolute number of possession.

9. There is a glaring lack of stability in the Nigerian possession game; often scrambled, discordant and lacking in fluidity. Crucially, it limits the effectiveness of the counterattacking game, especially given the speed and technical skills of its attacking trio.

10. While this was to be expected with the retirement of Mikel Obi, a substantial part of this is related to the lack of bravery and dynamism in Genort Rohr's approach and his lack of trust in the technical skills of the players.

11. So far, Rohr's personnel decisions have been absolutely spot on and a post Mikel team is emerging clearly, although I am still to be convinced about Onuachu. But he needs loosen up and take greater risks in both his personnel decisions as well as tactics.

Super Eagles: Time for a Reset

Following elimination in the AFCON semi-final by Algeria, Nigeria enters a very important crossroads in the development of the Super Eagles.

One value of the tournament is that it gives African teams a chance to assess progress midway before the next world cup, and make necessary course corrections, to build on progress or restart the project.

Nigeria under Gernot Rohr has come a considerable way, following failure to qualify for two back to back Nations Cups.

Progress Under Rohr
The progress in squad development following the late Stephen Keshi's team is quite obvious. This is perhaps Rohr's most important achievement so far: a stable and progressively growing squad, with new players being introduced slowly...

In defence, two young specialist fullbacks have emerged from this competition in Aina and Collins, with competent backups to create one of the most competitive positions in the team.

In central defence, Omeruo brought his La Liga performance to the competition, complete with its highs and lows, in combination with Ekong. An initially solid defensive organization, progressively declined on the strength of individual mistakes. More quality options are needed in central defence.

If the defensive organization was initially good, in goal there is no such equivocation. Nigeria paraded a trio of incompetent goalkeepers, each with no upsides. None capable of further development. All three terminal cases and dead-enders. There is no option but to look for better alternatives. The fact that Nigeria is in this position by itself points to greater issues about the development of the game that I will address later.

In central midfield, Ndidi has emerged as a clear leader and next to Etebo, in my view the best central midfield combo in the competition. But there are clear weaknesses in both players, with Ndidi still learning the position, and Etebo, for all his industry, inconsistent in his use of the ball, and average in defending space. In fairness to him, some of this is coming from the tactical decisions of the coach. More on this later...

In the wide areas, Rohr has supervised the emergence of a set of players that makes this the most competitive position in the team. The quintet of Musa, Simon, Chukwueze, Samuel and Onyekuru hold much promise for the future, especially with a more dynamic approach.

In the central striker role, Odion Ighalo brought a level of work rate that I have not seen for a while in the Super Eagles, and while Rohr has slowly built up additional options in Onuachu and Osimhen, this is clearly a weak position for the team.

Tactical Organization:
Tactically, it was always clear that Rohr is of a conservative bent, and on that, the man has been a model of consistency. This has resulted in a team often seating deep in midfield, inviting the opposition, any opposition, and looking to breakaway in open play, especially in the wide areas.

It has also produced some strong defensive organization at AFCON especially, betrayed only by individual errors, notably from Balogun and Omeruo.

However, the above merits are quickly negated by a chronic lack of imagination in the attacking phase, with players generally fit into well-formed straight jackets, where a wide player is a wide player, and a striker is a burly center forward, forever with back to goal, chasing down cul de sacs...

The result is a team growing, but only in millimeters, with little innovative thinking in midfield or attack. When tasked to find solutions to support the play on the field, adjustments when they have come, have been delivered cautiously; always cautiously, like the Nigerian road-sign:  "slow men at work"!

For much of the game against Algeria, the young Samuel Chukwueze would struggle to find space behind the fullback and double coverage, to run onto. But on the bench his manager dithered in varying the points at which he picked up the ball to give him different looks and ask different questions of the Algerian defence. And when he tired out, Henry Onyekuru would be introduced, to do the very same thing! Perhaps his shock of blonde hair was the different look!!!

The tactical shape of the Nigerian midfield has remained a conundrum, starting with the idea of Mikel Obi in attacking midfield. At the heart of central midfield, Etebo continues to be used in a far more horizontal way than his best skills suggest- a box to box midfielder. While it is true that not enough credible options currently exist in midfield, it is equally true that the situation is constrained by a lack of dynamism in approach.

There is not an underdog tag available that Rohr has not clutched at, often with the fervor of a man hanging on to a ship wreck! While I understand much of this to be coach-speak, it is the reflection of this in the ensuing tactics that I find disconcerting.

In the crucial opening game at the last world cup, this mind set would lead to an approach that was focused far more on countering the perceived strengths of Croatia than on exploiting an opposing defence lacking in pace in wide areas, ironically the strength of his team.

However, this is not to absolve players from individual failures, such as Ndidi conceding a dangerous freekick in the last minute of injury time, or Omeruo repeatedly gifting the opponent in the penalty area, or Alex Iwobi's diabolical performance against Algeria....But I am reminded of this quote from Liverpool manager, from back in his early days at Mainz.

"We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp

Time for a Reset
In assessing the 3-year tenure of Genot Rohr, it is obvious that there are plenty of positives. It is therefore a legitimate position to advocate for continuity in the national team by retaining him. What is more, there are clear risks in making a course correction at this stage. Such a move is replete with potential minefields, and nothing as always is guaranteed.

But nonetheless I come to a different conclusion, even while agreeing with Rohr's assessment that this team will get better. And I did not reach this position as a result of the Algeria defeat. Indeed, even an AFCON triumph would not have led me to a different conclusion!

Why is this?

Philosophically, Rohr's tactical concept of the game neither suits the Nigerian concept of the game and what it should be in 2019, nor does it meet Nigeria's ambitions, even recognizing some of the limitations of talent.

The sight of Nigeria repeatedly lumping the ball forwards in search of the big target man, playing with back to goal, rather than playing through midfield, with attacking patterns of play based on passing and movement, as opposed to overcoming in 1v1 situations, is simply not acceptable.

The young players who have emerged from Rohr's tenure or are emerging in Europe deserve a more forward thinking manager. A manager who doesn't see the game in "monosyllables", forever reluctant to engage tactically!

Recommendations:
In advocating for a change, I also include in this a change in our approach to the recruitment of coaches. First of all, the old dichotomy between foreign and local coaches cannot stand any basic test of logic. It is irrelevant whether the coach is Nigerian, European, South American, from Kafanchan or Saskatchewan! What matters is the competence of the coach and the suitability of his philosophy of the game.

Secondly, as currently constituted, the NFF is not equipped to carry this task out on its won, and I would seriously recommend the short-term engagement of our own Mike Emenalo for his professional assistance.

And if we are not able/willing to engage with professional recruitment, then it would be best to leave Rohr in place and extend his contract, although that would be a clear mistake in my opinion.

Domestic Focus:
What is clear from our inability to find a competent goalkeeper is that the domestic game is not developing players properly. A fact that was also evident in the U-20 team.

For us to regenerate the national team for the long term, we must address weaknesses in the development of local players, through renewed focus on the national league.

It is especially imperative, in the immediate period, that we revamp the process for selection of players to the youth teams and focus, not entirely on winning at all cost, but in exposing exceptional young talent at the global level.

Too many of the players coming through our youth teams are either age inappropriate or simply not high quality talent. We must challenge our national team youth coaches to engage in comprehensive scouting for talent as was the case in the past with Sebastian Brodericks and Fanny Amu.

We need to return to the schools system as the framework for selecting young players, especially at the U-17 level.

Going forward, the options before us appear crystal clear. Continuing with Rohr will bring stability. We will likely qualify for the next world cup and next AFCON. We will improve the team and the Super Eagles will grow. But only marginally....

Reflecting on the s/final loss, the coach said as follows: “It was a big fight until the last minute, it was a wonderful match, I think my players wanted it to go to extra time thinking Algeria were more tired,” Rohr was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The above statement encapsulates the Super Eagles under Genort Rohr: never able to seize the moment and the advantage staring them squarely in the face!

The question is, are we willing to accept marginal, incremental progress? For me the answer is No!

Wake Up Africa!!!

I have thoroughly enjoyed the FIFA Women World Cup going on in France. As a student of the game, it's been fascinating watching the steady development of the women game and the bridging of the gap between Europe especially, and the US, the dominant team in the women game.

What I have not enjoyed however, is the African participation. And by African participation I mean the whole gamut of participants, from players to officials and fans.

Suddenly African fans in their large numbers have become a bunch of whiners; whining endlessly at referees and VAR decisions, all the while clueless about the rules of the game, and apparently too lazy to get off their couches and learn the fvucking rules!!!

I don't know which is worse, the whining African fans or the sympathetic liberals on Western TV talking about how these women players may not have seen VAR in their lives, or how they have not been supported- true....

But can we get off this crap!

There is no conspiracy out there to deny African women of a chance to progress in the World Cup. How do I know that?

First there are a lot of serious things in the world that someone might want to conspire about. Football is just not one of them...

More importantly, African officials already conspired to short change the women (and men) anyways, and long before they arrived in France! As I write, the Nigerian women have not been fully paid their bonuses!!

People should educate themselves about the rules of the game. Yes, I too screamed in frustration at the VAR decision on the penalty kick retake against France.

But guess what? I calmed the fvck down and accepted the decision for what it was- a correct interpretation of the rules!

Now, did I like the rules? Hell no!

It is a prime example of mindless over-governance of the game. But it is the rule. So get on with it!

A lot has been written about the Scotland-Cameroon game, with African fans up in arms about everything, conveniently ignoring at least two red card worthy offences by Cameroon, a country with a long and rich history of agricultural tackles in men, women and youth football...

But let me be clear: those Cameroonian players, every one of them, including their officials, are a DISGRACE to their heritage. A disgrace to themselves and their families, and a disgrace to African football!

Those players need to be sanctioned seriously, especially the vile spitting player, if found guilty. They need to be made an example of, so nobody ever ventures in that direction again. The Cameroonian FA and officials, including the mealy mouthed Alain Djeumfa, need to be fined heavily for failing to control their players.

If the players do not understand the application of VAR, perhaps they should take a break from football, because VAR is not going away anytime soon. It is here to stay; thankfully! Hopefully; and I use the word advisably, we might be spared of Mike Dean or Jon Moss next season!!!

It is a sad spectacle watching and listening to my people hyper ventilate about VAR and refs, without a thought to how the women game is not developing in Africa countries like Nigeria, with a head start over several European countries, have now lagged far behind, to the point of being made a welfare case!!!

There is endless bloviation about how the media stereotypes African women footballers as "naive", "physical", "athletic", etc...

I'm sorry that the western media do not use the words "balletic" or "swan-like" instead to describe our players. Perhaps that would soothe your damn nerves!

But let me remind you that the US women have risen to the top of the women game and remained there on the basis of superior athleticism, work rate, power and tactical awareness!

It cannot be a stereotype if it is a fact! The African game is based on speed, power, athleticism and spontaneous creativity, like the "nkpokiti" rhythm and dancers.

True, many of these commentators do not truly understand the African game. True, many of them see the African game from their perspective.

But I have no interest in the words. Rather my interest is in our inability to use those qualities that are spoken about, yes- physicality, athleticism and power, to drive a coordinated team game.

How can we harness these qualities to advance the modern team game? That is what interests me. And if you are a serious follower of the African game, it should interest you too!!

Nigeria Begins a Post World Cup Era with Seychelles

Nigeria's match against Seychelles marked the beginning of the second half of the Gernot Rohr era, following a largely unremarkable world cup, defined more by what could've been.

Readers of my blog might have noticed that I am yet to pen a review of Nigeria's world cup performance. This is largely the result of the fact that in my opinion, the key issues in the overall performance reflect long term problems that relate more to Pinnick and his leadership of the NFF, than Gernot Rohr, and would need to be addressed separately.

The reality is that the production of talent, both in terms of quality and numbers has stalled badly in Nigeria, and this relates to issues in the organization of the domestic game, both at the technical and the management level. The Nigerian domestic game has proven to be incapable of developing players of international calibre, a situation that has existed since the early 2000s, with no serious attempt at resolution. Perhaps nothing underlined this sad state of affairs than the use of goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, from the youth side of a relegated La Liga side.

In addition the Nigerian clubs as currently constituted, are completely lacking a professional environment in which players can develop to be high level international footballers. This is the remit of Amaju Pinnick and the NFF. And until this is seriously addressed, Nigeria will continue to rely on individual players breaking through from all shades and tiers of European football.

Like it was at the World Cup, the result against Seychelles was as expected as it was unremarkable, and underlines the fact that Rohr's cautious approach is set to continue.

Nigeria largely controlled a game of poor quality and few remarkable moments rather easily, and on a pitch that once again underlines the lack of appreciation of the value of a good playing field by African football associations...

On the technical side, the game also highlighted CONTINUING issues on the personnel side that need to be addressed, if Nigeria must return to the pinnacle of the African game and rise above the muddle and mediocrity in the continent at the moment.

Attack:
In attack, the continued reliance on Odion Ighalo, while understandable in the short term, remains an issue in need of greater effort and urgency at resolution by the coach. Thus far, Rohr's approach has been to keep faith in the player, expecting that his hard work and experience will come through. In fairness to the coach, there are few, if any genuine alternatives. What we have instead are either unproven players or players with questionable potentials, often performing at low levels, with little consistency, and that would require patience and gradual introduction.

But this is not to say that Rohr is entirely blameless. He has more options than he has used consistently, as a result of his over reliance on the big burly striker, who can hold up the ball. Thus far, he has chosen to bring the wide players closer to Ighalo in the final third. But he has also not returned to the use of Musa in a central attacking role as he did successfully against Argentina in Russia, which could potentially open up space for greater use of the likes of Onyekuru....

There is also the continued lack of cutting edge in the final third, in large part from a reluctance to deploy midfield runners as arrivals in the penalty area, a quality quite evident in Ndidi and Joel Obi.

What is abundantly clear however is that Odion Ighalo is not an international level striker and continued reliance on him is foolhardy. Both the NFF and Rohr can do better in developing more capable options. In my opinion, the Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke is a very viable option that needs to be explored, his lack of first team action notwithstanding.

Midfield:
In midfield, Mikel Obi's continued presence is not assured and his international career is surely coming to an end. In a deeper role, his presence will not be missed as Ndidi is a very capable and assured replacement.

The challenge is in the roles on either side of Ndidi, in a 4-3-3 or besides him in a 4-2-3-1. The world cup clearly underlined some of the qualities of Etebo in central midfield, as well as his deficiencies. In addition, there are continued questions about the #10 role, which was filled today by Kelechi in a thoroughly unconvincing fashion.

Rohr needs to develop more options in central midfield, and he needs to do this in a forward looking manner, not by reliance on rethreads like John Ogu. It would require that we take more risks, especially through high level friendlies, as well as expand our scouting network.

Defence:
In defence, we need to develop better options in fullback positions, to enable Rohr return to his favored back four, and extend our overall qualities in wide areas.

There is also the need to develop more options in central defence. This would enable the team transition away from continued use of Omeruo, whose career has steadily declined since the heights of the AFCON triumph. His technical qualities on the ball, positional awareness and tactical discipline are lacking, as shown by the map below (#22) from the Argentine first goal, a situation that was not much improved today, even against a hapless Seychelles.

Gernot Rohr and Nigeria's rationale of its world cup performance was based on the age and lack of experience of the Super Eagles. That rationale cannot be justified in the AFCON qualifiers or in the ensuing tournament. Nigeria must show real and tangible progress in the 2019 AFCON tournament in Cameroon.

Nigeria's World Cup Final...

In my considered opinion, Nigeria's world cup will come down to Kaliningrad on June 16. For me, given the schedule of games, the loser goes home; period....

The biggest tactical question Nigeria will face in this game in particular and in the world cup in general, will be how to play within limited space and time.

Nigeria's world cup will be defined by possession. But not in absolute numbers, rather the efficiency of possession, when she has the ball, and the organization in the non-possession phase when/if the opponent has controlled possession.

This is why I see an almighty 'gunfight' in central midfield at the Arena Baltika, and everybody better come with their weapons, fully loaded, with intent to execute, with neither malice nor charity, and no prisoners taken!!!

There's a quiet confidence within the Croatian camp that it would be a big mistake for Nigeria to high press in midfield, and that with elite midfielders in Modric, Rakitic, Brozovic and Kovacic, they possess the experience and craft to easily play through the first line of Nigerian high press by slowing the tempo and 'boxing' the Super Eagles, before switching to undefended zones and then unbalance Nigeria in defence, with quick through balls behind the fullbacks, or in the space on either side of central defence.

All available evidence points to the ability of the Nigerian first press to reach its mark, given the athleticism of the key central midfielders. Whether this can be accomplished without resort to card inducing fouls, is an open question, as we say in that friendly Croatia vs Senegal. However the first press is not my main concern. My concern is the second ball and the limited options around that ball in the attacking phase.

And why is this a concern? One word- the counter press! The limitation in options will increase the likelihood of success of the counter press, and this Nigerian team is not as yet well organized in this phase, although much better organized than Croatia faced against Senegal. There remains a critical lack of communication across the lines dividing the defined roles, with certain units not pushing up, or back in tandem.

Take the annoying friendly against England, which allowed Southgate fulfill all his tactical wet dreams..Kane's movement, like the gyrations of an experienced lap-dancer, would repeatedly draw Ekong out, with no corresponding defensive movement from midfield, leaving the Nigerian central defense wide open...

My second concern is what happens when the opponent inevitably raises the tempo and attempts to play through the Nigerian midfield at pace, having used possession to tire out the Nigerian central midfielders.

Offensively, the Nigerian attacking game appears to be at its most productive when the opponent is isolated in space. In the counterattacking phase, this Nigerian team will primarily beat you with pace and the dribble in open play. There needs to be more. There needs to be greater work on ball possession.

The first friendly against Poland gave a few glimpses of some of Nigeria's characteristics; the second was a complete wash, a nothing burger...For full disclosure, I am not a fan of pre-World Cup friendlies. For the most part, they show nothing and prove little. It leaves both players and managers in a no-win situation, and even the limited set of objectives that managers plan for, are never worth the price of tournament ending injuries....

However as I stated earlier, this is a different kind of Nigerian team, and Super Eagles fans are well advised to discard expectations of a typical Nigerian flamboyance. This is a team that is being built on organization, resilience and efficiency on the counter. Whether they can achieve this is an open question.

In Rohr, the team has a thoroughly understated, conservative and average manager, but one who is well aware of the strengths and limitations of his team.

The key question is, given everything said, can this Nigeria team beat Croatia? The simple answer is that given the vulnerabilities in the Croatian defense, Nigeria will get opportunities and can beat the Croats. But there is little doubt in my mind that Croatia will start with some clear advantages over Nigeria in both playing personnel and team structures. Overall a lot for Nigeria will depend on how well Rohr calibrates his tactics and the maximum concentration of the players.

In my opinion, it would be a mistake for Nigeria to implement a full-court high-press against Croatia. Instead, it must be situational, and the team must find the right moments to press and the right balance between the high press and a low/medium block. And with the blistering pace upfront and vertical threats like Musa, either out wide or centrally, the team can retain an attacking threat even while sitting deep.

Whatever happens, this could be a new phase in Nigerian national team football, both in terms of the players and the team tactics.

Nigeria's JMO-Sized Tactical Conundrum

On August 4 2016 at the Amazonia Arena in the sultry heat of Manaus, Brazil, Nigeria first unveiled a new tactical formation under Samson Siasia, in a wild game of Olympics football, which ended 5-4 in her favor, against Japan.

Contrary to what had become an established role at the heart of central midfield, Siasia would field John Mikel Obi (JMO) higher upfield, behind Sadiq Umar, the central striker, but in front of the two central midfielders, Azubuike and Muhammed.

Not much has been said by subsequent Nigerian managers, including Gernot Rohr on this new role definition, except a statement credited to Siasia that this was Mikel's preferred role.

In this role, going by Rohr's definition so far, Mikel becomes the outlet for hold-up play, higher up the pitch, building on one of his greatest strengths, the ability to retain the ball technically, without 'leftovers', and allow Nigeria transition to the final third with tranquility.

Since assuming the role of  manager, Gernot Rohr has steadily installed a counterattacking regime in the Super Eagles, using the pace in wide areas for the breakaway from deep. In this new role therefore, Mikel offers an outlet for the deep ball (or knock down from the central striker), especially in the face of a high press.

When executed well, it has seen Nigeria develop play with much greater efficiency and arrive in the final third with stability and assurance. It has also increased Mikel's goals and assist rate for the national team.

The problem for Nigeria is that for much of his career outside youth football, Mikel has always received the ball to feet in the first stage of the build up play. Under Mourinho and subsequent Chelsea managers, the spacing of players enabled Mikel and his team move the ball quickly with a regime of short horizontal passes, to both evade the press as well as transition to the next attacking phase.

Higher upfield when Nigeria use the outlet ball to Mikel, his skills and experience from Chelsea affect the speed of the counter. Even with his superb close control, the game at this stage would often require him to turn upfield, which he executes under regulation speed limits in a well heeled residential neighborhood...

What is more, Nigeria play a running game, with a long history of players adept at running at a defence, with speed and great individual technique. The tempo of the Nigerian game drops on the occasion that this is required of Mikel.

These combine to make Mikel highly susceptible to the press in this role and would require that the team develop options around the ball to exploit the space that would emerge when the opponent executes this. Rohr could also drop Mikel deeper in central midfield as he has sometimes done...

Whichever way this goes, this will be an interesting issue to watch in the mundiale, especially given the conservative nature of the Nigerian manager...

First Thoughts on Nigeria at the World Cup...

A young Nigerian team became the first country to qualify for the World Cup from the African confederation, built on strong internal cohesion, a vibrant team spirit, and great athleticism.

Compared to previous versions, this is a very different Super Eagles team. The universal attention to nutrition and conditioning will mean that this is a world cup in which the gaps between teams will come from mentality and superior technique. Nigeria's athleticism will be a very important factor if well harnessed.

Going into the world cup, my main concerns for this team lie in the stagnation of key players. Mikel Obi is in China, Ogenyi Onazi is in Turkey, Kelechi Iheanacho is struggling to rekindle his young career at Leicester, and Alex Iwobi is caught up in the stasis at Arsenal.

Tactically, not many of the players  have grown in the last season, but at the same time, it would be a mistake to reach hard conclusions about Nigerian players in the national team, solely on the basis of club performance, as a different dynamic obtains at this level, as we saw years ago with Samson Siasia, then at Nantes.

Given this background, it is understandable the approach adopted by Gernot Rohr, and no game captures this as best as the decisive game against Zambia in Uyo. This version of the Nigeria Super Eagles is being built to learn to 'suffer', be comfortable in it, and then take its opportunities. There is thus certainty in the way the team wants to play, where a team like Argentina, is still looking...

Tactically, there are two major areas of concern:

First is the ability to keep possession higher upfield, without an over reliance on the individual qualities of Mikel Obi in an advanced role. Individually, the players have the technical quality, but as a team, this is lacking, and I think, more as a consequence of coaching decisions. In Russia, I expect teams will look first to take away the option that Mikel presents for keeping possession high upfield.

In the mundiale, it is hard to see Nigeria effectively control a game from a defensive position, while simply booting the ball upfield as they did against Poland.

The second concern is the organization of the team behind the line of press. This is the first manager to harness the natural athleticism of Nigerian players in a high pressing game, without the need to commit multiple players or to significantly advance the defensive line. Of course this is not the first time Nigeria has used a pressing system (the late Keshi's team did in some games), but none of Nigeria's previous managers had players with the qualities of this team, especially Ndidi in central midfield.

The problem here is that without increasing the share of possession in the game, the team is often playing in one tempo, and as was the case in the second half in Worclaw, gaps will begin to appear in midfield as players start to tire, and the opponent plays faster through midfield as the Poles did in the second half last night.

In Russia, tactically, I expect Nigeria's approach to face its stiffest examination against Croatia, largely because of the different characteristics of the Croats, and their ability to suddenly transition to attack even from deep. But watching the performance last night, Nigeria can overcome in what will similarly be a 'trench warfare' in central midfield vs Croatia, but it must find greater options in attack for the out ball, and better organization on the break.

The return of Joel Obi is especially wellcome. He brings additional technical quality to central midfield that is lacking with Onazi, even while recognizing the latter's combative qualities. It remains to be seen whether he can be fully integrated into the team, and especially whether he can stay fit.

Sadly for the team, the wide player Henry Onyekuru has had a difficult season with injuries and has been unavailable for integration into the side. His qualities on the left would have complimented Moses on the right, especially with the indifferent season of Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi. This in turn means increased pressure on the left side of the defence.

Overall, the various elements of how the team play, or the composition of the squad are well in place, and only a few questions remain. This will be an interesting mundiale....

How far can this team go?

Hard to say at this point, but it has a good chance to get out of the group. The team lacks exceptional individuals, like Argentina or top professionals, like Croatia, but it has its own qualities from a youthful and vibrant side. It also has a manager who is well aware of the team's capabilities, and who will play within this, regardless....

What the Balon d'Or Won't Tell You...

Readers of this blog would be right in wondering why the sudden departure from a strict focus on African football to discuss, of all things, the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry!

My response is to ask for patience...This in reality is about African footballers, and in this case, the specific example of a young African player, Isaac Success...

On the surface of it, and based on number of Balon d'Ors won by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, both players are locked in a head to head battle as the best two players in their generation.

But I think this is the case if we only permit ourselves to look at all the conventional metrics of determining greatness in football. I write this as a fan of both players, but what the Balon d'Or voters and the awards as a whole cannot answer is the question, how do you measure genius?

The history of football is replete with the careers of many great footballers, but few geniuses have graced the beautiful game, and in my view Lionel Messi belongs to this small group, in spite of not winning the World Cup, a failure that belongs to the Argentine Football Association, rather than the player.

Having said this, Cristiano Ronaldo's career and Balon d'Or victories represent the ultimate expression and reward for professional dedication to the sport and to one's craft. It represents at the same time both a shinning example of personal ambition and a reflection of the failures of African footballers.

When many years ago, Ronaldo Koeman, then manager at Ajax expressed the view that many an African player, in that instance, Pius Ikedia, merely played for a contract, and did not show ambition beyond that, I thought he was talking from the hat...

Over the years, I've come to understand some of the frustrations apparently embedded in those statements; some but not all...

Take the case of the young Watford player, Isaac Success, who burst onto the scene at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup. As a result of a thigh injury, he only played two games in the tournament. However watching the technique behind his volley in pulling a goal back for Nigeria in a pulsating 3-3 draw with Sweden, it was easy to tell this was a special talent.

That spectacular goal has come to underline much of his career; exceptional at the Santiago Bernabeu for Grenada two years ago; brilliant for Watford recently against Bournemouth; but interspersed with large doses of anonymity.

But lets be clear, I am well aware that many young African players come from poor backgrounds and have typically had to assume responsibility, well beyond their years, a burden that many of their European peers are often not saddled with. But that is not enough excuse!

True, many young African players have been misled into signing unfavorable contracts or forced by financial circumstances to jump at the first contract paper waved at their faces, or been saddled by average European managers without the intelligence (or the patience) to properly harness the talents of the players to the benefit of both the team and the long term future of the player...

However it is also true that too many young African players with the potential to 'do a Ronaldo' have fallen by the wayside from a lack of professional dedication to the sport and their careers, too easily comfortable in the trappings of a contract, and failing to challenge themselves to be the best that their talent allows them to, as Cristiano Ronaldo's story aptly demonstrates, almost from his first day at the Carrington training ground. Nii Odartey Lamptey, Daniel Addo, Christopher Nwosu, Etim Esin....

Sadly I see similar signs of Isaac Success, a player with the potential to play at a much higher level than he has shown thus far, brilliant one day, tripping over his stepovers the next! Too content with where he's at and not showing enough desire to propel himself beyond the here and now...I see similar signs of Kelechi Iheanacho, still struggling with his first touch, going into his second year in the first team squad at City.

Gernot Rohr: Dancing with the Wolves!

Watching Nigeria dominate Algeria in a 3-1 triumph, you get the unmistakable impression that German coach, Gernot Rhor might be on the cusp of building a young, dynamic team, with the attacking verve to trouble many teams.

But in two back to back games, his attempt at game management after establishing a dominant opening half, has left much to be desired, leaving open the clear possibility of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!

The challenge of coaching Nigeria does not often weigh heavily on how to structure the attacking game, (unless you are an old school German coach, stuck in a time warp of rigid tactical systems like Herr Berti Vogts). Rather it is on how to organize the team in the non-possession phase and maximize it's natural dynamism in attack, without compromising balance.

So I choose to focus on the latter! While this was an important win, if you look at this game from the perspective of the Algerian attacking game, this was an inept Nigerian performance on the defensive side.

Pix 1

Pix 2

In Pix 1 above, watch Bentaleb in the opening half burst into the box from deep unchallenged creating what should've been the equalizer in Pix 2.

Nigeria again played with a double pivot in central midfield, which meant that John Mikel Obi again played at the apex of the midfield triangle.

Clearly the introduction of Etebo alongside Onazi in central midfield enabled the team move a level up, but he needs guidance on the tactical side of his game, and the relationship between the two pivots needs to improve. In addition, his major skills set requires the design of plays that enables him surge into the box from deep, and unbalance rigid defensive lines. It would be unfortunate to take that side of his game away...

But more importantly, the gap between Mikel and the two pivots is dangerously wide, and seems to grow in geometric proportion with a match, as the Chelsea man's lack of proper conditioning increasingly manifests.

In the screenshots below, watch Mikel's position in the lead up to Bentaleb's goal.

Pix 3

Pix 4

Pix 5

Pix 6

And herein lies the main object of my concerns with Rohr's game management and rather feeble attempts at positioning for the counterattack on establishing a lead.

It took 73mins to finally make a sub (Anderson for Ideye) well after Zambia had snatched control of the game and deservedly scored. Ten minutes later, Musa would come on for a thoroughly ineffective Simon, by which time, Nigeria had stabilized the game...

Against Algeria, outside the injury enforced substitution of Omeruo on 66mins, it took 77mins to try to seriously address the Algerian second half dominance, with Ndidi's introduction finally bringing some stability and creating the foundation for the counterattack by Musa that led to the third goal.

As I've often said, when a team plays it leaves tactical footprints on the field. There are clear tactical problems with the Nigerian midfield. We need to address these before the decisive games against Cameroon that will decide who qualifies from the group.

In attack, the decision to start Iheanacho at the top of the attack, initially suggested to me to be a design at maximizing fluidity and flexibility between the attacking trio. But throughout the game, his starting position did not change much and rather exposed most of the limitations in his game that the coaching staff at Man City are still working on. Iheanacho needs to arrive in the box not be fixated in it or looking to hold up play with back to box. There are still too many technical leftovers in his game for this to be effective.

On a final note, can we please cut out the excesses? There is no need for the showboating and other such unprofessional habits that none of these players would exhibit at Arsenal, Chelsea or Lazio...

Zambia vs Nigeria: A tactical Review

Nigeria and Zambia played out an entertaining and a typically high energy African game at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, with the Super Eagles off to a great start.

Two goals from, first Iwobi and then a superb finish by Iheanacho, from a brilliantly constructed team play saw Nigeria race to a two-goal lead. Zambia would come back in the second half, but Nigeria held on to win.

1. Defensive Organization:
Nigeria started with Ndidi at right-back and Omeruo in place of Balogun at centerback, with a defensive line in low to medium block, but shifting occasionally. This particularly denied Mbesuma and Zambia the ball-over-the-top option, but Kalengo did find the occasional joy attacking from wide, especially on the Nigerian right.

Gaps between the Lines and a Tactical Disconnect:
The key defensive issue for Nigeria was the over exposure of the fullbacks in open play, and crucially, gaps between the lines when Zambia switched from wide to attack diagonally. Two things were responsible for this.

(i) The disconnect between Onazi's role as the first line of pressure in central midfield and Mikel's role further upfield.
(ii) the lack of sustained and effective cover from the wide midfielders, Simon and Iwobi.

Poor Rotation in the Non-Possession Phase:
Related to (i) above, Mikel repeatedly failed to rotate into the space vacated by Onazi, a direct result of his positioning further upfield and the well known weakness of his lateral movement. This meant that beyond the press, gaps remained in front of the Nigerian defence, which Mbesuma exploited very well playing with back to goal, or Kalengo, to lesser effect, on the dribble run.

Poor rotation especially manifested itself in the second half during a period of sustained Zambian pressure, with Mbesuma again key; receiving the ball with back to goal and then executing the give and go, with no corresponding movement from the Nigerian midfield to pick up the runner from deep.

This proved to be Zambia's main attacking weapon, and moving forward, Nigeria needs to address this. There also needs to be better understanding of positional roles between the wide players and fullbacks, and where best to channel the opposition wide player.

Overall, the team looked increasingly lethargic in the rotation of the zonal formation from the strong to weak side. A more adept team at crossfield switch will find and perhaps exploit better this weakness of the Nigerian team.

The Counterpress:
Even recognizing the challenges of executing this in the conditions in Ndola, the Nigerian team needs to organize better in this phase. As Eddy Murphy said in  the movie Harlem Nights, 'its not how many you shoot, but who you shoot'. Similarly, its often not how much you press, but who you press. As I had written about years ago, Sinkala in central midfield remained a rich target for the counterpress and it was disappointing to see Nigeria repeatedly pass up on the opportunity.

Lateral Defense: A Continuing Work in Progress:
Ndidi started in place of Musa Mohammed at right back and in spite of his efforts, was clearly the weak link in the Nigerian defence. On the left, Echiejile did well in shutting down Tembo, but struggled as the game wore on in the second half, and offered little in attacking the spaces being created out wide by Iwobi's diagonal movement.

If he is reading this, Amaju Pinnick and the NFF Technical Committee must as a matter of urgency step forward to support Mikel's attempt to recruit Chelsea's young right-back, Ola Aina. Although on the fringes of the first team, Aina is a fundamentally sound defender, with a good understanding of the role.

The other defender of interest is Kevin Akpoguma, who plays as a centerback for Fortuna Dusseldorf in Bundesliga 2. He is 1.92 metres (6’4in), has speed, good technique and is a dynamic player and was a 2013 Fritz-Walter gold medal winner for the best German players of U17, U18 and U19. He started out his career as a right back but he has played his best football for his current team at CB. He will take some strong recruiting effort, but would be a GREAT asset to this young emerging team.

2. Attacking Game: 3v1 in Midfield.
As expected, the Nigerian team was strong in the attacking phase, with good rotation, repeatedly outnumbering a clueless Zambian team in midfield, and you got the sense, on a better pitch and better conditions, could've inflicted even greater damage. This was indeed Nigeria's real strength and Rohr and his crew must have taken great satisfaction in how the team is coming along in this area.

Of the two wide midfielders, Simon had the wider role in the first half, and although he saw a lot of the ball, did not do enough to stretch the play, and his final ball was often lacking. I expect Moses to replace Simon in a similar role and considerably upgrade the team.

The Nigerian attack was especially effective when the passing and movement was uptempo, with frequent switching of the point of attack and rotation of players. But it clearly showed its work in progress in controlled possession phase, lacking the movement and patience to complete moves and twice gifting Zambia a chance on the counter.

Even of greater concern, was the inability of the team to develop counterattacking opportunities in the second half especially, even with an abundance of pace upfront. And often having pulled the Zambian defence into a central block, never could find the pass for effective blind-side runs behind the Chipolopolo defence.

3. Game Management:
The Zambian push-back in the second half was always expected, and overall, Nigeria did well to hold on and secure a win on the road, never an easy thing in the continent, with sometimes atrocious conditions.

However what was unexpected was Gernot Rohr's timidity in responding to changing events in real time, rather than live on hope and holding the course. Clearly the Nigerian team was starting to tire on the hour mark, especially in midfield under hot and humid conditions. At right-back, Ndidi was increasingly struggling, with Simon's efforts at support hardly sufficient.

It seemed that among other things, a slight adjustment in Kelechi's position to bring him closer to Mikel and Onazi could've helped the course of "controlled possession", which the team appeared to have set out to accomplish in that half. And the one time this tactic came through successfully, Ideye failed to take the chance that would've ended the game as a contest. That was Brown Ideye in a nutshell- never quite there!

What's more, his inability to effectively hold up play, meant the team couldn't follow through on to the second phase of the attack. Nigeria must continue to develop all aspects of its team and personnel, and must never be satisfied too soon.

4. Continued Team Development:
We must keep looking for options to improve the team or present multiple options for national team selectors. In attack we need to keep an eye for young players like Awoniyi and Osimhen, especially the latter. We need additional options in goal, fullbacks and central defence.

For the first time in a while, their appears to be the beginnings of some sort of sustained stability in the Super Eagles. Pinnick must work hard to build on this...

Reflecting further on the match, and as a long time follower of the African game, this was a disappointing Zambian team, with ageing players and a failure to reinvent itself.

Zambia vs Nigeria: 5 Key Points

Nigeria meets Zambia in the Africa World Cup Qualifiers on Sunday October 9 at Ndola, in a game of two African greats struggling to re-establish themselves in the continent.

For Nigeria and German coach Gernot Rohr these are the five key tactical points in previewing the game:

1. How high will the defensive line be. Will Nigeria set up in a low or medium block?
Against an average Tanzania side, Nigeria sought to press the ball with modest results, primarily as a result of haphazard organization behind the first line of the press. On the road, it will be interesting to see how brave Rohr will be, especially considering that the Zambian attack is not particularly endowed with great pace. Conversely, many in the Nigerian back-four are of average speed.

African team football, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, is based first on expressive individual technique and spontaneous creativity. While this can sometimes be devastating in the final third, it also leaves massive room for turnover of possession. This is why I have often maintained that teams with a modicum of compact organization and a threat of the counterattack, will always make hay in the continent, as we see with Cape Verde currently.

2. What will be the team's structure in midfield? Specifically, what will be the position of Mikel Obi? How close will the lines be in the non-possession phase?
Starting especially with Samson Siasia's Olympics team, Mikel's position has surprisingly moved further upfield, and Rohr appears to have continued with this. This has good and bad sides. On the positive side, it gives Nigeria a platform, high in the opposition half to retain possession technically, without loss of the ball, in the second or third phase of the build up.

On the downside however, it slows the team down and reduces the fluidity of the team. I am clearly not a fan of this move...I think that Nigeria is better served with Mikel in his Chelsea role, as a screen in front of the back-four in an inverted triangle.

3. How close will be the lines between the defenders, especially between the CDs and the fullbacks?
Zambia typically look to play quickly through midfield, interspersed with the long ball behind the fullbacks especially, with Mbesuma and Kalongo often spreading wide. But the key to unbalancing a close defensive line is Rainford Kalaba. I will especially be watching the performance of Musa Mohammed at right back and how well the centerbacks squeeze the space behind the fullbacks.

As Nigeria looks to recover with Rohr as the new manager, it is imperative that efforts be made to look for options in defence, and there are quite a few. But it will require strong diplomacy and proper scouting, especially in the local league.

4. Related to #3 above, what will be the starting position of the wide midfielders? What will be the default pattern of movement in the attacking phase?
I raise this especially because Nigeria's best options in this position, have often not been renowned for their defensive contribution. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, many of them (excluding Moses) play decidedly more advanced roles than they are made to play in the Super Eagles, a good example being Ahmed Musa, who is no longer a winger, but repeatedly placed in that role for Nigeria.

I am equally interested in observing the positioning of Alex Iwobi, whose great, great quality is his movement between the lines. What will their role definition reveal- more tradition, stasis or greater fluidity?

5. Who replaces Odion Ighalo?
Watching Ighalo play for Nigeria often leaves me with some conflict. Clearly the most established Nigerian center forward, but an old school forward who thrives best with an attacking partner, in the middle of an attacking trio of quick and flexible forwards. Not necessarily a negative, if the lines of movement around him is better defined...

Brown Ideye is suggested as the odds on favorite to start. In my considered opinion, the quickly Rohr moves away from options such as these, the better for Nigeria. Brown may get you a goal or two, eventually, but best not to resurrect ghosts....

Egypt vs Nigeria: A Tactical Preview

1. Samson Siasia has always been one of my favorites, of the new generation of Nigerian coaches emerging from the 1994 class of internationals, largely for his philosophy of a Nigerian attacking game. But his football has always been undermined by a lack of tactical balance, as I addressed here five years ago! Its not necessarily the number of attacking players you have on the pitch that gives you offensive impetus...

2. If Siasia can be persuaded to control his instincts and develop a game plan based on structured possession in midfield, and skillful control of tempo, Nigeria has the ability to get a win on the road against this Egyptian team.

3. Based on a 4-1-4-1, this is what I would recommend, assuming Omeruo was to become available.

4. At left back, whoever gets to start and thus has the task of marking Salah would focus defensive duties, strictly on channeling him down the line, with Onazi starting in central midfield-left, to occupy the inside channel.

5. The key strategy to the tactical organization, is structured control in midfield and control of the tempo of the game. That is why Mikel starts in a deep role, with Onazi and Etebo just ahead of him. Such a 'quarterback role' creates the space to enable Mikel play to his strength, in helping keep the shape of the team in the non-possession phase, while retaining the ability to telegraph quick breakaways with the precision long ball.

6. More importantly, this creates a 3v2 in central midfield, with the flexibility to shift towards the ball, with Mikel as anchor of an inverted triangle, and a shape to enable a controlled possession game.

7. Onazi starts on the left to create a strong left side, to both shadow Mohammed Salah as well as create the platform to exploit the space behind the Egyptian on the counter, which is why Musa starts on the left.

8. To the right of Etebo, Iheanacho starts in what is an advanced 'holding role', and an outlet to retain the ball higher up the pitch, and deliver through balls to Ighalo and Musa, as well as to push up besides the lone striker when necessary.

9. Musa takes up the widest role, of the four midfielders ahead of Mikel, and in position to attack the space behind Mohammed Salah, given the Egyptian's penchant for neglecting his defensive duties. The role also enables the team push Musa up to play as second striker, with the pace to get behind the defence to exploit Ighalo's knockdowns and hold up play.

10. Despite the criticisms from the last game, I would absolutely start Ighalo in attack. He brings a crucial ability to hold up play in a difficult road game, as well as the space awareness to run the channels. However it is crucial that Siasia build support around him, especially with Musa and Iheanacho, as he thrives best in a partnership.

11. Equally important, I would use Ighalo, along with Musa, to relentlessly press the Egyptian centerbacks, especially Hamada Tolba and goalie. But they would need to pick their time wisely...

12. Such a pressing regime is designed to force early release of the ball and constrain a structured build-up from the back. Forced release of the ball into central midfield would increase the chances the Super Eagles have of exploiting their advantage in numbers, and enhancing their ability to dominate space, even if not possession.

13. From the bench, Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi can be used to change the tempo of the game, with the young Arsenal player especially useful in forcing turnovers and breaking away from deep.

14. Finally, it would be remiss of me to finish this without mentioning the dastardly role that successive NFF leaderships, including the current one, have repeatedly played in undermining the stable development of the Nigerian national team. In a period of six years, these men, have undermined the ability of Nigeria to develop three of her best young managers, through outright subterfuge (Keshi), intrigue, as well as incompetence.

15. This is why there is a sense in me that perhaps, Siasia should've declined the request to take over the team in an interim position. Perhaps then, the likes of Chris Green would finally get a chance to show us the technical wizardry that lurks in the recesses of a mediocre intellect!

Oliseh's Super Eagles Emerging; Somewhat....

Two friendlies against Congo DR and Cameroon begin to show clearer the footprints of Oliseh's tenure as coach of the Super Eagles.

The most visible imprints lie in the possession phase of the game, specifically in the build-up stage, with a focus on a more methodical approach, especially in midfield.

The loss against Congo DR showed a team with sterile possession, lacking the right tempo and movement to endow its passing game with cutting edge in the last third.

An improved performance against Cameroon led to a 2-0 win, albeit with a little help from a 'compliant' Indomitable Lions team, and Stephen M'bia at his daft best!

Two major tactical issues stand out from both matches:

Considerable work still remains to be done in organization of the team in the non-possession phase, especially in central midfield. Lacking any truly creative midfielders, successive managers have in recent times looked to Mikel to assume greater responsibilities upfield. The impact has often been a concomitant loss of his best qualities from his club career, as the 'keeper of the team shape'...

In my opinion, we should consider restructuring the shape in central midfield with Mikel in a deeper role, in a 1-2 inverted triangle shape. Such a move must necessarily recognize that Igboun is not a midfielder but a forward; specifically a wide forward.

While the spacing between players has improved, you get the sense that sterner opposition will expose the frailties of the team's organization. In many respects, spacing in football has interesting parallels with a lady's mini skirt! Long enough to cover the essential parts, but short enough to be attractive...

There is a lack of consistency in the spacing between players, with the result that the team does not dominate space as well as it could, there are not enough lines of support around the ball and the tempo of the passing game remains lukewarm.

Related to the structural issues is continuing problems of the quality of options available to the team. As stated earlier, the use of Igboun in midfield is a disservice to both the player and the team. Although energetic, Onazi often does not display the same level of tactical awareness, while a player in left midfield is completely lacking in this selection.

In defence, the performance of Balogun as a 'front foot' centerback was very encouraging. If he is to remain in the role however, a powerful stopper is required behind him. While Omeruo has the potential to fill such a role, his recent performance and continuing lack of first team football is clear evidence of the merit in Oliseh's selection policy.

Recurring gaps from undefended zones continue to persist behind the lateral defence, especially on the right where the lack of a quality is palpable.

It is hard to see Oliseh's rebuilding project succeed and the small improvements made so far sustained without sufficiently addressing the problems in central defence.

In attack there needs to be clearer definition of lines of movement, as well as the requisite support around the ball, whether attacking diagonally or when stretching the field wide.

I continue to believe in the long term merits of Oliseh's selection policy. There will be those who will criticize this policy as naive, not practical or sustainable. I couldn't disagree more! A team whose players are selected simply on the basis of past performance or club profile, is a team living on borrowed time. . 

But the flip side of this is that Oliseh must back this up by an aggressive search for the players to match his philosophy of the game. Such an aggressive mindset would need to ignore the club profile of players, or phony classifications of age grades....

The Challenge of Rebuilding the Super Eagles

Two games do not normally constitute enough body of work to assess the performance of a coach, and I will not attempt to do so with respect to Sunday Oliseh's tenure so far.

However, his much publicized selection policy is of interest to me, especially because of the vital role that this has played in the failures of successive Nigerian coaches of the Super Eagles.

The pool of players available to national team selectors in Nigeria can be divided into four broad categories.

The first pool of players comprises established national team players among whom are the following: Enyeama,  Ambrose, Omeruo, Oboabona, Uwa; Mikel Obi, Onazi; Emenike, Musa, Moses.

The challenge for national team selectors is the fact that apart from Enyeama who has played at a consistently high level, the rest of this group have had their careers either stagnate, become inconsistent or out-rightly decline.

The second pool comprises fringe players who have made periodic appearances in the national team. This comprises a long list of players some of whom are Ejide, Egwueke, Oshaniwa, Kwambe, Raheem Lawal, John Ogu, Aaron Samuel, Obiora Nwankwo, Gbolahan Salami, Rabiu Ibrahim, Michael Babatunde, etc.

The difficulty for national team selectors in assessing this group is the clear lack of consistency in the careers of many of these players, with several shuttling between the NPL and trials in Europe. Under Keshi, For example, under Stephen Keshi, Oshaniwa made his debut and remained a regular until his international transfer, after which he seemed to disappear, only to return and feature prominently at the world cup, following an injury to Echiejile. Others have shuttled between minor clubs in the low tier European leagues.

The biggest challenge for national team selectors especially resides within this group, with many of the Euro-based players having had nomadic careers, shuttling between minor leagues, and their homebased counterparts navigating successive failed trials in Europe. The result is that few from this group have had settled careers, and overall have contributed least to the national team, compared to other groups. 

In my considered opinion, any call-ups from this group will need to be made with the most careful consideration. An analysis of call-ups by Sunday Oliseh so far shows that invitees from this group includes, Lukman Haruna, Sylvester Igboun, Izunna Uzochukwu, Rabiu Ibrahim, Obiora Nwankwo and Solomon Kwambe. None of these players have put in anything resembling a quality performance.

What is more, under Stephen Keshi and Siasia before him, players from this group have equally performed poorly, especially under the former. Analyzing this group further, one can conclude with certainty that the stagnation that followed Keshi's performance post-ANC 2013 can be traced to his repeated call-ups and persistence with players from this group, even when their contributions did not warrant a recall. The highlight of this being the notorious case of Gabriel Okechukwu including the decision to go to the world cup with the likes of Michael Uchebo, Reuben Gabriel and Uche Nwofor. Indeed, ten of Nigeria's world cup squad was drawn from this group!

The third pool of players comprise some emerging talent from both the domestic as well as European leagues, comprising such players as Moses Simon, Leon Balogun, William-Troos Ekong, Ighalo, Ujah, Kingsley Madu, Prince Aggrey, Mohmmed Usman, etc.

The fourth and final pool of players comprise players from our youth teams, many of whom are yet to make their international debuts with the Super Eagles, as well as diaspora Nigerians (including those with Nigerian parentage). Among these are such talents as Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Genk center-back, Wilfred Ndidi, Michael Olaitan, Godswill Ekpolor, Kelvin Akpoguma, Kenneth Otigba, etc.

The challenge for Sunday Oliseh and national team selectors is to focus player call-ups on players whose growth curve is trending upwards, wherever they may be domiciled, regardless of what experience they may have or how young they may claim. 

Perhaps the greatest irony of Nigerian football is the fact that at any one time, the best players from the Nigerian domestic game can be found in any one of our youth teams. And when they perform brilliantly at this level, we delude ourselves into thinking they are too young for the senior team!

Take the case of Stanley Okoro, who at the time of his superstar status with the U-17 'Golden Eaglets' was a top scorer for Heartland in the CAF Champions league, ostensibly considered 'too young' for the Super Eagles even when his standard was at least at the top end of the African club championship! The result was that he would go from playing in the finals of the CAF champions league to the reserves at Spanish basement club Almeria, as an academy scholar! From Almeria he would be sent on a season long loan in 2013 to the anonymous Bulgarian team, Cherno More. Nothing more has been heard of him since then...

The moral of the above story is that the only victims of our approach to youth football is Nigeria. Many of the players we parade from the U-17 to the U-23 levels are some of the best players in the domestic game in their positions, including some of those strategically 'parked' at our local academies to facilitate their international transfers.

While the MRI test might analyze the bone density of our players and certify them eligible for the U-17 team, they will not, and cannot reveal the iniquities underlying an approach that wastes some of the best years of our most talented footballers, like Macauley Chrisantus, top scorer and Silver Boot winner at the  2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea, a veteran of European basement league football at 25, having migrated from Hamburger SV to Hamburger SV II, Karlsruher SC, FSV Frankfurt, Las Palmas, Sivasspor and AEK Athens!

In the very short period of Sunday Oliseh's tenure, there are some encouraging signs from his selection policy and decisions, specifically his decision to set standards and his decisiveness in holding Lukman Haruna accountable for his disastrous performance in Tanzania. However, aspects of his selection decisions so far point unequivocally in the direction of the locust years of Stephen Keshi.

From the foregoing analysis, it seems crystal clear to me that to succeed, Sunday Oliseh must draw the majority of his national team call-ups from a viable core of established players in combination with high performers from the third and fourth selection pools outlined above. 

More importantly, it is vital that irrespective of the group a player is drawn from, that subsequent call-ups be made to reflect performance and accountability, not wishful thinking or worse, the desire to facilitate the international transfer of players.