As the frenzy that greeted the announcement of Lars Lagerback as the manager of the national football team gradually wanes, it’s imperative we toll a cautious disposition towards clamouring for the inclusion and exclusion of certain players in the plane to South Africa 2010.
Having watched the Super Eagles in the last Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, we saw that the problem with the team was not lack of quality. We lacked tactical depth from the bench to alter the team’s formation when the opposition countered our tactics.
In our first game against Egypt, it was apparent that the Eagles were playing flat in the midfield and defending without a sweeper. Hassan Shehata, the Egyptian manager faulted the error and launched all his attacking forays through the middle which resulted in victory for the Pharaohs over the Super Eagles. Against Ghana in the semi’s, we played a team defending with eight men, three defensive midfielders when we needed more attackers.
Baring injuries, about 18 of those guys should still make our World Cup squad leaving just five places up for grabs in the South Africa-bound plane. Between Chibuzor Okonkwo, Olubayo Adefemi, Dele Adeleye, Victor Moses, Rabiu Ibrahim, Lukman Haruna, Joseph Akpala, Brown Ideye and Michael Eneramo, the five slots should be filled.
The talk of resting the senior players in the team should be left for the coach to use his discretion. I am of the opinion that a player like Kanu should not be dropped on club form because no player has the footballing brain he has. As far as he remains physically fit, he has all it takes to give a befitting representation in South Africa just like aged Roger Milla in the 1990 World Cup for Cameroon.
There is time to build after South Africa, so rushing young, exciting and untested players to the pinnacle of world football will be counter productive in the long run.
Players like Bartholomew Ogbeche, Justice Christopher and Femi Opabunmi could not manage their careers after the 2002 World Cup because they were rushed before their time.
Watching the home based Super Eagles play against Congo DR last week Wednesday in the Abuja National stadium, left a lot of pondering and drove the home truth into the cerebrum of those who think the home boys are been marginalized.
They lacked the necessary qualities to make the grade at international level. Their positional play and tactical discipline showed they were coming for a system with poor coaches and limited training technique. With the exception of Osas Idehen, the local league top scorer with Enyimba, the others on parade were aweful.
The best legs on the pitch were the few foreign based players who turned up for the friendly encounter.
The Super Eagles to South Africa will be banking on Lars Lagerback’s training methods and astute match planning to give the fans of the Super Eagles a great representation in the summer with a chunk of the lads on parade in Angola l2010.
Though they may be having a torrid time with their clubs, the experience of the likes of Kanu, Yakubu and Joseph Yobo will be of immense benefit to the team in the World Cup. it’s a joyful news to hear Ike Uche is fast recuperating from the injury that stopped him from the Angola party.
He can hit South Africa unnoticed and end the World Cup in the heart of every soccer fan the world over with his fleet-footed dazzling dribbles and great goals which propelled Nigeria to the World Cup.
Once again, I’m advocating for unflinching support for Lagerback and the coaching crew to make decisions without interference.
They will be better fortified and motivated when they know we are solidly behind them. This is not the worst team in the World Cup and we know how far we can go when we sing with one voice and watch with the same belief that we can beat any team when we play to our potentials.
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