THE Super Eagles of Nigeria flew over the Zambian team on Monday in Angola, winning 5-4 via penalty kicks, thanks to a save by goal tender, Vincent Enyeama in the on going Africa cup of nations.
THE victory has cast doubt on the team’s readiness to perform to expectation in the 2010 world cup in South Africa.

IT is very clear that the Super Eagles have not been consistent in the tournament. The team’s victory over Mozambique by a 3-0 margin appeared to be a fluke viewed against the background of the match with Zambia. Except all hands are on deck in Thursday’s semi-final match against Ghana, we may be disgraced out of the tournament. The players are fond of making wrong passes and worst of all, leisurely on the field when they should be business-like,

WHEN is the right time to take a shot at the goal keeper of the opponent is a matter of quick-reflexes which have been far between in the matches so far played. While the goal scored against Egypt was classical by Chinedu Obasi, surprisingly, not much has been seen of such kind of play in other matches.
IF the cup should elude Nigeria we shouldn’t be disgraced but the players should put all determination into the field of play by exhibiting the fighting spirit that the Super Eagles of old are known for and which has carried Nigeria’s soccer to the Zenith.

That the Eagles did not display this fighting spirit in them and the zeal to win was clear in the match against Egypt.

SOCCER followers are calling for Amodu to be changed because of his perceived lack of technical depth visibly displayed in the matches played. However, the plus for Amodu is that he has the knack to assemble a team that can withstand pressure but against teams such as Ghana and Egypt such pressure could cave in if serious commitment to play square pegs in square hole is not employed by making players engage their natural ability in a blended pattern of a skill and tact.

AMODU no doubt is a good coach but he should make changes that can make the difference when it matters most.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER believes that the Super Eagles can make it if the players are determined; our recommendation: Coach Amodu Shaibu should work on the team’s sloppy defence and incoherent midfield.

He must not also forget to use players with fighting spirit and extra energy to spare.
He should be courageous enough to use local players henceforth and not so-called foreign-based stars who are hardly fit to play full 90 minutes.

THIS should be our target for the world cup and in the remaining matches of the nation’s cup. Better and improved technical input from the bench is expected if we must go ahead to win the nations cup. The players have the potentials and skills to win, and Coach Amodu Shaibu must know how to employ them to record successes not only in the nation’s cup but also in the world cup.

The bench should look inward and introduce players that can yield result and destabilise the opponent’s play pattern.

It is stating the obvious that Amodu’s Super Eagles lack the courage or spirit to defend especially when they are lucky to shoot into the lead. The game against Egypt was an eye opener.

IN football, it is always said that it is not over until it is over. The Malians though out of the tournament, reenacted this fighting spirit when they drew level with Angola after being four goals down. This attitude our Super Eagles must exhibit and learn from by displaying winning spirit.

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