I praised, acknowledged, encouraged and said almost everything positive about the Eagles of Nigeria prior to their round of 16 encounter against France, but i didn't regret not calling them 'Super', as they once again showed the whole footballing world how ordinary they are.
The Eagles recent uninspiring and failed outing at the World Cup could perhaps be attributed to different reasons ranging from the players initial strike before the crucial France encounter, the dismal display of the reliant players, squad depth or the amateurish decisions made by the coach.
THE FINANCIALLY INCOMPETENT NFF
Greece taught their African counterparts a lesson after refusing to accept match bonus presented by their president, suggesting it being used for the development of a standard training center. What cannot be overemphasized here, is the fact the decision was taken after their transparent and uncanny Football Association (unlike African F.As') presented their said bonuses to them.
Greece taught their African counterparts a lesson after refusing to accept match bonus presented by their president, suggesting it being used for the development of a standard training center. What cannot be overemphasized here, is the fact the decision was taken after their transparent and uncanny Football Association (unlike African F.As') presented their said bonuses to them.
We've also had to learn at this ongoing World Cup that various African Football Associations also played a big part in the exit of their respective football teams. Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria were the major casualties. Cameroon had appearance fee issues even before the kick-off of their forgettable tournament. In Nigeria and Ghana's case, both were involved in same cases before their crucial matches against France and Portugal respectively which eventually cost their progression in Brazil.
Particularly, the NFF incompetence prompted the Nigerian players to embark on strike. Issues similar to this even after cash had been diseminated by FIFA have a strong antecedence to African F.As'.
Save the outcry of patriotism, even the best earners of the game get lucrative amount as appearance fee, a good example is the proposed $720,000 per player offered by the Spanish Football Federation provided the Spanish team retain their World Cup trophy.
THE DISPLAYS OF OVER RELIANT PLAYERS
However, it was the key players performance throughout the tournament that was most disheartening. I remembered vividly how i got bashed by Goal readers while clamouring for an alternate plan by coach Steven Keshi without Nigeria's two fading key components; Mikel Obi and Victor Moses.
However, it was the key players performance throughout the tournament that was most disheartening. I remembered vividly how i got bashed by Goal readers while clamouring for an alternate plan by coach Steven Keshi without Nigeria's two fading key components; Mikel Obi and Victor Moses.
Eagles two star men against France were always sighted for the wrong reasons and performed on a lower wavelength to the team. With Mikel constantly dispossessed and runned over by energetic young French midfielder and eventual goalscorer Paul Pogba, Victor Moses also endured a frustrating figure as his obvious theatrics was constantly overlooked by the referee. He gave us scintillating memories of the injured less-fancied Michael Babatunde. Both disappointing and inactive season eventually took a toll on them and ultimately Nigeria's outing.
SQUAD DEPTH
The impacts of substitutes at the on-going World Cup has been on the high side as they have scored 22 goals of the 132 already scored goals.
The impacts of substitutes at the on-going World Cup has been on the high side as they have scored 22 goals of the 132 already scored goals.
With coaches tactically outsmarting each other at the tournament, they tend to plunge deep into their squad for options to settle and (or) win games and it works effectively based on the depth and quality of the squad.
Memphis Depay (Netherlands), Admir Mehmedi, Haris Seferovic (Switzerland), Maroaune Fellaini, Divock Origi, Jan Vertoghen and recently Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) are players who have won games for their teams from the bench with their impacts as well as goals.
It was so glaring France had lost the unique touch they flaunted all through the group phase of the tournament as they produced a disillusioned performance against the Eagles.
Keshi's initial bewildering choices obviously left him with his starting XI and other few good options on the bench.
This was in stark contrast with his French counterpart as they had quality written all over their squad. The introduction of Antoine Griezmann and Gabriel Reuben for France and Nigeria respectively after the injury to midfield livewire Ogenyi Onazi apparently dumped Nigeria out of the tournament.
Analytically, Griezmann coming off a stellar season at Spanish outfit Real Sociedad and Reuben whose season at Belgian club Waasland was nothing to write about expectedly had contrasting effects on the game.
Generally, all Nigeria matches at the World Cup were dictated by starters as all the substitute except for Osaze Odemwingie intervention against a defensive minded Iran made less or no contributions.
If Keshi continues in his prerogative as the handler of the Eagles of Nigeria, he should understand that it takes more than a good starting squad and incompetent alternatives to make impacts at a tournament of this magnitude.
NFF's financial incompetence, over reliance on uncertainty, lack of squad depth and bewildering decision making by the coach worked perfectly in a devastating effect to stall Nigeria campaign at the ongoing football party in Samba land.
Feel free to add your comment, thought or dissent below.
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