#NGRCMR: 5 things we learnt from Eagles Victory
Hey, it’s Monday already, three days after the Super Eagles of Nigeria trashed the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 4-0 in a Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier in front of fans at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo, but bits from the Eagles victory still lead trends. Here are what we learnt from the display China […]
Hey, it’s Monday already, three days after the Super Eagles of Nigeria trashed the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 4-0 in a Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier in front of fans at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo, but bits from the Eagles victory still lead trends. Here are what we learnt from the display
China isn’t bad after all
First, I have to tell you that I have an ever dependable companion in my smart phone, and it’s China made. Yes, "Chinko". And who says there are no qualities in China? The Super Eagles made in China duo of Mikel Obi and Odion Ighalo shows nothing but quality on the night.
This brings the old argument about what should be standard for invitation into the national team. Player form, opposition’s strength, fitness level, the league you play in, whose friend you are, or what part of the country you come from, blablabla, name it.
All I I have to say is quality, quality and quality. If our best midfielder plays in China and we are guaranteed of the Mikel quality, then let’s go China… By the way, have you been to a Chinese restaurant lately?
Eagles play when Moses play
With Moses, we can operate on the flanks with ease
Nigeria seems to be the greater benefactor of Moses’s change of position in his club duties for Chelsea.
Moses was chief tormentor on the night and we must note that he has been doing that for same time now.
His exploit on the wings invokes memories. Finidi George, Emmanuel Amunike, forgive me, can’t boast of having seen older wingers do it for the Eagles.
Moses timely goal was the final nail on the Lions’s coffin, taking it out of the reach of the opposition as the Cameroon coach admitted ‘we started the second half and after 15 minutes we conceded the third goal, we were not a team anymore, everyone was down. We did not have the power anymore to fight and therefore we didn’t have any chances, even we didn’t play a good attack,” Now, that’s champions stuff, isn’t?
Offering much defensively as offensively, covering spaces down the left and up to it defensively at the rescue of Echiejile, who again proved to be Eagles weakest link
Yes it’s a clean sheet but Eagles need a left back
The news that FIFA has given Nigeria the go ahead to feature young Chelsea defender Ola Aina in her national side came as a relief to me and I am quiet sure this is the case for many also .
Despite the exploit of the Eagles on the night, there was one dark room, it’s the left back position. If for nothing, for competition sake, Elderson Echiejile needs a fight for that spot.
With Echiejile, Moses always has too much to do, initiating attacks and then getting to obey too many calls for defensive duties, thanks to Echiejile’s lack of pace and positioning.
These loopholes might be explored by a more tactically disciplined side and what happens when Moses isn’t around… all road might just lead to the humiliating calf. Watch it.
Leon Balogun and company can cure heart attack
Ok slow down, if you’re a diehard fan and ardent follower of Super Eagles matches, you’ll lose count of many times your heart skipped beats.
Balogun has really come of age and maturely marshalled the defence well enough.
His confidence has a positive reflection in the midfield and goalkeeper Ezenwa also made it easy for him to live the dream.
The Germany born Mainz 05 defender whose called up by Nigeria for a March 2014 friendly against Mexico as a replacement for the then captain Joseph Yobo and went on to endure an injury plagued debut as he was injured after 20 minutes in a collision on the touchline.
Balogun now holds his own in the Super Eagles squad at the heart of the back line.
Display of authority in how he led the defence and shone like a diamond in the bout, throwing himself into every challenge and fighting for every ball posing to be up to it in the aerial duel.
With consistent performances like the gallant Friday night show, the Eagles might have found the closest combo to that of (Pastor) Taribo West and (Gentle Giant) Uche Ukechucku, arguably our best pairs at centre back in recent years.
Rohr The Master Tactician
Before now, the only reason you may (or may not) want to see a Super Eagles game till the end is because of the leaky defence, keeping a clean sheet against African champions, Cameroon is a testament that they might have taken a curve.
Rohr has done a lot of talking with the performances of his boy so far, but this is not only the loudest, it is also the most convincing and Nigerians will be hoping it’s not a one-off performance.
Rohr’s tactics, selection were inch perfect, his ability to read the game and neutralise the hefty advantage of the Cameroonians by opting for wing play and Liverpool-like counter attack was what left the Lions bereaved.
His substitution was spot on, he wasn’t flattered by the scoreline. Mikel Agu coming on for Mikel Obi and Musa for Moses was not a weakness
Rohr’s ability to have a bench that could also play almost like the first eleven is what might help polish his success story when he calls time with the Super Eagles
Ifeoluwa writes from Lagos.