Tijani Babangida: Amodu can perform another miracle for Eagles

How do you rate Super Eagles performance against Sudan on Wednesday?Although the Eagles stepped up their game to beat Sudan on Wednesday, I don’t want Nigerians to be deceived. I cannot say they were convincing. The Eagles still struggled to win and this is not good enough. However, I am happy that they were able […]

How do you rate Super Eagles performance against Sudan on Wednesday?
Although the Eagles stepped up their game to beat Sudan on Wednesday, I don’t want Nigerians to be deceived. I cannot say they were convincing. The Eagles still struggled to win and this is not good enough. However, I am happy that they were able to keep hope alive. With the win, they can look ahead and see how they can redeem their image as defending champions. I want to say here that the Eagles have lost their way and are like struggling to rediscover themselves.
Permutations have commenced in full swing. Looking into your crystal balls, do you think Eagles can still qualify for the 2014 AFCON?
Everything is possible. It is now up to the players to make sure they win all the remaining matches while they wait for the other group opponents to do them additional favour. The remaining matches against Congo and Sudan are a most win. If they can go to Congo and win, it will ginger them up to return home and beat South Africa. They cannot afford to drop even a single point again. I repeat everything is possible. If South Africa could win in Congo, why can’t the Eagles do the same? But I still want to say Eagles chances are very very slim.
Although Eagles defeated Sudan, Keshi was sacked. Did the development come to you as a surprise?
It did not come to me as a surprise because in Nigeria, anytime a team does not do well, the first casualty is the coach. The Eagles are not doing well at the moment so Keshi has to be sacrificed. I cannot say the failure of the Eagles should be blamed squarely on Keshi. A lot of things went wrong beginning from the World Cup in Brazil. However, without looking into the causes of the team’s dwindling fortunes, he and his assistants have been sacked. This is most unfortunate.
A former coach of the team, Amodu Shaibu has been appointed to prosecute the remaining two matches. Is he the right man for such a mission?
I have no single problem with the appointment of Amodu Shaibu to oversee the two matches against Congo and South Africa. He is used to carrying out such rescue operations. He came to the rescue of Nigeria in the past when some of us were still around. When Bonfere Jo was sacked, Amodu was appointed to rescue the situation and he did not fail. I am sure the men in the glasshouse looked at his antecedents and concluded that he is the right man to lead the rescue operation. So I want to look at him as a miracle man who can still perform another miracle to take Nigeria to Morocco.
There are fears that some of the players loyal to Keshi might sabotage Amodu. Do you see this happening?
I am not entertaining such fears because Super Eagles are professionals who know what is at stake. They have to know that their reputations are at stake. It would be a big dent on their reputations as defending champions, if they fail to qualify for the championship. Moreover, as patriotic Nigerians, I am sure they will like to put Nigeria first before any other personal interest. I therefore urge the players to put aside their differences and cooperate with the new coach.
What advice do you have for Amodu as he gets down to the task of salvaging what is left of Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for Morocco 2015?
I want to advise him to approach his present assignment with confidence. He is going to face challenges but Amodu should know that no rescue operation is easy to execute. It is usually a matter of life and death. The time is too short for him to overhaul the team so he should try and win the confidence of the players. He should make them understand that it is still possible for them to reach Morocco. Once he gets the support of the players, half of his problems will be solved. He is one of the most experienced coaches around so he should be able to win the players confidence. Secondly, I want to advise the players to accord him all the necessary respect. They should not look at him as an indigenous coach but someone who is qualified to coach them. Thirdly, everybody in the glasshouse should give Amodu a free hand to prosecute the two games. Too much interference will not help in the rescue operation.
Aaron Samuel who plays his football in China scored on his debut for the Super Eagles. What is your assessment of his performance?
I cannot say I was so impressed with his performance but the truth is that whoever scores on his debut is usually given a pass mark. So in the same spirit, I give him a pass mark but I still believe he has a lot to do to convince everybody that he is the striker Nigerians are looking for.
Don’t you think if given more time, he will be able to tie down a shirt in the team?
Yeah but that depends on if he is given the time. Every coach wants the best players in his team. Now that Amodu has taken over, he might have in mind some strikers that have not been given a chance to play. If any of such players come and prove to be better than him, then that will be a problem for him. However, I want to say, Samuel showed flashes of a good striker but he will have to do more to tie down a shirt in the team.