World Cup: Super Eagles did not seem to have a game plan – fans

Football fans on Monday in Abuja said the Super Eagles opened their match so casually against Iran at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil. ‎

A cross section of those who spoke after the Group F match, said though it was a technical game, Nigeria still tried their best to hold Iran to a goalless match. ‎Nigeria managed a drab draw against a less fancied Iranian side in the second Group F match against Iran.

Group favourites, Argentina, had on Sunday showed class by running over Bosnia 2-1 to head the group. Danladi Nasidi, the Coach of National U-15 team, said the game was highly technical, adding that more experienced players were needed to start the match in the first half. ‎He said Nigeria had so many chances in the first half but were too casual about the game. ‎

“The match was played technically; our boys were so casual while Iran was defensive but I must say that it was a technical match. ‎ “ In our next match, Mikel should be brought forward and our experienced players should start the match first, not waiting till the second half,“ he said. ‎

Coach Tijjani Sunday of Stallion Academy said the match was okay but more was expected from the team. ‎He expressed optimism that Super Eagles would perform better in their next match. ‎ Mr Ifeayi Okoro, a businessman, said he was not impressed about the team’s performance, stating that their passes were inaccurate and did not look ready for the game. ‎

He said they had the opportunity to win the match but they were too slow and not set for the challenge. ‎

“Our players were just indecisive; they didn’t seem to know what to do with the ball; their passes were inaccurate; the long passes were a complete mess.“ ‎Mr Shola Oloyede, a student, said Super Eagles did not seem to have a game plan, stating that they had to improve before their next match. ‎

He said if they continued to play in that manner, the boys would soon be home after the group stage matches.‎ In spite of the match result, some soccer enthusiasts expressed confidence on the ability of the Super Eagles to get better as the tournament progressed. A cross-section of such enthusiasts in Abuja said even though the Eagles did not record a victory as expected, the team would get better as the tourney progressed.

Tijanni Babangida, an ex-international and Chairman of FC Taraba, said that the result was a blessing in disguise, adding that the Super Eagles were always slow starters. “You recall that even on their way to becoming the African champions they started slowly but picked up form in the latter stages of the tournament. “I believe they would step up their game in the next two matches and hopefully progress to the second round,” he said.

Tunde Poopola, the Secretary General of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), said much was expected from the Eagles, but all hope was not lost. “Everyone expected the team to win this game comfortably but I must confess that Iran were very solid in defence today. “What that tells you is that you can never write-off any team in this tournament because if you do, you might get punished.

“We saw what happened to teams like Spain and Uruguay; that’s what you get when you underrate your opponents. “Having said that, I believe the Eagles will perform much better in their next match as the coach must have seen one or two lapses in the team and would hopefully correct them,” he said.

Godwin Bamigboye, Chairman, Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA), FCT Chapter, said he had confidence in the ability of the team, adding that Coach Keshi only needed to perfect the team’s tactics and strategy.

“The team we saw today is capable of beating any side in this World Cup but I think the problem is not about the players but rather the team’s tactics. “The coach (Keshi) played only a striker up front for a long period of time in the game which ought not to be so, especially because the Iranians played a more defensive game. “If we had started with two or three strikers up front I think we would have gotten a better result from this game,” Bamigboye said.

He, however, noted that the introduction of Osaze added more spark to the attack, adding that the striker needed more playing time in the team. “I am sure coach Keshi saw his positive contributions and would hopefully introduce him in his starting line-up for the next game,” he said. In Enugu, many Nigerians expressed mixed feelings over the match. Some of the football fans told NAN in Enugu, shortly after the match that they were disappointment at the performance of the boys.

The Managing Director of the Enugu State Housing Development Authority, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, said the Eagles performance was `below expectation’. “I think we (Super Eagles) started on a bad note. There was no flair; no creativity and they missed a lot of scoring chances. “I wonder how they will cope with Bosnia in the next match. Besides, Keshi made wrong substitutions. He should be careful in subsequent matches,’’ he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said he expected a well coordinated and pushful forward that would have converted numerous scoring chances that came their way.

According to him, Iranians forced the Nigerian team to play their pattern of football. “But a loss would have spelt doom for us. Let us see how the next match goes.”

A civil servant with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Ikem Odenigbo who also expressed disappointment with Eagles performance, however, expressed the hope that the next match against Bosnia might make a change. “If Coach Keshi does his homework well and parades our best eleven, they might make a difference. After all, it is a game. You cannot predict what will happen,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, a viewing centre operator, Mr Tochukwu Oforbuzo, said most of his customers left about 20 minutes to the end of the match disappointed after stocking his freezers with assorted drinks.

“As a matter of fact, I made a loss as many of my customers left in annoyance. It is a shame. I pray that there will be a lot of improvement in subsequent matches,’’ he said. (NAN)