Come June 12 in Ellis Park, Jo’burg, Nigeria will re-open her World Cup account which was temporarily suspended after we failed to qualify for the 2006 spectacle, no thanks to Austin Okocha, Joseph Yobo and Christian Chukwu. This event is special for two reasons: the first being the significance of THAT day – June 12 – in the annals of Nigeria’s political history; and the second being the fact that we play the same team that we played first when we last featured at the Mundial in the Far East in 2002 – Argentina. Another interesting fact is that we have a chance to revert the dent that that 1-0 loss put on our World Cup record: prior to that match, Nigeria had not lost a first match in the World Cup, beating Bulgaria 3-0 in our debut in 1994 and then coming from behind to beat Spain 3-2 in France four years later.
New manager, Lar Lagerback (or Lager beer, lagger back, etc) replaced dour-faced Amodu – who unsurprisingly made the team play a dour brand of football – after the latter failed? at the African Nations Cup in January, and has since pleased and annoyed Nigerians with his approach to the task of ensuring a good outing in South Africa. Personally, I do not envy the man. Despite his experience with the Swedish national side, he comes to a football-crazy country, where coming second in a football tournament is the same as losing in the group stage (don’t let the “bronze that is as good as gold” slogan fool you), a country that is perhaps more passionate about her football than her politics, and at a time where there is too much pressure to shine as the ‘Giant of Africa’ in the first ever Africa-hosted FIFA World Cup.
I am a Nigerian (obvious, sey?), and that makes me many things, negative and positive. However, for the purpose of this post, I am one of the 140 (official; unofficial, 200) million coaches/technical adviser/manager – whatever! – of the Super Eagles, who are currently in South Africa hoping to do the nation proud. And as I watched the warm-up games against Colombia (0-0) and North Korea (3-1), Colombia especially, I felt a strong surge of hope. Lagerback has tried rather successfully to inject some form of attacking ingenuity in the midfield, something that has been lacking in the team since the glory days of Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha (even though his current successor, Haruna Lukman, still has A LOT to learn). However, one cannot ascertain how well the team will do at the Mundial based on these friendlies. If anything, our experience in 2002 (where the Onigbinde-tinkered team won all their pre-World Cup friendlies bar one, and yet failed to win a single match at the main event) is enough lesson.
In my self-assigned role as technical adviser, I wish to state that the Super Eagles can do well in South Africa, even though the term is relative. But to achieve this, here are some things we must (and mustn’t do)
1. Lose/Draw against Argentina
A lot of speculation has gone into this match. Many see it as an attempt for the Super Eagles to revenge the 1-0 defeat inflicted on them by the Albieceste, but frankly, I think going far in this tournament rests on a loss or draw against Maradona’s wards. And here’s why. If we win, we’ll close the roads in reckless celebrations, our media will laud the boys to the high heavens, the adulations and appellations will get into their heads and it will swell, and next thing, they will be on the first flight back to Abuja because South Korea and Greece will not care a hoot the fact that you beat Argentina. But if they lose or draw, our unforgiving press will on the quick to draw blood, the boys will stay on their toes and we may just stand an outside chance of progressing. If you do not agree, remember Italy in 1994 and Denmark in 1998.
2. Forget about the 4-4-2; 4-3-3 is the way
Watching the friendly matches, especially against Colombia and North Korea, I get the feeling that the Swede tinkerman in charge of our boys favours the 4-4-2. This may explain why he chose to drop the younger Utaka in favour of the older (despite the fact that Peter scored more goals than any other West African playing in Europe this season, with the exception of Didier Drogba and Mamadou Niang). But if Nigeria hopes to do better than we did in 2002, Lagerback should just forget about it. Why? The tradition 4-4-2 is in a decline phase, as players who make it a viable option are fast disappearing. Gone (or almost gone) are the days when pacy wingers hugged the touchline, leaving bewildered defenders in their wake and delivered pinpoint crosses into the area. These days, the game is won and lost in the centre of the park. So, dear Mr. Lagerback, 4-3-3 is the way to go. Containing the game in the midfield and orchestrating attacks from the assisted by three forwards is the best way to stay sharp and efficient in defence and attack
3. Don’t play Aiyegbeni or Martins as the point man in a 4-3-3; use John Utaka instead
Even though he is Nigeria’s second all-time highest goal scorer bested only by the legendary Rashidi Yekini, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has not convinced Nigerians of his ability, me inclusive. One might want to argue that he has not been proficient of late due to the lack of service but then, gone are the days when strikers sat in the penalty area and waited for the ball to get to them. Martins comes after ‘The Yak’ on our all-time goalscoring charts, but even though he is a hardworker – which Yakubu is not – his height does not make him a good option for centre forward. My choice: John Utaka. I guess his inclusion in the team would have been to provide width but we tend to forget that this man’s best on-field performance for club and country have been in games where he played the centre. He works as hard as Martins, is nearly as fast, not as burly as Aiyegbeni but makes up for that with his incredible stamina, is more skillful than the Martins or Aiyegbeni, and can shoot with both feet. We also tend to forget that this man has scored three hat-tricks in one season (at Rennes); neither Martins nor Yakubu can lay claim to that.
4. Don’t play Yobo and Shittu together in the heart of defence
Yobo and Shittu. One word fittingly describes both players – unfit. Both of these men have not played for clubs since January (Shittu’s romance with the bench actually lasted all season!) and as such, as short of match practice, something that two friendly games will not give them. Instead, the unknown pairing of Adeleye and Afolabi should be tested, especially in the games against Argentina and South Korea. These teams play pacy football and a Yobo/Shittu combination will only spell doom.
5. Play Kanu as an impact substitute
For those who think the 34-year old gangly striker has lost it, you are wrong. I still rate Kanu as one of the most intelligent men to play the round leather game and what he has lost in years, he has gained in an all-round understanding of the game. Starting him will rid us of his juice when we really need him, so bring him on as a substitute (I don’t think he has a problem with that). By then, the opposition will be tried and he can create more opportunities.
If the above are adhered to, I believe we will exceed honest and realistic expectations at this Mundial. I can’t say more.
Solo FG
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