Keshi: settling for a Volkswagen in place of a Mercedes

Why have I so titled this piece,well it's because we are about to commence the worst ever round of sight seeing and "team building" (that seems to be the new phrase in this leaner than lean days of nigerian football) in a major football tournament while the nigerian stock keeps plummeting. From the lofty heights of African dominance or co dominance alongside a few other elite,we now continuosly wallow in the throes of mediocrity. In a footballing dungeon where the likes of Angola(remember World Cup 2006),Rwanda,cape verde now make us jittery . I have the huge displeasure of declaring that Afcon 2013 will be even worse and the likes of Burkina Faso,Ethiopia and Zambia will all further demistify nigeria .

Prediction - this will be nigeria's worst afcon ever. Why is this so . Because we are simply not there with at least eight of our best players and this glaring mediocrity in the ranks will spell doom for Nigeria in this major tournament.for example, when we saw the line up and learnt that Victor Moses was absent through injury,everybody began to shake; why,because at least three other names like osaze,Kalu Uche and Obasi Ogbuke who should have been there alongside him to complement and provide first eleven competition had obviously been schemed out of the team (in fact a 100%fit victor moses would probably have being sitting on the bench if these guys were there). Now back to the match; how did we fare:

Attack - emenike ; good physique which was put to play in scoring nigeria s goal,good hold up play, still not one of nigeria s best three strikers as I would allways rate osaze who has more flair,more technique,more pace and more accuracy,obafemi martins with more pace and better technique and ike Uche with more technique,more flair and ingenuity ahead of him. Missed two other sitters before burying the goal 6/10
Brown ideye - good link up play,good skill and anticipation with great flick to set up the goal. Needs to be there more consistently to rightfully earn a place in nigeria's squad ahead of the players that were omitted. Not there yet.went missing for parts of the game. 6/10
Ahmed musa - the speedster, was a constant threat all through, lived up to his billing except for his lack of discretion in the dying seconds when he could ve smartly run the clock down but chose otherwise thus leading to the equaliser. definitely merits his place 7/10. The team suffered from the leanness of the squad as he most probably would have been pulled out before those dying critical dying minutes for more experienced attackers like osaze,Kalu Uche and Obasi if they had not been schemed out.
Ike Uche - must be hating life on the bench more so given his pedigree and obvious abilities.had a bad day in the office. On the strength of his abilities, he is still nigeria s best striker though. On the day - 4.5/10
Midfield - Nosa igiebor - like I said after the Cape Verde debacle Nosa has the skills,flair and technique to be a big game player but he still remains anonymous in games. He was deployed to the free role number ten position behind the two top strikers where he would always get the first vertical pass from a deep playing mikel for him to set up the attack with intelligent passes cum dribble runs and join the strikers as a third striker. This was exactly what van der vaart did at spurs last season,musa dembele now at Fulham,Wesley sneider at inter, Luka modric also at spurs sometime ago.The game was built for him to play the more glamorous role and shine with mikel playing deeper and doing all the dirty work for him.But alas he couldn't rise up to it. Many a time, he lost the ball after getting it from mikel, he was playing too far away from the action scene ,seemed to be hiding atimes and his attempted dribble runs were all too easily punctured before they got dangerous.Could not influence the game from an attacking/creative point of view. His defensive role was at best average as he also could not provide cover for the defence at most critical times late in the game thus resulting in the equaliser. Score 4/10. I think nosa has had enough tries and I know from precedent at the 2010 World Cup in particular that this role belongs to haruna Lukman .He has the flair,technique ,confidence and desire for it. Another inexplicable omission.
Mikel - our midfield general, there is little more to say about mikel and these present eagles. If he would grant a sincere interview he would state just how frustrating it is being a Phd. Holder amongst school leavers. Worked like a jackass on the day. Bubbled with quality, quickly saw the futility in giving the ball to igiebor and resorted to long balls to the strikers one of which resulted in our goal. Its not any accident that his quality has endured the reign of eight different managers at chelsea. The only player anywhere near world class in our ranks. Score - 8/10. Keshi 's top priority if he can see it remains getting some measure of quality to complement this hugely gifted young man in midfield and he quite obviously has those players in haruna Lukman in place of igiebor and Dickson etuhu in place of ogude . this is assuming non football and clandestine reasons do not take prominence in his selection process as we have seen in his short reign. I hope someone is listening!
Fengor ogude - another forgettable experience. Neither pleasing to the eyes nor effective.Played as defensive midfielder with the basic job of keeping team shape,reading and breaking down the opponents offensive and handing the ball over to mikel or at least to the nearest man  .anticipation and vision was low,tackles were badly timed evidenced by a few cautions and an early yellow,composure was equally low. I allways said he lacks the quality to play at this level. Could precipitate a defensive crises if played against quality opposition.Reminds me of a certain Garba lawal. Score  3/10. I cant cease to wonder why on earth Dickson Etuhu, a seasoned ,quiet and effective performer at this level is not in the eagles. Another obvious omission.
Ogeyi onazi - replacement for fengor. like for like. Equally deficient.lacking confidence or technique to operate at this level. was no where to be found when the equaliser came as the team had totally lost its shape. Score -3/10. This gentleman was  a reserve player in the eaglets of 2010. Where is Azeez Ramon who commanded the defensive midfield so well in that team. I'm told he is somewhere in the Spanish second division . If this is all about the youth shouldn't we then use the best of these youths?
Defence -Joseph yobo - a poor outing, jittery and unassuring, committed three major blunders in the first half  that went unpunished due to the quality of opposition as well as a few others in the second. Could not Marshall  the defence. Joined oboboana in going for the same ball in the second half melee that resulted in the equaliser .wahala dey ! 3/10
Godfrey oboabana - did better than his Oga yobo, made a few timely interventions. Kept a cool head until the last minute equaliser 5/10
Ambrose Efe - was caught out in the full back position. Again was rather jittery, just not confident in that position. I suspect it's because he lacks pace so he knows he can be eliminated quite easily by a fast winger hence he panics in committing into a first challenge. Ive seen him twice as a full back and he keeps looking more like an average player at best. I think if keshi can't find a better defender ,he should be played in reserve as a centre half. 4/10
Uwa Ichiejile - had a better game than he most usually would. Showed more confidence and composure than we've seen of him.joined the offensive well and conservatively worked well as a defender until late in the second half and off course the last minute .5/10
Kenneth omeruo - decent defender, looked confident and more reassuring than his predecessor when he came on - 5/10
Omissions - I still think this is not the best nigeria has to offer - taiye taiwo will still do better than Ichijile and if Danny shittu can captain mill wall in  sixth position in the English championship then he can still play for nigeria. We have not heard the truth about the reasons why he declined this invitation . It was totally out of character and there is definitely a whole lot more than we know.mark my words, the truth will come out after the AFCON.

Summarily, nigeria once again paid the price for nepotism on the part of team selectors as we suffered from the inexplicable exclusion of key players whose experience, quality and pedigree would have made all the difference..like I said earlier there are at least seven players i.e osaze odemwingie,obafemi martins,Kalu Uche,chinedu Obasi Ogbuke,haruna Lukman, Dickson Etuhu,,taiye Taiwo ,Danny Shittu who should have replaced the likes of Ejike ozoenyi, Sunday Mba, fengor ogude,ogenyi onazi and also keshi's preffered strike pair of  ideye and emenike as neither of them is not amongst nigeria 's best three strikers even though they did not fare badly on this match day. But then why settle for a Volkswagen  when you own a Mercedes! THE NATIONS CUP IS WHERE YOU WIN GAMES AND WIN THE TROPHY . WE ARE NOT THERE JUST FOR PARTICIPATION HENCE THIS EXCUSE OF REBUILDING IS INDEED NAUSEATING.KESHI AND HIS COHORTS IN THE FA ARE BUSY REDUCING OUR STOCK TO THAT OF MERE PARTICIPANTS. NO WONDER THE ZAMBIAN COACH SAYS THIS IS THE WORST NIGERIAN SIDE EVER! HE WASN'T PLAYING MIND GAMES. HE WAS SIMPLY TELLING THE TRUTH! HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!

Nigerian football:Beyond the likes of Cape Verde ,cape what?

I saw nigeria labour to a goalless draw against wait for it Cape Verde. Cape what? It is not so much of the score line  that agonises me. After all bigger calamities have befallen our football in recent times. It was more of the inept nature of the "super eagles" that made me begin to realise the extent of the rot.I saw a nigerian team hopelessly limited in options both on and off the bench and even more limited in control, creativity or quality playing against even more inept opposition. I then asked myself, is this the best nigeria has to offer, are these the best human beings (footballers) carrying nigerian passports . I looked at the lads on the field and on the bench and the answer was an agonising NO,NO. Off course the answer was an emphatic no. Off my head I could reel off seven to eight names conspicuosly missing that would definitely make all the difference in a squad of 23 and that would give the much needed stability and confidence to the few illustrious ones on display here today. Back to today's debacle, this is how they fared.

Central Defence - yobo Joseph - showed flashes of stability and composure,lacking pace though which the inept oppostion could not exploit. sadly still one of our best options when fit.6/10

Godfrey oboboana - did well , showed confidence at this level. But then who were we playing?cape verde got three chances that could have been three nil were they not the minnows they are.looks like a player that might go places though. Will like to see this pairing against real opposition. 6.5/10. I think if Daniel shittu is still good enough to captain mill wall at championship level, then he is still good enough for nigeria and should be in this squad. shittu is a player that has always given his all for the eagles. One wouldnt need any clairvoyance to know that he obviously opted out when he saw that majority of the best players were not there hence he didn't want to risk his team place for what would be an obvious jamboree.

Right back - Efe Ambrose - had a very poor outing. Always gave the ball away, decidedly undecided .if I hadn't seen him at Celtic in the champions  league I'd say throw him out. Definitely did not show versatility to play at right back. 3/10

His replacement omeruo fared a lot better. Brought in stability, confidence with forays upfront. 6.5/10

Left back - elderson echiejile - allways said he was at best a below average player, yet to prove otherwise, lacking drive with bouts of indecision. taiye taiwo still a better option anyday even with his defensive frailties  - 4/10. His replacement  juwon oshaniwa showed more confidence on and off the ball, with some intelligent runs upfront - 6/10 .All in all the defence did not do too badly. They didn't have much to worry about though considering he quality of the attack they faced. I will like to see them play against some decent strikers.

Midfield - this was the worst part of the nigerian team . For the entire first half, no control, no direction , it was pitiful .Here goes ..fengor ogude - cant perform at this level. Lacking confidence, composure or required skill or technique in defensive midfield where he was deployed.Could not read the game. Will obviously be worse if asked to do a creative job -3/10, ogenyi onazi - weakest link ,gave the ball away every nine out of ten times, anonymous for the entire first half where he was deployed to play a number 10 behind the strikers.Seemed to lack the skill,creativity or overall quality to appreciate the role talk less of playing it. A halftime reshuffle saw him at defensive midfield where he kept on giving the ball away and making poorly timed tackles . Beats me how he is in the eagles. Racism is surely not one of the many reasons why he doesnt play at lazio - 2/10. Mikel obi - our midfield general and by far our best player looked a shadow of himself today as he was totally submerged by the glaring amateurism around him. He could not play the much anticipated free role upfront as he was constantly bugged down by the ineptitude of onazi and ogude hence he played very deep until  the introduction of Nosa igiebor whose presence gave him some confidence to meander upfront and show some flashes of the mikel obi we know late in the game. certainly a game to forget by his own high standards but you have to give him a pass mark when you look at his colleagues around him 5/10. Nosa igiebor - skilful player, good technique as we all know. But he needs to stand up and be counted,stop disappearing in games and raise his game to the next level to enable him complement mikel obi in a box to box midfield pairing with a defensive midfielder of some quality behind them.(needs to work hard every ninety minutes to stamp authority on a game and thus become a big match player. That is what is required at this level)-5/10

Obiora nwankwo - a whole lot better in defensive midfield than the likes of onazi and ogude. Showed some composure and control. Good work rate 5/10

Overall verdict - nigeria has obviously shortchanged herself tremendously in midfield by omitting seasoned campaigners with proven quality like  haruna Lukman  and Dickson etuhu . It would have been appropriate to see Dickson etuhu play the makalele role (as he so diligently did at the world cup)with obiora nwankwo in reserve and a mikel obi cum haruna Lukman box to box midfield partnership in front of him with Nosa igiebor and possibly a match fit rabiu ibrahim in reserve. (Yes Rabiu because his abilities and confidence are undoubted. Question is wether he is match fit)

Attack - I think the worst sacrilege was committed here. Nigeria played  speedster Ahmed musa and Chelsea kid victor moses on either side of a winged formation which is not pretty bad,but I  then asked myself, where are the options? I looked to the bench and saw absolutely no one and I wandered if osaze odemwingie, Kalu Uche and  even chinedu Obasi ogbuke had given up their citizenship. Arguably,these should actually be the starters with Ahmed musa and victor Moses coming in from the bench as impact players or possibly vice versa. Na wah oh ! If you have a Mercedes Benz why park it at home and go on bare foot when you can use it. Na wah oh!

In strikers position I saw an emenike who held the ball up well, but who for all his size could not prove a direct threat as he could not manage a short at goal in almost ninety minutes. 4/10 .  I definitely think nigeria has better to offer. Brown ideye did not fare better either as  there was no direct threat. You just didn't feel a buzz the few times either of them had the ball or had the privilege of chasing after it. Yes indeed the supply was almost non existent particularly in the first half but I still know these are not the best strikers in the land . Another 4/10. I have not  stopped wandering  why ike Uche who is our only other striker apart from osaze with the flair to single handedly unlock defences is always confined to the bench . This guy is Nigeria's  leading scorer ! I can't find the logic! He came in with about fifteen minutes left and only got one pass. I need  keshi and his "wise men" to pls tell us what we don't know.

Summary - overall we have shortchanged ourselves by omitting key members of the team that would have bridged the yawning gap in quality, stability and experience that we see. Osaze odemwingie ,obafemi martins,Kalu Uche,Dickson etuhu, haruna Lukman,Obasi ogbuke, taiye taiwo and possibly Daniel shittu (who I repeat if he s good enough to captain millwall at the english championship is still better than some of the names I see in nigeria's squad.)the team lacked any semblance of quality,technique,drive and leadership. I have not talked about the goal keepers because we have picked our best keepers so there is nothing to add.

Prediction - like majek fashek said, you don't sow cassava and reap coco yam , neither do you sow maize and reap rice.  The team simply has too many gaps in it. In a generation that is quite obviously not the most gifted, too many of our few "top" players have being omitted leaving the team extremely lacking in depth,options,stability and overall quality. I think this is one of the poorest sides to represent nigeria at a major championship. While we may narrowly graze our way through the minnows in our group, the team definitely lacks the quality to surpass the second round. So an early exit from the AFCON is imminent for nigeria. I think this will help our football as the coaching crew will then be changed hopefully to bring another coach that will be able to achieve the basic fundamental of selecting our best legs based on merit . I know that once the players know that the only way to get into the eagles is on merit and only the best will play for nigeria then they will give their all as they do in their various club sides  and coaching the eagles succesfully will then be a much much easier job than it presently is.