Super Eagles: the way forward for Stephen keshi

It is appropriate to say congratulations to a man whose worst criticism has probably emanated from this blog. Yes Stephen Keshi, you have made some of us eat up all our predictions. A very big well done to you. After all, you can't ask more from a man who has won. In this piece, we will x-ray all the factors that conspired towards Nigeria's success at the Afcon ,the minuses of the super eagles and how these factors eclipsed those minuses and then chart a way forward for this new wonder kid on the block all in the best interest of the Nigerian game. 

Factor no.1:  Unity,commitment and Hardwork - For the first time since 1980, yes 1980, there was a super eagles team that was united within the ranks,where all the players including those on the bench were ready to work hard for each other and run around the pitch like possessed men for ninety minutes and more . There was no big man football and all the players gave 100%. there was no irresponsible partying and womanising in between crucial games as has been customary .this was the biggest factor in our favour at the Afcon. It is pertinent to state that even the famed 1994 team even though it was miles and miles ahead of this team in terms of quality was no where as united or commited as this. 

Factor No.2: A lower quality of opposition - In absolute football terms,I make bold to say this was the lowest quality games there has been in the last four editions. The Egyptians who have been the best team at the games by a mile in the past few editions were absent. So was Cameroun and an under strength Ghana without the Ayew brothers,Sule Muntari and Micheal Essien meant three truly top quality teams had cancelled themselves out already. Of all Nigeria's opponents,the only top team we played was Cote d'Voire and all credit to us for defeating them and also to them for underrating us.

Having identified these factors, I will say they were overwhelming enough to eclipse our deficiencies on the field of play and on the bench. There was a glaring quality gap in the team as we lacked quality in some key areas of the pitch and while we were sublime in a few areas, there was no depth in numbers to provide back up for those areas. Any wonder the entire country almost had a heart attack anytime it looked like Victor Moses or Mikel was not going to be available. At a higher level of the game, we would definitely have paid dearly for those deficiencies because better teams would have punished us. While our goal keeper was top class,in defence we were woeful at defending set pieces with no one instructed to man the posts during corner kicks and eight times out of every ten, we were beaten to the first header in corner kick situations, there were far too many free headers and quite often with a second attacker also free in our six yard area. So while our defenders did well in one one one situations, we lacked organisation in defence. Point to the coaches for not assigning specific roles in specific situations.

 Midfield- John Obi Mikel was the heart and soul of the Nigerian midfield and indeed the entire team with no back up either on the bench or on the field.The gulf in class between him and the rest of the midfield was too glaring.He was the only one in midfield and defence who could hold the ball and organise the play,give defence splitting passes and dictate the tempo .This is not taking anything away from the grit and endeavour of Onazi and Mbah who scored two fairy tale goals but the truth is if Mikel had gotten injured,even a bunch of school boys would have beaten us at this Afcon. Onazi  in particular and Ogude worked hard throughout they but still need to learn how to read the game,keep team shape and track dangerous players running into offensive positions without the ball. That is what top class defensive midfielders do apart from marking the man with the ball ! While credit  must go to Mbah for having the heart and the technique to score two great goals under difficult situations ,he still does not have the skill and ability to influence team play and dictate the offensive like a mercurial no.10 and like Nosa Igiebor, he does go missing for great lengths of time on the pitch- He obviously will not pop up with a wonder goal in every game so if he does little else other than that, then we need to get a proper no.10 whose quality will show for ninety minutes . A Luka Modric, Raphael Van der Vart,Wesley Sneider,Frank Lampard, Stephen Pienaar, Mesut Ozil type of player.

Attack - off course Victor Moses was mercurial and Emmanuel Emenike allways put his physique to good use but Brown Ideye was obviously an average player who was punching above his level. Fluffed two free headers against Burkina Faso in the opening game and another shooting opportunity in the same game,missed three free headers at the back post against  Cote d Voire that would have been sure goals,missed another two free headers and two tap ins  against Burkina Faso in the final . You don't consistently make such basic errors at this level. Certainly not good enough and shouldn't have been there with all the quality strikers in our pool. No wonder Nigeria could only manage that wonder goal from a midfielder (Mbah) in the final. Ahmed Musa for all his breathtaking pace needs to improve on his final decision making and indeed the quality of his crosses. (he should watch how his own Victor Moses,Valencia of Man United and indeed a lot of players in the premiership cross the ball). I believe he will improve. Ike Uche had a terrible tournament. I hope he gets back to his usual self.

So, summarily there were quality gaps in the Nigerian team which would have cost us dearly if we were playing at a higher level. My obvious recommendations for Stephen Keshi going forward are this:

1) A truce for all the absentees: it was quite obvious that we were not at the Afcon with some of our finest players. Yes we managed to win. With this win, Keshi has gained the respect of these players and now if encouraged, they will come back and play for him on his own terms. KESHI AND INDEED NIGERIA DEFINITELY NEED THE SERVICES OF ALL HER BEST PLAYERS SUCH AS OSAZE ODEMWINGIE ,OBAFEMI MARTINS,KALU UCHE,OBASI OGBUKE, VICTOR ANICHEBE IN ATTACK IN PLACE OF THE LIKES OF IDEYE AND UZOENYI AND ALSO TO PROVIDE GREAT COMPETITION AND QUALITY OPTIONS TO EMENIKE,MOSES AND CO. HARUNA LUKMAN LOOKS CLOSEST TO THE MERCURIAL NO.10 WE ARE LOOKING FOR AND DICKSON ETUHU HAS THE QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE TO FILL THE  GAPS EXPERIENCED  WITH ONAZI AND OGUDE IN FRONT OF THE BACK FOUR.. THE POINT IS At A HIGHER LEVEL,QUALITY WILL SPEAK  AND YOU NEED TO MIX TOP QUALIT WITH THE ZEAL AND COMMITMENT WE NOW HAVE.

2) Get a defensive coach: All modern day teams have this so its nothing for Keshi to be ashamed of. A modern day specialist to organise the defence and indeed the team as a defensive unit both in open play as well as in set pieces. If Keshi is scared of the possible consequences of bringing in a more technically adept deputy, then he should update himself by learning defensive coaching secretly and intensively.

Well,the "final word"has spoken. I join other informed and well meaning Nigerians in congratulating us on our new found bragging rights and wishing Keshi will now show the wisdom and maturity that is crucial to following up on fleeting success.