Yes it was a pulsating encounter and yes I'm honest enough to admit that I was thoroughly shocked by both the outcome of the game and the blow by blow proceedings as well. While I will not join the band wagon of Nigerians who think we now have a super team, I will take my now famous magnifying lens and unearth the reasons behind what has now become this great victory for Nigeria. The factors are as follows:
1)The Ivoriens strolled into the game thinking it would be a walk in the park. They had obviously spent so much time before the game making fun of the Nigerian selection and its obvious lack of quality and depth, they forgot they still needed to turn up,play the game and win it.the first forty five minutes was an obvious reflection of their mindset. Nigeria had near absolute control of the midfield and in all sincerity would have been three goals up before the Emenike screamer of a free kick (or should we call it Barry howler) if the quality was there as Ideye bungled two free headers on the back post and Emenike couldn't play a simple one touch cross that would have allowed Sunday Mba the simplest of tap ins. Yes such was the Nigerian domination of the first half that the half time scores should have read 4-0 in favour of the eagles if this quality we keep talking about was there.
2)The Barry Howler - there's no gain saying the Ivoriens did not match their goalkeeping with the quality of players upfield. The Emenike free kick should indeed have been a routine save at this level of the game. Credit however to Emenike for the effort and the ferocity of the shot. After all, if you don't buy a ticket, you don't win the lottery.
3)The nigerian determination: the eagles were obviously the more hungry and more passionate of the two teams on the day and were duly rewarded for their industry and "strange" unity within the ranks. They contested more balls and the limited artistry and lack of organisation in key areas of attack, midfield and defence were made up for by sheer grit and endeavour. Well done to nigerian football for this new found discipline and concentration . I hope they don't go partying on the eve of forthcoming games and throw it all away as they usually do.
4)Pockets of quality within the Nigerian team: while a lot of credit goes to the entire nigerian eleven for commitment and fighting spirit, mention must be made of the following players whose quality in particular provided the framework to make up for the deficiencies of the team in other areas. Stand up mikel Obi for your ability to read the game and organise the team,track runners from the midfield when every one else was watching the man in possession while oblivious of the looming danger posed by the runners. He did this all through the game resulting in three timely interventions in the second half that could have been sure goals for the Ivoriens .What class this man has! Little wonder he has outlived eight managers at Chelsea !
Victor Moses- Off course Victor Moses. Thrived in the free role and was able to come into play most of the time .Everything we did in attack revolved around him. I can't stop wishing quality players like Osaze, Kalu Uche and Obasi Ogbuke who can also do what he does were here. That is what depth in quality is all about . That is what wins championships.I hope he suffers neither injury nor a bad day in the office in these two forthcoming crucial games.
Vincent Enyeama - Kept us in the game with his saves.A big time goalkeeper indeed.
Sunday Mba - Has been a revelation, has shown a big heart to pick up the ball and take the situation in his hand to grab that goal, was denied a goal much earlier in the game when Emenike ignored his run and chose to blast the ball sky high. Yes he s not the magical no10 but has shown a heart for the big occasion which Nosa Igiebor did not.
Every one else had a good game part from Onazi who appeared lost and found himself out of position a few critical times. Could not command that makalele position thus forcing Mikel who quite aware of his limitations played deeper than usual to cover up.
Specifically Emenike was a bully as usual using his physique to good advantage but his modest intelligence let him down a few times such as when he could have made a one touch cross for Mba to tap in, a few one on one situations that required some skills and atimes he found himself stranded on the wings with neither the flexibility nor the wit to outfox his marker.
Ideye showed composure and skill to play Emenike in earlier in the game (that is what we expect at his level) but was showed enough quality gap to fluff three free headers on the back post! It is criminal to miss free headers at this level. You take your chances but then what if you are not good enough!
Central defenders Oboabana and Omeruoh were quite good individually but the entire defence is still a problem as a unit particularly in set pieces. No organisation,nobody on the poles during corners and similar situations. The Ivorien goal was particularly a bad case because while Check Tiote was free at the back post, there was also another Ivorien free on the near post so the man who took the fee kick had two options of completely unmarked players he could have chosen! Yet there were nine nigerian shirts in and around the six yard box not knowing specifically what to do. That was indeed atrocious defending !
Full backs EFe Ambrose and Echijile were very confident going upfront and worked hard down the flanks to cover their defensive positions. Efe could however benefit from releasing the ball earlier as he was caught travelling with it a few times. Lesson; as a full back you don't have to do a dribble run each time you get the ball else you else you risk exposing your flanks when you lose it . Kinda basic isn't it !
Vincent Enyeama - We are very lucky to have this goalkeeper. Safe, confident hands. Hasn't looked back since he saved the paul Scholes screamer in World Cup 2002. Did the business once again 7/10. Goal was conceded off a free header from a set piece . His defenders need to be more organised during set pieces.
Well, semi finals here we come. Like I said, you can't fault this team on commitment. So I'm kind of getting in the groove.
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