How Eagles Can Swoop on Desert Warriors, by Disu
By Femi Atoyebi
Former national team coach and the man who guided the Flying Eagles to their best ever showing at Saudi '89, where they won Silver, Tunde Disu believes that in spite of Nigeria's slip up in Angola, the Super Eagles will jump start their Germany 2006 campaign with victory over Algeria tomorrow.
Speaking in Lagos with THISDAYSports, the former Julius Berger handler, said that the Eagles on parade in Angola was far below the best of Nigerian legs. He was very optimistic of a change of scenario in Abuja tomorrow.
"Coach Christian Chukwu paraded less quality players in Angola and that cost Nigeria the required result. I wouldn't blame the coach because he used what he had at his disposal. When the top players refused to turn up for an international engagement of the magnitude of a World Cup qualifier, it will be unheard of the coach to go on his knees and beg them. Perhaps the players who stayed away must have thought that Angola would be easy to tackle by the young lads in the Eagles, continuity matters a lot in team building.
"I think there should be continuous monitoring of the teams in our group so that the kind of surprise we experienced in Angola will not happen in our subsequent matches. Angola is no longer an underdog in African football. I noticed that the team has stayed together for sometime and has blended. I once played and beat them in Ghana 3-1 before Nigeria '99, some of the players who were young at the time are now grown ups, they form the backbone of the present senior national team."
Disu also reviewed the players on parade in Angola and pointed out the grey areas.
"Angola exposed our weakness in absorbing pressure. We tried to managed an unpleasant situation and failed in the closing moment. Our left back position was weak and that was why they were able to penetrate through that wing. They evaded the right flank where Abbey George played and directed their might towards the left. The midfield is the engine room of any team but Nigeria packed a bunch of inexperienced but strong players in the midfield and when they were to calm the game, they lost possession easily and fell back.
"In the attack, we had little to show and Utaka was left to run a one man show. We should notice how the players are used in their clubs and draft a similar role for them when they are in the national team. Utaka does not labour so much in his club but he was over-used in Angola and without the players to support him. The whole idea was all about getting a draw while we did little to earn it. Tosin Dosunmu did not do badly but he would have played better with the more experienced type like Okocha who can read his style quickly".
On tomorrow's game against the Desert Warriors, Disu delved into the past and submitted that current trend favours the Eagles to carry the day.
"I have been involved in matches with Nigeria and Algeria in the past. They used to be a force in Africa and were a threat to us whenever we met. That would have been a psychological defence for them but football in Africa has changed drastically and Algeria has not live with the change.
"Algeria will storm Nigeria to re-awaken the old tradition. We should also bear it in mind the fact that they are not in a good position in the group. But they are no longer sleeping and having got a draw in Zimbabwe, they will want to do everything possible to earn a result in Abuja. Nigeria needs the match much as Algeria but we are at home and they are playing away.
"To have a upper hand, we should employ a very mobile defence, such that will be able to initiate attacks from the flanks and fall back to position when possession is lost. At this period, we don't need players that will stroll into camp. The clubs are on vacation and the players are likely to be match rusty. So I hope the handlers would have worked on their fitness levels.
"The attacking pair of Yakubu Ayegbeni and Obafemi Martins may be experimental because of their styles. But I don't think it to be the best combination as some people have opined. Obafemi seems to be more comfortable with Ogbeche. Okocha will be a great asset to these young lads from the midfield and with that, the sky is the limit. We need to score as many goals as possible because it counts a lot in this situation. Moreover we should think of the bench. If we have all our good legs present for the match, I will suggest that we choose a good player to be in reserve for every position. Osaze will be a super sub because of his fragile nature, he is good but his best can come when he is not stressed beyond his limit. We should not throw away players like Isaac Okoronkwo, he can form part of a good bench as well. Seyi Olajengbesi played for me at Julius Berger and I see him as a good material for the Eagles. He should be systematically introduced from the bench until he can stand up to the challenges of playing for the national team," explained the one time assistant to the nation's most successful coach ever Clemens Westerhof.
Following Nigeria's narrow 1-0 loss to the Palancas Negras in Luanda a fortnight ago, the Eagles have slipped to second spot on the Group Four table behind Angola, with Algeria third. A win tomorrow and Angola's failure to beat Gabon in Libreville will enable the Eagles reclain the top spot on the table.
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