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ABOUT THE SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA
Looking Back at the Last three editions; The way Forward
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Bronze winning efforts |
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| EDITION |
PERFORMANCE |
Why they failed/Main bowl's comment |
2002-mali |
Wilson Oruma's inability to convert an extra time penalty in the semi final against the Teranga Lions of Senegal was enough to prevent the super eagles from progressing to the final of the 2002 Nations cup in Mali. The Senegalese who had two years back in Lagos, engaged the Eagles in an unforgetable gruelling battle had gone up for the second time in the game and were heading for the final before the referee awarded a penalty to Nigeria. Wilson Oruma paced forward, beat the keeper but was denied by the woodwork End of the road for Nigeria. Game ended 2-1 for Senegal |
Commotion, indisipline, tactical deficiency. Goalkeeping Blunder |
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2004-tunisia |
After a dismal performance against the Atlas lions of Morocco in the opening game, the super Eagles put up splendid performances against South Africa (4-0), Benin (2-1) and Cameroon (2-1) to reach the Semi finals. This time it was hard luck that denied the Eagles the opportunity to sail through to the finals as they lost 6-5 on penaltieis to the Tunisians in front of thousands of their yelling and screaming fans. It was a day Peter Odemwigie failed to convert a crucial penalty |
Hard luck. Great team play by "Chairman" Chukwu tutored boys |
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The Eagles looked set to write their names in the African football map once again. Parading an array of super talents: Joseph Yobo, Obafemi Martins, John Utaka, Chidi Ordia, Kanu Nwankwo etcetera, many had hoped to see the Eagles in the finals. With a perfect record at the group stage: Ghana 1-0, Zimbabwe 2-0, Senegal 2-1, it appeared the Eagles were ready to prove bookmakers right. An energy sapping penalty shoot out win over the hard fighting Tunisians further re-inforced the belief that the Eagles were heading for another cup win, a feat last achieved in 1994. It was however an anti-climatic Semi-final game;the Super Eagles, very easily 'dashed' the game to the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire. The flat footed Eagles players wandered aimelessly on the pitch from start to finish giving away a vital game to the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire. It was traumatic watching the Eagles play as if nothing was at stake. Another end of the road for the Eagles |
This semi-final game, to a large extent, exposed the tactical inneficiency of the Eagles bench. At a time when most of the players were not at their best, many had expected the game against Cote d'Ivoired to be played with more aggresive and effective players. John Utaka and Wilson Oruma were nowhere to be found on the pitch at a time their services were mostly needed. The defence of Nigeria had no reason going to sleep when Drogba broke loose to score the game's lone goal. The tactical ineptitude was indeed a measure of how inept the NFA has always been and continues to be as an organisation |
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| 2008-ghana |
Just like the previouus editions, a lot is expected of the Ghana-bound Super eagles(see squad for Ghana). With the likes of Martins, Utaka, Aiyegbeni, Kanu, Yobo, Odemwingie, Nsofor, Taiwo, etcetera, Nigerians will not be asking for too much if they demand nothing short of victory. Though daunting and challenging, this feat may not be impossible considering the impact new coach Berti Vogts is beginning to make on the team with the introduction of professionalism, better organisation, right attitude.
| Strongest Points |
Attack: Parades one of the most intimidating attacks in Africa with the likes Martins, Nsofor, Yakubu, Kanu, Utaka, Uche etcetera.Performance inconsistency by most of the above named players is however a big concern.
Coach: Berti Vogts seems to have started impacting positively on the team. This will indeed boost the team's chances when the competition gets underway. |
| Wea |
| WEAK POINTS |
| Since Austin Okocha left the scene as the Eagles' engine room, it has been difficult filling in the big space left by the mercurial player. John Mikel Obi, the ever present Chelsea player, to some people, has not lived up to the billing. However on current form, Mikel looks set to assert his authority as Nigeria's new JJ. Nigeria needs to find a permanent solution to sloppy defending that has characterized their play of late. This is one reason the Eagles got beaten by the elephants two years ago. With Yobo, Shittu, an improved Taiwo, the Eagles look set to overcome this challenge. |
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| View team for Ghana |
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| Nigeria's Biggest threat-off field |
| 1. NFA: This body charged with the responsibility of organising and overseeing the administration of soccer in Nigeria has always taken pleasure in doing wrong things at odd times. The level of incompetence in this organisation is unparallelled despite claims of achievements over the months. The absence of people with fresh ideas, less emphasis on primitive accumulation of wealth, vision, technical and technological know-how has always been the problem with Nigerian football, will continue to be the bane of Nigerian football. The football Association of Africa's most populous nation does not hava a functional website!!! Alarming indeed |
| 2. Players attitude: If positve attitude is adopted by the players and they report to camp at the appropriate time, then the camp fiasco as witnessed in Mali and in Tunisia in 2002 and 2004 will be avoided |
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MainBowl 11 (on current form) |
| Austin Ejide |
| Obinna Nwaneri |
| Taye Taiwo |
| Joseph Yobo |
| Danny Shittu |
| Seyi Olofinjana |
| John Utaka |
| John Mikel Obi |
| Obafemi Martins |
| Yakubu Aiyegbeni |
| Obinna Nsofor |
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Comment |
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