In this article, James Ezimoha of Goal.com x-rays Super Eagles performance in Pointe Noire, Congo last Saturday and makes some brutal suggestions as to changes Nigeria needs to make in order to overcome the Bafana Bafana team.
He writes:
Nigeria secured the desired result against the Republic of Congo in Pointe-Noire thanks to goals from Ikechukwu Uche and Aaron Samuel. However, it could have all been a different story had the likes of Fode Dore and Thievy Bifouma, who repeatedly split the Super Eagles’ defence open, had a bit of luck and composure in front of goal.
At the end of the day, the result is by far the most important announcement of a football match, but it would be unwise for Stephen Keshi to again rely on luck to see off South Africa, who, despite having secured qualification, have a score to settle with Nigeria.
In this feature we look at three players who should be replaced from the XI that started against the Republic of Congo due to their unconvincing performance in the game.
Azubuike Egwuekwe
Keshi was lucky to have got away with his centre-back pairing of Azubuike Egwuekwe and Godfrey Oboabona.
The Warri Wolves captain possesses good height, which helps the team snuff out aerial threats from corner kicks and crosses into the box. However, his lack of pace was unbearable to watch at times and it almost cost the team against the Red Devils’ pacy forwards.
Such luxury might be too expensive against a more composed Bafana Bafana attack.
The 25-year-old is susceptible to been drawn out of position amateurishly, exposing Vincent Enyeama terribly.
“The chance Dore fired wide,” Goal’s Solace Chukwu noted, “was a simple 1-2.
“Egwuekwe, instead of going with his man, follows the first pass and lets Dore run free,” he added.
A little accuracy from the Congolese striker’s shot when put through on goal or a slight deflection from another player could have seen the ball roll into the net.
Claude Le Roy must have identified the 6ft5 defender as the weak link in the Eagles’ defence and instructed his forwards to attack his channel consistently, and they almost reaped from the sustained pressure.
In the first half, the home side had a shout for penalty wrongly turned down by the referee, and, again, it was Egwuekwe with a terrible, penalty-conceding tackle in the 18-yard box of all places.
Ogenyi Onazi
I have noted in one of my previous articles that the Lazio man is gradually turning into a rugby player and this is could put the team in trouble.
His combination with John Obi Mikel, as a double-pivot, looks glorious at times, hence the praise they both receive. However, Onazi’s influence in midfield has gradually waned over the last couple of games, and the decline could cost the team if not addressed promptly.
The tactical switch by Keshi to move Mikel up the pitch saw himself and Hope Akpan saddled with the task of shielding the back-four but the 23-year-old committed so many unnecessary fouls in dangerous areas, which could have led to a goal.
Onazi | Can he be trusted?
On one occasion, after a short altercation between himself and Emmanuel Emenike, he and Mikel looked set to engage in a boxing match on the pitch after some heated argument. The confrontation was intense, needing the intervention of others to restore peace.
Keshi can no longer turn a blind eye to Onazi’s knack for making wayward tackles, which puts the team under undue pressure. Smart players (and teams) would target this volatile behaviour and play to get him booked, and possibly sent off. Mikel’s early days at Chelsea should be a good handbook.
Emmanuel Emenike
This last choice is a difficult but necessary one.
The Fenerbahce forward was involved directly in the penalty that led to Nigeria’s first goal but his overall performance was nothing to write home about. He is a big lad and obviously likes to muscle his way through defences but it has so far not helped his cause.
The coaching crew reacted positively to his goal drought by inviting Villarreal striker Ike Uche back into the team for the crucial tie, and he marked his return with a goal.
His goal drought aside (though that in itself is a good reason for him to be dropped), his attitude on the pitch against Congo left a lot to be desired.
Emenike | Drifting to the peripheries
For a player who has been giving a long rope to rediscover his form to make foul comments towards the bench was utterly disrespectful and he ought to be punished for that.
Besides, with Uche leading the line, Emenike’s reassignment to the wings doesn’t suit his style of play. He is not a winger. And he looks uncomfortable and inefficient on the flanks.
The Super Eagles have done the hardest job: securing a precious win away to Congo.
At home against South Africa, knowing the visitors have little or nothing to play for and might want to act as spoilers, silly errors, which would jeopardize the team’s effort so far, must be curbed in order to gain the result that would aid progress to finals in Equatorial Guinea: three points.
