SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA : THE DESCENT

After just one point from two matches, Nigeria's next fixtures  against Sudan in Khartoum is a must win match.The Super Eagles of Nigeria were a shadow of themselves in their first two matches of the 2015 AFCON qualifier.

In Calabar, Cross River Nigeria, the Eagles were dazed 2-3 by the Congolese. Curiously the Congolese did not qualify from the first round. The Rwandan national team qualified ahead of the Congolese but lost the slot  for fielding an ineligible player in one of their matches in the first round.

The second match of the Super Eagles in South Africa against the Bafana Bafana in September was only better due to mother luck.The game finished 0-0 with hearts of Nigerians in their mouths.The final whistle by the centre referee became a long sought relief.The young and inexperienced  South Africans enjoyed themselves and had a field day. The Madiba boys would have won the games by at least two goals but for their blunt attackers.The Congolese were confident and clinical in Calabar scoring once in every good chance they had.

The problem of the Super Eagles was not just the blunt attack composed of Ahmed Musa and Emenike but it included the mid field.Michel Obi with his experience and skill failed in the mid field. Ogeyi Onazi though was the prominent player among all players on field on those two matches, he resulted to outright attack rather than feed the forwards. The defence line traditionally reserved for Elderson Echiejile, Keneth Omeruo and Efe Ambrose and one other player was uncoordinated. It is becoming clearer by the day that something serious had happened to the Nigerian back line after the Nations Cup in South Africa.The most culpable part of the team is the forward.Emmanuel Emenike has refused to click neither is Ahmed Musa able to do anything upfront.Musa would keep running without any purpose.It was clear that we need creativity both upfront and in the mid field.The call for return of Moses to apply pressure from the mid-field and move forward to feed the forwards or score himself is germane.The return of Ike Uche is now a matter of necessity.