Nigeria stands the chance of not qualifying for the Fifa 2010 World Cup after slipping up against Tunisia in Abuja and losing the chance of overtaking the North Africans on the group table.

What are the seemingly unending problems of this otherwise talented team?

Coaching
The coaching is not right, as the Nigerian Manager clearly lacks technical depth. His style is so predictable that you can always for instance predict that veteran Nwankwo Kanu is going to come in around the 70th minute, and striker Eneramo as well. See the team’s previous matches.

The opposition here would simply strive to wrap up the game before these inputs are made, or arrange to shackle the changes, or simply counter them.

Why would the Nigerian bench not know that left full back Taye Taiwo is slow at recovering after a counter attack, and that a player like Adeleye who spends more time folding up his shirt sleeves would lack concentration? See the Tunisian’s second goal at Abuja for measure.

It is strange, but Shuaib Amodu got so carried away celebrating both goals against Tunisia that he failed to instruct his team to maintain discipline in anticipation of a Tunisian response. Tunisia scored their equalizer while Nigeria was still celebrating its first goal.

Bolton Wanderers’ player Danny Shittu is a rock in the Nigerian defence as proven during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana and after. Why would such a stabilizing factor be left out at this stage of Nigeria’s football?

Leadership
The Super Eagles clearly lack a leader as was the case in the days of Stephen Keshi, and Christian Chukwu before him. Sunday Oliseh also created some inspiration in his team mates. Right now, Joseph Yobo or Nwankwo Kanu do not visibly command the same respect in the team, and so it would be fool hardy to expect any discipline or cohesion in the team’s play.

The Super Eagles need a leader to inspire confidence and propulsion.

Midfield Creativity
The Nigerian team lacks a midfielder to hold and effectively distribute the ball in a creative way. Since Jay Jay Okocha’s departure the team has suffered greatly in that department.

John Obi Mikel who used to play creatively at the under 20 level, has since changed his style since his arrival in Chelsea.

Nigerian Press
The Nigerian press has largely not helped the team grow, as most of the time they heap undue praises on the players with superlatives, such as “Eagles Killer squad” “Nigeria set to tame Tunisia” and other such nonsense, when they could do more with unearthing the strategies and tactics of the opposing team.

When Nigeria crashed out of USA ’94 World Cup to Italy, Cameroun’s Roger Milla in regret said “If anyone had come out to tell Nigeria that they would lose to Italy before the match, they would have won” Nigeria thrives on criticism and because of their pride they would usually wish to prove themselves! In that painful encounter Nigeria threw away the possibility of a World Cup win with careless play in the dying moments of the game.

Administration
Which rational administrator would motivate when a task has failed to be accomplished? In Nigeria, the Super Eagles were paid full bonuses of $10,000 each for the draw against Tunisia, and have had similar payments in the past, even when losing!

If Nigeria fails to go to South Africa next year, the World would lament yet again, the failure of this illustrious footballing nation to present a team to entertain them like they did so well in ’94 and at Atlanta in the Olympics 1996.

Unfortunately, it is no more in their hands. Advantage Tunisia!

Alfredb

www.soocerxtra.net