Former Nigerian international Henry Makinwa believes the Super Eagles are playing cohesively and have a distinct identity under head coach Eric Chelle at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Makinwa made this known on the backdrop of Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Uganda in the final group C game on Tuesday at the Complexe Sportif de Fès.
Speaking with Footy Africa, Makinwa stated that he’s impressed with the transition of football from defence to attack.
He also advises the technical crew to adopt a man-marking approach, most especially during set pieces.
Read Also:Our Failure To Beat Tanzania Cost Us Round Of 16 Qualification –Uganda Coach, Put
“There’s no cause for alarm yet. What the team needs to reinforce is character: play with the flair of a Spanish side and win with the character of an Italian team.
“The overall performance was impressive. It was the first time in recent years that felt purposeful. The team played as a unit and showed a clear identity, with excellent transitions from attack to defence.
“I expect Ajayi to take charge of the defensive line. On set pieces delivered across the goal line, the team should adopt man-marking, with one or two free players assigned to attack the cross. That didn’t happen. Coaches can’t see everything from the touchline, so I would delegate a commanding player in those situations. He should organise the defensive line—same height, same energy, and the right attitude. Ajayi should be the ‘defence minister.’”
3 Comments
The overall performance was impressive, that I agree. That there is no cause for alarm… Anyone who believes that must be living in cloud cuckoo land, with all due respect.
I remain a fan of Eric Chelle. Okay, let me rephrase that, I am heading over heels with the direction of the Super Eagles under the tutelage of Eric Chelle.
That said, I have cause for concern.
Tell me, when a collection of millionaire footballers and their coach are unable to scrape together enough coins to purchase a clean sheet from the black market in three matches in this tournament, then alarms bells go off even in the ears of the deaf.
And there is a pattern, an ominous one. Play well, score first, capitulate afterwards, at a time meant for you to be coasting to victory.
And why? If I knew that, wouldn’t I be the coach of the Super Eagles? Like, what do you take me for? I am just an armchair coach as the only thing I can coach is my armchair.
But seriously, if this one sore thumb can be treated with a sachet of Alabukun or massaged with a tube Rub mentholatum, then this team’s status as title contenders will be sealed.
For now, I approach the knockout stages with much trepidation, like a cat on a hot tin roof on a sunny day in Ijesha Tedo.
It has been a wonderful group stage ride with bumps of late conceded goals along the way.
Where will it end? Your guess is as good as mine (which is not saying much, really 🙂 ).
The best option is to score many goals early enough since according to stats,
Chelle has coached 15 games and his team, Super Eagles, have conceded 15 times (including the Egypt pre AFCON friendly).
However, we have scored 30 goals in the same period.
Kind of a goal against for any 2 scored.
More reports say 7 of the 15 goals have come after 70 minutes (precisely, 6 came after 75 minutes, and 4, after 80 minutes).
He also created an afcon record, which should augur well:
“Already, not only has Chelle gone his first 14 official games unbeaten — the Egypt game was a kickabout not an official game — he has also led his team to set a Nigeria scoring record at the group stage of the Nations Cup. The eight goals they have scored during this year’s group stage is more than any Nigerian team has managed since their first appearance in 1963.”
Six different scorers in only 3 games is massively encouraging:
Ajayi, Lookman, Onuachu, Ndidi, Onyedika and Osimhen.
Defence wins championships, I agree but if goals win games in that light, we might as well keep scoring, breaking down opposition, and stroll to the title even with leaky back 4.
To be honest, it’s a good contrast I like.
Peserio used a mean defense all the way to the final last year (or 2023 edition). Let’s try the “opposite” and compare notes.
Couldn’t have said it any better Makinwa. I hasmd stated the man marking in a previous thread, not sure if it got posted tho, especially during setpieces. Ball watching is another issue that needs addressing, better communication, lapses in concentration is anoda big issue dis team has. If u check the goal dat 10 Uganda scored, simple communication from Chukwueze would’ve prevented d goal (the #7 Mato took the ball, chukwueze was tracking him but i guess he was gassed out and couldnt get to him on time, mato made a pass and dashed into our box without any1 tracking or been asked to pick him up, he just strolled into our box, received the pass and chipped it over Uzoho. This lack of tracking is a common mistake in football especially if tge initiator of the 1st move isn’t tracked, his momentum if he receives the ball back in d box often times result in a goal). If diz aren’t addressed urgently, we might pay a big price, as a single goal might be enough to end our dreams. I truly hope and pray dat doesn’t happen. This team shouldn’t be complacent and think they’ve arrived and are now the favorites like some fans are tagging dem (9ja vs morocco final bla bla bla), they are matured to know dat each game should be played as a final and each game brings with it, its own dynamics. In my opinion we should be labeled the underdogs or dark horse sef since we didn’t qualify for d worldcup. Its teams like Morocco, Senegal, DRC, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Egypt, Mali, even Cameroon (tho they didn’t qualify for the WC) that if i were Chelle (if asked if 9ja were favorite?) would say are the favorites not 9ja (play a psychological game and give other teams the false sense of superiority, i will even downplay our victories saying these were just against minnows but at d back of the team’s mind they keep working hard to punch teams in d mouth wen they face dem).