Dennis Relishes Maiden Super Eagles’ Goal

Absolutely Pompei. Musa in particular was a joy to watch. Nevermind the calibre of the opposition, the former CSKA Moscow man appears not to lost a yard of pace. He was crisp and sharp. After he came on, Nigeria scored 5 more goals with Musa having a hand in 60% of those goals.

Ahmed Musa reminds me of his former Kano Pillars team mate Rabiu Ali who is still going strong at the ripe old age of 41. At the age of 37, Ali didn’t look out of place in the Chan Super Eagles when he scored against Equatorial Guinea in 2018; a true legend of the home based Super Eagles and a veritable veteran of the NPFL.

Back to yesterday, all the players put up a fine performance. Some shone brighter than others but collectively, they were great.

Ademola Lookman seemed slightly subdued. He didn’t feel particularly at home on the right wing. I had expected him to impose himself more on this match owing to the opposition but his performance was still acceptable even though he is capable of far greater quality.

Osihmen would have easily scored 6 goals yesterday had he timed his runs to stay onside. If the Napoli man was at his best, at worst he should have had 5 goals yesterday.

Iwobi seems to be the only box to box midfielder Nigeria can call on. In the flat 4-4-2 formation that Peseiro uses, he is undoubtedly the ball carrier to disburse passes and to pop up everywhere on the pitch and keep the team moving. Peseiro needs to groom another player who can do that and do it well in the absence of Iwobi.

Moses Simon was so effective yesterday. What has become clear is that only the right formation brings out the best in Simon. Under Eguavoen, after Nigeria’s opponents had decoded Nigeria’s overstretched wing play, Simon became useless. Before our opponents could read Eguavoen’s philosophy, Simon reigned supreme.

Etebo is not spectacular but he is solid. His performance stood out yesterday in defensive midfield and he topped it up with glorious free kick. He scarcely seems out of place in center midfield and he might wrestle that position from Aribo in the short term.

Zaidu was exciting in left fullback in an attacking sense but he still struggled to produce the sort of world class crosses usually attributed to Bassey. Bassey is more versatile and he displayed that yesterday with his fantastic rendition of the centre back role.

Ajayi was at home playing at centre back but it will be interesting to see how he continues to hold up against far superior oppositions in games to come. He has somehow ingratiated himself into the heart of Peseiro’s center defence. If he plays his cards right, he might just make a starting shirt permanently his.

Aina’s flamboyancy didn’t actually shine through yesterday. Perhaps Peseiro has asked his boys to sacrifice beautiful play in the alter of pragmatism. And Uzoho is currently the number one goalkeeper. If he keeps regularly in club football, the position remains his.

Terem Moffi still seems like a striker who needs 10 opportunities to bury 1. He did well yesterday for the most parts but his starting position remains up for grabs. When he is focused, an Iheanacho brings more quality to bear in that position. But, I think Moffi has also curried favour with Peseiro so only a drop in form should see him dropped in September against Guinea Bissau.

Emmanuel Dennis is yet to produce that one performance that will single him out as exceptional in Super Eagles colours. He took his penalty well but more is expected particularly against more formidable foes.

Sadiq Umar’s goal was not offside. VAR would easily have awarded that goal as he was clearly onside when the initial shit was played. Umar is another player who needs one big memorable performance for the Super Eagles.

These 4 games have been encouraging under Peseiro. It is early days but signs are there that the team is moving in the right direction.

Perhaps Fanny Amu said it best: “It’s a building process,” he said. “We must be patient with Peseiro. Forget about playing well or playing badly, the most important thing is for us to qualify. If we had played badly and qualified for World Cup, won’t the fans like it?.”

Nice analysis deo… The call for musa to be dropped should die a natural death.. he is very much needed in the team… You need to watch videos of him encouraging the boys in the bus and from the bench, he is very well respected in the team and imagine musa providing two assist , if we are honest the reason we scored 15 was because musa came in, we only scored 3 in the first half and before musa came the boys had began slowing their game, musa came and we scored 5 goals in less than 25 mins.. what he did not do in 45 mins first half…

Lookman did well, a player must not dribble every body before he is regarded to having a Good game, he is More of a team player ,, releasing the ball to others in better position, if chukwueze had played he would be wasting goal scoring chances with his dribbling, I was happy he was rooted to the bench to make him understand you can score goals without dribbling everyone..

One player that impressed him yesterday was moffi, a player that was only invited because others couldn’t make it for the US friendlies.. he has cemented his place.. iheancho now has a competitor, that position moffi played is where iheancho loves to play as a second striker, he would be exciting to see him play his favorite position when he joins for the next match but moffi has shown he can also play in that position..

Competition for places is good for any team.. Even aribo now has an etebo he is competing with, etebo was benching aribo before his injuries and aribo has not done better .

The only player that didn’t impress me yesterday was sanusi, it was not his fault though , I saw him trying his best, but you can’t give what You don’t have, he doesn’t have the crosses of bassey and the pace and movement of bassey.. bassey plays well as a center back but we have other options, balogun can play that position well , same with Kenneth.. so pls put bassey back to his left back let him provide those crosses.. if not for musa sanusi would not have delivered a single quality cross in that match..

Lastly I feel sorry for deessr.. he is competing with oshimen and the coach doesn’t see him as a support striker, he doesn’t have the movement, but it bench oshimen will be difficult.

Deo, you did an excellent job with your analysis… Musa’s dismissal should die a natural death… he is a vital member of the team… You should see videos of him encouraging the boys on the bus and from the bench; he is well respected in the team, and imagine musa providing two assists; if we’re being honest, the reason we scored 15 was because musa came in; we only scored three goals in the first half, and the boys had begun to slow down their game before musa arrived; musa arrived, and we scored five goals in less than 25 minutes… what he did not do in the first 45 minutes…

Lookman played well, a player does not have to dribble everyone before being considered to have had a good game, he is more of a team player, releasing the ball to others in better positions, if Chukwueze had played, he would have been wasting goal scoring opportunities with his dribbling, I was glad he was rooted to the bench to teach him that you can score goals without dribbling everyone.

Moffi, a player who was only invited because others couldn’t make it to the US friendly, pleased him yesterday and has cemented his place. Iheancho now has a rival; the position moffi played is one that iheancho prefers to play as a second striker; it will be intriguing to see him play his preferred position when he joins the team for the next match, but moffi has showed he can also play there.