Ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, former Kwara United coach, Samson Unuanel has reiterated that the current Super Eagles lack creativity in the midfield to unlock their opponent.
In a chat with Completesports.com, Unuanel, said that the technical crew has failed to find a creative midfielder capable of controlling the game and creating vital passes to the striker.
“I am really worried that since the departure of Okocha and Mikel from the Super Eagles squad, we have not able to find perfect replacement for them.
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“Yes, we have quality strikers that can score goals at will in Europe but due to lack of creativity in the midfield, the team have struggle to score goals in some matches.
“The like of Iwobi has not done badly in that position but we still still a creative player or players that has flare like Okocha and throw those passes that will split the defence of our opponents.”
By Augustine Akhilomen
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COMMENTS
Seriously, loads of individuals chat bare bullshit.
Leave da lads alone, period.
Players with Okocha’s ball playing skills and dribbling ability come perhaps once in a life time. If we don’t have a player like Okocha anymore, should we stop playing football?
Look at Liverpool, for instance. They usually have 3 hardworking midfielders on the pitch. No Okocha type midfielders. In fact, nobody in Liverpool’s current squad comes close to Okocha when it comes to skills and dribbling. Yet, their strikers get plenty of service, which comes mainly from the full backs, Robertson and Alexander Arnold. Service in the form of quality crosses into the box.
Liverpool’s game is based on the individual stamina and movement of the players.
They are very mobile, do a lot of running on and off the ball.
They do a lot of give-and-go passes, and they try to locate the fullbacks, who also do a lot of over lapping. Once Robertson and Alexander Arnold receive the ball, a quality cross or pass is the next thing you will see. Can’t our players do that? We have fullbacks like Sanusi, Bruno, Aina and Osayi Samuel, who can play this role well.
Another thing Liverpool excel at is OVERLOAD. They win the ball, and counter atack with lightning speed. By the time they get to the opponent’s final third, they usually outnumber the opponent. That’s overload. A lot of their goals come from this. But overload can only be accomplished consistently/repeatedly when you have highly mobile players with plenty of stamina!
If we copy Liverpool’s template, we will not need a dribbler like Okocha. We will create plenty of chances for our strikers. They will not convert 100% of the chances, no striker can do that. But for sure, goal scoring will not be an issue anymore.
A team does not need a ball playing midfielder who over dribbles to perform well. Undoubtedly Nigeria’s best performance was in the 3 – 0 victory against Bulgaria in 1994. Okocha did not play in that match because Westerhof has stated he held on to the ball for far too long and teamplay suffered. We had a hardworking and coordinated midfield that had some skills – Adepoju, Siasia, two wingers in Finidi and Amunike who mostly played from the midfield and beat opponents with speed and skill. Then we had Amokachi to support Yekini. Lawal replaced Adepoju in 1996 and we then had Okocha, Kanu, and Lawal. But that midfield never won Afcon.
Nigeria needs a midfield that can control the game. Supported by full backs that enhance the attack. Sadly none of our current midfielders is good. The best is average – Iwobi and Ihekacho. Aribo is gone. Ndidi is diminished. Nwakali never developed beyond age grade football.
And even the attackers are not consistent scorers.
Conclusion, a lot needs to be done for the Super Eagles. Starting point is working with the foreign coach who can just leave to cover the glaring weak positions. And to play as a team.
There is no striker on this planet that will not enjoy playing at Liverpool.
Even the much maligned Onuachu will likely blossom there. Alexander Arnold will become his BFF, because that one go dey give am better ball on the regular.
Onuachu might even decide to donate one month’s salary to Alexander Arnold, just to show appreciation.
If we don’t have creative midfielders, it’s not the end of the world. We can create from other areas of the pitch, and we can also use OVERLOAD to create chances.
I agree with you Mr. Samson Unuanel. I don’t even know if the gaffer of the Super Eagles aware of this all this while but that shouldn’t be a problem because Nwakali is doing well and in fine form to fill the gaps in the Super Eagles.
Yes, Nwakali is the solution to the problem if truly Oga Paseiro is ready to win the Afcon.
He, Oga Paseiro has to do three things if he has to do really well in Ivory Coast. Hmm.
No1. He has to get Nwakali in his team.
No2. The goalkeeping department is shaking and needs to be strengthened. Nwabali, the second best goalie in South African is available for selection, but are they, NFF, and the coaching crew will allow Nwabali to be in the Super Eagles before Afcon?
No3. Mr. Paseiro should open his eyes widely open to select the best strikers for Nigeria. Apart from Osimhen, I can’t be bold enough to say we have strikers like Rasheed Yekini and Aghahowa in this current Super Eagles squad.
Kai, I hope this our gaffer is seeing what I am seeing. Do we have at least three reliable strikers in this Super Eagles? I doubt it kę.
The gaffer will be deceived by the current form of our strikers, but the coach will face the reality on the ground when we get to Ivory Coast. Eguavoen have learned his lesson against Tunisia in the last edition of the Afcon in Cameroon.
Rather than focusing on current, the coach should also check out of the qualities of each striker in the Super Eagles.
Lastly, Dessers have to be in that squad for one thing, when things going the way the coach has planned, Dessers can find a way to rescue Nigeria.
Oga Paseiro should go back and watch Nigeria vs. Tunisia matches to understand what I’m talking about.
If he could do those things, Nigerians would see the difference. All the best, Eagles. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Instead of focusing on the current form of our strikers too much, the coach should also check out the qualities of each striker in the Super Eagles as well.
Lastly, Dessers have to be in that squad for one thing, when things are not going the way the coach has planned, Dessers can find a way out to rescue Nigeria.
Oga Paseiro should go back and watch Nigeria vs. Tunisia match to understand what I’m talking about.
I am deeply sorry for the mix-up in my wrightup. I hope one day will be one day that
CSN will provide us the edit button on this forum. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
So many critics who proffess to know it all, but end up sending out so much ignorance for gullible Nigerians to read. Nigeria is a land of charlatans and 419ers.
JJ Okotcha time was an era where footballers like him existed .
and some coaches then allow dribbling as part of entertainment.
Today most midfielders are not allowed to hold the ball that long .
Though if we have a players that with
ball playing abilities in the midfield, Nigeria will still be fine.
However , What we should root for is to look for a replacement for Mikel Obi who recently retired from the team without replacement.And whose super eagles era is just the immediate past one .
Such a midfielder of that Mikel qualities will able to possess play ,splite passes and get the ball to strickers
We thought Iwobi and Etibo will be able,but Iwobi football is a different brand from that of Mikel or Okotcha
Two good players like Mikel can alternate to close that gap in the team ,and with goals will come .
I think Fisayo Bashiru and Iwobi and Ndidi can solve this problem for Super Eagles playing in depth and creativity to grant passes to strikers; the mellow solution for this problem is playing formation and the quality of SE who are chosen for this mission, I think 4-2-3-1 will execute it with choosing quality players who can perform it.