Ex-Nigeria captain disappointed by team’s poor strike force
By Sab Osuji
Henry Nwosu, MON, has identified injury to key players at a crucial time as part of the reasons why the Super Eagles failed to go past France in the second round of the on-going FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
As was the case in USA ’94 and France ’98 when the Nigerian squad failed to go past the second round of the tournament, the Super Eagles failed to reach the quarter finals after a 2-0 defeat by Les Bleus of France on Monday.
But Nwosu, winner of the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 1980, says though the Super Eagles upped their game against France on the night, a sub-par performance by the midfielders especially when Ogenyi Onazi was pulled out following injury did the Super Eagles in.
“We had the opportunity to win the game right from the start. Plenty chances were carved out but the attackers failed to take them”, rues the Gateway United coach.
“The French team was fast on their dribbles and patient enough. They were handed maximum advantage when Onazi left because the midfield somehow collapsed, giving the French side all the chances to make hay.
“Another problem was that the defence exposed goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama on many occasions. The defenders should take the blame for this because they did that many times in the game.”
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