LAGOS JUNE 17TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Many Nigerians have been venting their fury over their team’s disappointing drab football that ended in a stalemate with Iran this evening. For a team ambitious of going far, many say the team showed little or no desire to soundly dictate the tempo of the game.
The Super Eagles though had the majority possession of the round leather but glaringly lacked the quality required to succeed.
To Chukwuemeka Uche who wrote in a Nigeria listserve; “these boys can as well pack and go home. I have seen our Under 20 play with purpose, mission, and goal. These so called Super Eagles seemed to nothing at stake in this game. They were rudderless and purposeless. I cannot believe what will happen when they meet more serious and goal-oriented teams like Argentina and Bosnia. It is horrible! Shameful! They were uninterested and timid in the game, playing as if they were practicing.
Another commentator, Chukwuemeka Eze described the bunch as ‘The worst ever assembled Nigerian Team!’
Tajudeen Raji wrote as the match progressed; “Someone please wake me up when it’s all over. I see no sense purpose in the way our boys are playing. It would be a slaughter if we are lucky enough to move beyond the first round. I intentional wrote “lucky enough” because from what I have seen so far – we are going to need a lot of it. Our boys do not exhibit a sense of purpose.”
Abiodun KOMOLAFE said that ‘Super Eagles’, which was born with 1994 squad, actually died with the 1998 squad. Since then, it’s been … ‘Super Turkey.’
For the Super Eagles next game, Vin Otuonye wrote; Nigeria just blew a good opportunity. Bosnia already played the hard game. They will be jubilating with this score.
Segun Dawodu said: Watching the Eagles performance so far, I do not see the team going further than the group stage. I can’t see endurance, strength, tactics or intelligence in the way they are playing the Iranians. One can only expect a serious drumming from the Bosnians and Argentines.
Ben Osawe said: “Nigeria should prepare to go back home. It was the worst match I have ever watched in a world cup. All the players, especially Mikel Obi, were holding on to the ball and all their passes were sideways or backwards. Open spaces were hardly utilized and no zeal to go forward. The match was not only a shame to Nigeria but the whole of Africa. At a stage I switched off to play my internet game so as not to get high blood pressure or throw my coffee at the TV.
“The difference is clear. We need a technical coach. The players should be told to have a one touch to the ball and pass the ball. Attack, attack, and attack. No breathing space for the opponent. If Nigeria qualifies from this group, it would be an act of God, not because Nigeria played well. Next time Nigeria should send Kano Pillars to represent Nigeria rather than the bunch of selfish players we had on the field.”