Keshi, Eagles need to Spanish lessons

Nigeria have just managed to win the African Cup of Nations for the first time in nearly two decades and the destructive egos is already creeping in.

Stephen Keshi claimed he dropped the likes of Osaze Odemwingie and Obafemi Martins to build a team of committed footballers who are ready to work as a unit. But looking at recent performances and problems around the squad, I think the Super Eagles coach will need to evaluate his work on his 'building a team' mission. Is the team moving in the right direction?

Appraisals are where you get together with your team leader and agree what an outstanding member of the team you are, how much your contribution has been valued, what massive potential you have and, in recognition of all this, would you mind having your salary halved.- Theodore Roosevelt, former president of the United States.

Interestingly, it looked like Rooselvelt had the Eagles in mind when he made the statement above, especially amidst the fiasco over unpaid bonuses for Nations Cup success. I personally do not agree with those criticising the players for demanding their $10,000 pledged bonuses. If there has been an agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), then the administrators must fulfill it. Before making a decision, there must be a budget and discussions on how funds are raised; this must include revenue from sponsorship.

Clearly the challenge confronting the national team is beyond the performances on the pitch, but I intend looking into some administrative aspect in other discussions. My concern here is that there are indications that Keshi and his Eagles appear to be pressing the self-destruct button that may quickly tarnish their feat in South Africa.

You will never be able to obliterate their continental feat in the annals of Nigerian football, but how excellent and complementary it would be, to work even harder as a unit to prove that your achievement wasn't a flash in the pan?

Spain won the 2008 European Championships and followed it up with the World Cup triumph in South Africa two years later. They also retained their continental title last year. It has been a period of incredible dominance for them both at the national team and club levels. Seven of the players who started for Spain against Uruguay on Sunday play for Barcelona, who have ruled Europe over the last decade, while Real Madrid had three representatives.

 The fierce rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid is well known, yet coach Vicente Del Bosque has managed to keep the spirit of collectivism and focus among his players when it comes to national duty. Their work ethic and tireless sacrifice on the pitch is admirable, pressing as a unit, making movements to creating passing options and obliging the discipline to find the best man available with passes to achieve team success.

Keshi hasn’t attracted many friends in the NFF for his resignation threat and public criticism of the football body hours after his team’s AFCON success, and it is safe to assume he would be fuelling the insinuation of ‘luck’ if his team continues to play like they did against Tahiti on Monday night in Belo Horizonte.

Though injuries to the likes of Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses and Ogenyi Onazi hasn’t helped the team, yet playing to the gallery in a major competition rather than chasing team glory is a worrying trend for a young team. Despite their 6-1 win, Keshi should be concerned that the 10 clear-cut chances were wasted due to selfish quest for personal acclaim.

Anthony Ujah was poor in the first half and consequently replaced minutes after the break, but it was frustrating to see that the Eagles didn’t correct the basics of finding the right man in the best position towards goal. Even Ujah’s replacement, Brown Ideye ridiculously battled to get a touch on the ball which had already strolled over the goal line, just to get his name on the score sheet.

Whatever Keshi saw in Anthony Ujah which earned him a place in thie Confederations Cup team, I hope he has seen enough that the Cologne striker has blown his starting chances after lethargic performances against minnows Namibia and Tahiti.

The Eagles must put their indulgence against Tahiti behind them and concentrate on working as a unit with a quest to win for Nigeria, not playing for watching scouts. They will need to put to curb their profligacy in front of goal to do well in this competition. The lesson from Spain must be a good resource material for Keshi, which must be eloquently passed across to his players.

The legacy is not particularly about this Confederations Cup, it is about what makes a great team. Great teams don’t win once, they replicate success.

Confed Cup: Enjoy the fun Nigeria!

Football fans in Nigeria have endured a roller coaster of emotions over the last two decades, from the glorious era of the 1990s to the failings of the following decade.

Our Super Eagles won the 1994 African Cup of Nations and went on to make their debut appearance at the FIFA World Cup same year, a whirlwind season culminating in the ranking of the team as the fifth best in the world. Though they crashed out in the second round at the Mundial yet we thrilled the global audience with our wonderful group of talents.

One year later we were rubbing shoulders with the best in the 1995 Intercontinental tournament-named the King Fahd Cup back then- now renowned as the FIFA Confederations Cup. It was the only time Nigeria had previously participated in the competition, recording a 3-0 victory over Japan, followed by a draw against Argentina before losing on penalties to Mexico in the third place match.

Eagles celebrating at the African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The Eagles are in vogue again after their 2013 AFCON success in South Africa, and the fans' excitement has been rejuvenated. What an interesting coincidence that Stephen Keshi, the current coach, and his assistants, Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorunmu, were members of our 1995 squad to the Intercontinental tournament! Indeed the current technical director of Chelsea, Michael Emenalo was also in the squad, together with the likes of Austin Okocha, Sunday Oliseh and Peter Rufai.

Watch the highlights of the 1995 game between Nigeria and Japan here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFUcmqGszJs

Keshi will lead his team out against Tahiti, the minnows in the group comprising of Spain and Uruguay. If there would be any discontent regarding the Eagles in these fixtures, then it would happen mainly if they failed to beat the Oceania champions. The Spaniards were overwhelmingly brilliant against Uruguay despite only winning 2-1 last night in Recife. Still Uruguay are top team and Nigeria would need extraordinary efforts to have a chance against them.

But then Tahiti are fresher, having arrived Brazil eight days ahead of their Nigerian counterparts whose participation was thrown into doubts due to protest over unpaid bonuses for success in South Africa in February. Now that a truce had been reached, it's time for the new Eagles to feel the ambience of Brazil 2014, at this Confederations Cup. A sort of dress rehearsal that should even motivate them to qualify for next year's show-piece.

Tonight's match in Belo Horizonte is the ideal opening game to settle into a tournament for a young squad like Nigeria, but the team must re-enact the sort of team ethic that earned them the continental title against the odds.

But it is important to remember that the trio of Ogenyi Onazi, Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike who were the linchpins of the AFCON squad are missing the Confed fiesta, a worrying situation for Keshi.

In particular, Onazi was a huge late blow, as the Lazio man was available until he limped out against Namibia midweek. His solidity allowed the duo of Mikel Obi and Sunday Mba to constantly surge forward and worry opponents. He doesn't possess the long range passing and shooting skills of Oliseh, but he is brilliant in awareness and combination play.

John Ogu was brought on to replace him against Namibia he seemed to favour attacking inclination than doing the defensive side of the game. So Keshi may have to look at Fegor Ogude for that role, as he has formed a better understanding playing with Mba more than Ogu.

The Eagles however lack a playmaker with the decisive passes-Mikel couldn't even make a single successful through ball against the Brave Warriors last Wednesday, yet he played for 90minutes. He wasn't disappointing in his overall-kept the ball nicely with slick passing and movement- he is just not the creator in the final. Sadly Eagles have none at the moment.

Mba would have shoulder this responsibility with his strength and daring runs to make things happen for the attackers who were disappointing in Windhoek, apart from the tormenting Ahmed Musa. Perhaps we would see Brown Ideye’s return to inject better precision in front of goal. He missed the Namibia with a hamstring problem but his experience will be valuable in Brazil.

The Eagles played with tremendous freedom and mobility in South Africa; they will have to play with similar courage to enjoy their stay in Brazil. After all it's the land of Samba, and it can't be wrong to savour the festivities of the home of football.

Come on Eagles! No tension. Have fun!

Brazil not glittering but fly past Japan

Two wins out of eight games in-charge and their pedigree for slow starts in tournaments had offered some reasons for anxiety for Felipe Scolari ahead the opening game of the FIFA Confederations Cup. But when you’ve got a Neymar, anything is possible, including greatness and low key performance. 

Scolari’s 2002 World Cup winning Brazil side scrap through a 2-1 victory in their opening game against Turkey and the same unimpressive lone goal margin victories against Croatia and Korea DPR in their first games of the following subsequent competitions. Indeed Cameroun who went on to reach the final of the 2003 Confederations Cup defeated the South American in the opening game of that edition.

But last night’s nerves were quickly settled by Neymar’s brilliance at National Stadium in Brasilia. Receiving a chest-cushioned ball from the Selecao’s number nine, Fred after a Marcelo cross, the new Barcelona’s 57million euros signing unleashed a cracking right-footed volley into the top corner of the Japanese net inside five minutes. It was perfect start that sent the colourful host fans into rapture. 

“I never stopped saying that Neymar is an amazing player. He may have moments when he's not at his best - which happens to everyone, but I never doubted that he's someone who can make a difference, like he did today," Scolari told FIFA.com after the game.

Japan were always going to be a tricky fixture but the Asians were shocked by the early goal and allowed Brazil to dictate proceedings very early on. Yet the South American champions still struggled for cohesion in their play, in the final third. Hulk who was chosen ahead of PSG winger, Lucas Moura was enjoying some space down the left, but his poor decisions were letting him and his teammates down.

Hulk’s incredible power and pace are great assets but more important is the end product. On one occasion when he had both Fred and Neymar to locate after muscling his way into the Japanese defence, he gave the ball away. He however powered a trademark shot into the side of the net.

But Oscar and Neymar, who made up the three behind Fred, were more composed with their play but found it difficult to break the Japan’s defensive discipline. The duo of Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda were expected to spearhead the Asians’ counter attack but often times they found a stalwart in Luis Gustavo. The Bayern Munich midfielder was impressive for Brazil, supporting both Thiago Silva and David Luiz at centre back as well as prompting attack with his distribution.

Oscar was offering more purpose switching between the wide areas and complementing Neymar’s probing efforts. And when Brazil had to defend, the Chelsea man joined the duo of Gustavo and Paulinho to hassle and frustrate the guile of Kagawa and Honda.

More disappointing for Japan was their inability to exploit the weakness of Brazil’s attacking full backs, particularly Dani Alves who couldn’t also as much as Marcelo did, going forward. But the right back did locate Paulinho who swivelled and struck a low drive to double the lead three minutes into the restart.

Then after the injured Neymar was replaced by Hernanes, Oscar stepped it up and launched a great counter attack with pace, threading a delightful ball to another substitute, Jo, who slotted home the third through the legs of Eiji Kawashima in the Japan goal.

Official Man of the Match: Neymar

Onazi out, Nigeria continue sloppy feat in World Cup qualifiers

Nigeria would have qualified for the final round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers if there was a top goalscorer on the pitch Wednesday night, surviving a late surge from Namibia to secure a point. 

Not only were they disappointed for missing numerous chances to win in Windhoek, the team also look set to be without their influential midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi for the FIFA Confederations Cup following his injury last night.

The Super Eagles key rival in their group, Malawi had made it look like a realistic target after only managing a draw at home against Kenya earlier in the day, a result which meant the African Champions only needed to win in Windhoek to progress to play offs on a day Brazil marked exactly one year to the Mundial.

But it was Brave Warriors who opened scoring 12minutes from time against the run of play when Deon Hotto Kavendji pounced on a cross with the hosts’ first real chance of the game. It took a delightful free kick from central defender, Godfrey Oboabona in the 83rd minute to salvage a draw for the visitors.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi opted for FC Cologne striker Anthony Ujah in place of Brown Ideye who appeared to be carrying the hamstring  injury he sustained  in the friendly against Mexico in Houston. The duo of Ahmed Musa and Nnmadi Oduamadi to complete the attack, the most shuffled department in the qualifying campaign. And it turned out to be the reason the Eagles will have to wait till the last game in September to know their fate in a tricky tie with second-placed Malawi.

Spartak Moscow of Russia striker, Emmanuel Emenike was the firepower who led Nigeria’s victorious quest, emerging the golden boot winner with four goals at the African Nations Cup in South Africa in February. His absence has exposed the national team’s frailty and lack of quality in the forward line.

After suffering a muscle injury in the AFCON semi-finals against Mali, Emenike returned to action in April against Anzhi Makhachkala, only to be sidelined with knee ligament damage after coming on as a substitute in the encounter.

Sadly for the Eagles, Chelsea forward who was also crucial to the country’s continental triumph was also out injured, and it left Keshi with little options, especially after his decision to do away with big egos like Obafemi Martins and Osaze Odemwingie. Villareal’s Ike Uche has also failed to impress in the energetic style the team has shown under the current technical crew.

Albeit Nigeria stretched their unbeaten run to 18 games under Keshi with the, yet it is worrying to note that the team has only managed only two wins in five games in this  World Cup qualifiers in a relatively easy group. None of their three opponents are ranked within 100 in the FIFA log. Malawi (109), Namibia (120), Kenya (123). The Eagles are ranked 31st in the global standings.

Indeed Namibia’s head coach, Roger Palmgren had resigned barely 48hours before the encounter after citing death threats, and having lost in Windhoek to Malawi in March, the momentum was with the Eagles who had defeated Kenya in their last qualifying game.

So judging by the circumstances and quality of the opponents in the group, Keshi must be worried that his side has hardly lived up to expectation and it would be interesting how he handles subsequent challenges, beginning with FIFA Confederations Cup. Big task ahead for the Eagles

John Obi Mikel had the chance to put his side ahead after just inside 10 minutes against Namibia, after the speedy Musa was brought down from just aside the opponents’ box. But the Chelsea midfielder’s free-kick could not threaten the Warriors’ goal. It was actually surprising to see him fancy his chances, given his poor goal scoring record.

Mikel was enjoying a lot of freedom and time on the ball with the ever impressive Onazi marshalling the holding role in a fluid 4-3-3 formation. Musa, who had won the Russia title and cup double with CSKA Moscow, then provided great chances. The first with a cheeky back heel pass, that set up Ujah  who fired straight at the Namibia goalie, Virgill Vries and then another cutback pass for Oduamadi whose tame strike allowed another block. Ujah was on hand to turn it in but chose power and shot awfully wide to leave the score line barren at the break.

The Brave Warriors grew in confidence in the second half but the duo of midfield Mikel and Sunday were still finding the spaces in the final third without producing quality final balls for the three attackers. And when Oduamadi was found with a cross from six yards out, his header went shocking wide with Vries at his mercy. Both Mikel and Musa also bungled decent chances at goal, compounding Keshi’s frustration while his assistant Daniel Amokachi was hugely animated from the sidelines.

Nambia then punished Nigeria’s profligacy when Kavendji pounced on an inviting cross with Enyeama, who had rarely seen action all night, having no chance. Two crucial errors responsible for the goal; John Ogu, who had come on for the injured Onazi (most impressive player on the pitch), weirdly failed to prevent the cross despite having covered well, while Oboabona was late to intercept the goal scorer.

But Oboabona made amends by scoring the crucial equaliser with a stunning free kick five minutes later to claim a crucial point for Nigeria. Ogu then wasted a late free kick from 25 yards as both sides held on till the end.

The Eagles are up against Tahiti, Uruguay and Spain in the group B of the Confederations Cup which kicks off this weekend in Brazil. Their participation would afford them a more competitive tournament experience after conquering Africa.

Mourinho wins first battle on Chelsea return

It came very late in the game, yet one of the pivotal moments of his media conference, like scoring an injury time winner. Like Hernan Crespo’s stunner in the last minute of Chelsea’s season opener at Wigan in August 2005. You know how sweet that feels, for any fan. Jose Mourinho met what appeared to be the most sensitive query with a trademark charismatic line.

When probed about his weakness, he said: “You don't speak about weaknesses with your enemy, and my enemy will read the papers and watch television. We hide our weaknesses. Every player, manager has weaknesses. You have to try to hide them. So I'm not giving that chance for the enemy... with respect because, in sports, an enemy is not really an enemy. I know my weakness but not much, not many.”

That was a pointer to his unrepentant swagger and ridiculous confidence, a clear message of readiness, and the commencement of the plot to conquer his rivals.  Albeit the Portuguese appeared to be calmer in poise but nothing has really changed in his personality. He kept the media guessing most of the times and made rivals felt ‘was that all about the noise of his press conference?’ 250 journalists were present, yet he ensured he didn't give too much away while still delivering his words articulately.

Then take for instance an attempt to drag him early into the fate of John Terry who had troubled times under the Blues interim manager, Rafa Benitez in the just ended season, Jose masterfully offered a double-header reply to quench the media thirst, instantly.

He said: “For me, not one word about Benitez's decisions, either on John or another player. What I can say is about the future, and the future is to meet John in the first week of July, try to get the best out of him. I know what he can give. I try to get the best, let's try to make him again a very important player that he couldn't be last season. But Benitez's decisions are Benitez's decisions.’

With that, he killed the potential of throwing up headlines about Benitez, and in the same breathe warned Terry and other senior players, with whom he had worked during his first stint, that the ‘untouchable era’ is over, adding, “all my decisions are based on meritocracy.”

Mourinho had started the show with a new sobriquet, announcing: "I think I'm the happy one" in response to a question about whether he still considered himself The Special One. Surely he threw a stone to kill two birds there: pouring cold water to the so-called 'unsuccessful' adventure at Real Madrid and at the same time reminding his critics his unhappiness in Spain has vanished with his return to Chelsea.”

In a sublime tone accompanied by a charming smile that had often been missing during his tumultuous moments at the Bernabeu, Mourinho insists, “I’m humble. Sometimes it looks like I'm not, but I am.”

 In response to suggestions he's a calmer figure than the man who appeared at his media debut for Chelsea in 2004, he suggested his cocky approach was needed at the time to remind the local media in England that he was no rookie in the game.

“When I arrived here in 2004 you pushed me a lot in that first press conference to have a strong approach, and in this moment the situation is different. You know me. You know my history in the British game, and the European game, so I don't think I need that approach.”

The former Inter Milan boss still had time to deliver a stinger to Barcelona following claims by midfielder Andreas Iniesta that he had ‘damaged’ the game in Spain. “‘I damaged Spanish football by being the manager that broke Barcelona dominance. They were dominant, and dominant, and dominant, and it looked like dominance without an end. Real Madrid won a cup final against Barcelona, Real Madrid won the Super Cup against Barcelona, Real Madrid won in Barcelona, and Real Madrid won the championship, which is the historic championship of 100 points and 121 goals. I hurt them, I hurt them.”

Mourinho also navigated the question regarding the fate of Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne-both of were away on loan deals last season with grace. ‘I think it's fair that the players are the first ones to know about their future, and to know about their future by their manager, by their club, and not by the media. But, as you are Belgian and I don't want you to go home without a little answer, they are the type of players Chelsea have invested a lot into in the past, and it's my work to extract the best from those investments. Both of them are ready to come and be ready for my squad.’

The mellowness of a tiger is no indication of cowardice, says an African proverb. Don’t ever mistake Jose’s calmness for a change of personality in his quest to succeed again with Chelsea. The battle started at Monday’s conference and his message is lucid enough that he is up for the fight, albeit a greater challenge, this time around.

Yes he seems more mature now, but he won’t change. Mourinho is back!