By Victor Enyinnaya on February 19, 2924

Daily Sports team once again congratulates Super Eagles of Nigeria squad on her exceptional and determined performance against all odds and predications by bookmakers, analysts and pundits at the recently concluded 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football summit held in Ivory Coast.

Yes, that tournament of surprises, wits and brawns came and gone. It was also roundly adjudged as the best ever in recent editions by the organizers, Confederation of African football (CAF).  It was one football festival that came with its frills, thrills, disappointments and sundry which further distinguished the round leather game as the most followed and discussed sport in the globe. 

It is also why football has also been widely accepted as the most adored game in the world and its excitement has serve more as catalysts for unity in diversity in Nigeria especially.  The Super Eagles players and officials that stood firmly knowing fully well the daily devastating economic hardship Bola Ahmed Tinubu unleashed on the poor people of Nigeria.

The present untold and avoidable hunger and starvation packaged and delivered by Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the down trodden continued to be bitter pills to the citizenry daily which has reduced living in the country to nothingness and sadly increased death toll of Nigerians via malnourishment which was temporarily relieved by the Month long AFCON Super Eagles grandly fought like Trojans but missed at the final stage against country, Ivory Coast.      

The great display by the Super Eagles at AFCON marked steady watershed and gave Nigerians immeasurable succor. Now that AFCON championship is over, the economic pains have resurfaced unbearably intensive. Football games that steadily act as healing balm are over. The worst days are here again and so choking too.

Government of the day is busy and ingloriously playing ostrich, a role it knows how best to do. Note, that every voice that has called this government’s attention to the fast fading lives of Nigerians have been stoutly bluffed, attacked and described in unmistakable and unprintable languages by the attack dogs of this regime which captured Nigeria in collaboration with INEC chairman.

I digress.  True to type the Super Eagles players and officials were rewarded when the squad was hosted in Abuja Mr. President. Like government in desperate search for legitimacy, it grabbed the opportunity with both hands and dish out gifts.

No doubt, the lads deserved them and it is reward from their hard work, diligent, dedication, focus and not like the ones politicians and their crannies thief openly daily.

Now haven highlighted few of the dangers and man’s inhumanity acts by this Tinubu/APC government has subjected the citizenry to, it is now to suggest ways the Super Eagles would ensure greater success come the 35^th edition of 2024 AFCON to be held in Morocco next year.

It is then incumbent on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to swing into action and get going on the issue of either retaining Jose Peseiro to continue from he stopped or immediately conclude the employment of a new technical hand that would enduringly harness the great potentials of these young and ball joggling Eagles we saw at the recently concluded AFCON in Ivory Coast.

A seasoned handler that would ensure players play their exact role on the field for optimum result. We saw more of defensive display by the Eagles a total departure from her usual attacking football especially from the wings. Such pattern for instance showed down dramatically the fire in reigning Africa Footballer of Year, Victor Oshinmen who come mostly from behind, l believe under instruction to help the defence. 

We saw the after effects on his output upfront but thanks to his youthful age which made him not to get easily tired.  Then this is the time to take decisive position on who heads the national team must not be dragged for too long. There is no much time. These Eagles must be on fire in Morocco via adequate preparations and inclusion of new legs that can join forces with these ones to throw up a killer or suicide squad for the qualifiers and then Morocco 2024 AFCON showdown. 

To this analyst and other critical Nigerian football stakeholders and keen observers the time to settle on who leads the team henceforth is now. Super Eagles as presently constituted need a head coach that would thoroughly reorganize the team and ensure things are put in proper perspective in the overall growth and performance of the team.

A man with massive technical and tactical ability to vastly soak away any external and internal interference and work out the great potentials inherent in these crops of Super Eagles players.  Such sound head coach would be extremely unbiased, focus and able to turn around the team into real strike force to be reckoned with.  

The boys that competed in Ivory Coast AFCON football festival are great stars on their rights with age on their side too some competing for the first time in such high level championship. Therefore, what should be most paramount within the circle of critical football stakeholders and the NFF should be how to start up such process and sustain the achievement garnered in the 34^th edition.

One of the problems with Nigeria as a nation remains that she does not know how to consolidate her gains. NFF will only beat itself if it tides up this issue of head coach much more early for the national team enough to avoid hitches that would likely crop up from the exercise. As the day goes on, we will keep eye on the ball on this matter.

Once again, congratulations Super Eagles and their officials for the feat. Keep shooting hard till next week. Meanwhile we wait!! 

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted February 19, 2024

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