Soaring hope of Nigerians concerning our chances in the World Cup has received a dent with Nigeria’s 47th position in the latest edition of the FIFA World Rankings remaining unchanged as a result of the goalless draw the Eagles played with Mexico at the Georgia Dome Stadium in Atlanta, USA.
We occupy the 7th position in Africa behind fellow World Cup representatives Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, Ghana. With Nigeria’s confirmed 47th position in the world and 7th in Africa, we now literally have 54 hurdles (aptly put 54 positions) to scale through before we can hope for a spot in the World Cup Finals .
For a country that holds the record of the highest ranking achieved by an African football team (also the country’s highest ranking position since the creation of the world football’s ladder in 1993) with Nigeria’s fifth place in April 1994, so much is expected when FIFA’s list is released monthly.
Disappointingly, however, Nigeria’s other World Cup Group F opponents are ranked higher, Argentina being the third best ranked in the world while Bosnia-Herzegovina is in 21st spot and Iran is 42nd. Spain remains the topmost ranked team in the world; followed closely by Germany, while Portugal and Colombia retain the fourth and fifth spots respectively.
FACT
After impressing on their way to the second round in each of their first two FIFA World Cup appearances, 1994 and 1998, Nigeria have remained struggling; having ousted at the group stage three times while taking just two points from their last eight matches in the finals. A muddled South Africa 2010 campaign under Lars Lagerback did little to bolster Nigeria’s reputation, but Brazil 2014 offers another chance for the reigning African champions to soar.
As we approach the World Cup, there are two categories of national team coaches preparing for the trip to Brazil. First, there are those who already have an idea of their formations/tactics and know most of the 23-man squad to execute the game plan. The second category are those who are still working out systems to suit the players at their disposal or have difficulty in finding the right players to fill-in key positions and execute the coach’s preferred game plan.
It is the dream of every coach to find or create effective synergy throughout the team; from the centre-back paring to the midfield triangles and the prolific attackers. Since Nigeria doesn’t have the luxury of players like 4 times World Best Player Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Higuain or even an Edin Dzeko like other countries in our group, we have to shift through the crop of players and get the most refined ones to fly our flag in the Samba country.
Inherently, we can say that one of the major reasons we are always lagging behind and found wanting is the fact that we are always searching for players to make our team for every tournament instead of building a team and maintaining them to utilise for any tournament they have to participate in.
The great Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Spain and most recently, Belgium of this world, have utilised their strong youth system management to metamorphose into great team that can beat any opponent they encounter and it is high time Nigeria followed suit.
For Stephen Keshi (who fits into the second category mentioned above), he must find the perfect pieces to fit into the puzzle of his selection. The harmonic partnership of Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo in the heart of defence could not come at a better time.
The partnership of John Obi Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi and maybe, a Sunday Mba can work to his advantage as they flourished together and even helped propel the team to glory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, as a pundit rightly said, “Finding the ‘Third Man’ to complement John Obi Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi in midfield has so far proved abortive. With the World Cup less than 100 days away, Keshi is running out of time and games to continue his ultimate search”. So no assurances in that area too.
In the attacking sense, definitely an Emmmanuel Emenike, with a Victor Moses and maybe Ahmed Musa/Brown Ideye or as recent news implies, Osaze Odemwingie behind him would work perfectly to Keshi’s benefits.
“The jigsaw to the current Super Eagles team is incomplete. The identity of the defensive and creative midfielders remain vague and undefined; there is no time for the sentimental arguments that Keshi shouldn’t try to fix something that’s not broken, until, at least, that ‘something’ has been established!” I couldn’t but agree.
With three more friendly games to go against Scotland, Greece and the USA before this summer World Cup in Brazil- starting on June 12, Nigeria however, has a chance to fine- tune and shape the team into a perfect unit.
Banji Boye
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