…. Chukwu, Okala, hail Super Eagles performance against Senegal.
Football fans in have urged the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to ensure that the Super Eagles remain competitive in 2017 and beyond in order to keep the players fit for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 AFCON qualifiers.
The fans were reacting to the Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with the Senegal in a friendly encounter.
The Lions scored the opener in the 54th minute through Moussa Sow, while the Eagles equalised through a Kelechi Iheanacho’s 83rd minute penalty-kick, in a match played at the Hive Stadium, London.
Justice Ekeh, former Director of Sports in the old Abia, noted that the Eagles’ lack of competitiveness since the World Cup qualifier against Algeria in November 2016, showed in the game against Senegal.
“The team did not play warm-up matches for AFCON 2017, and did not participate in the tournament proper like Senegal and other teams and this made it lethargic for most part of the match.
“The matter was made worse with the fact that most of the players were making their debut for the first time,” he said.
Also commenting, George Anizoba, Coach of former Ebonyi Federation Cup Champions, Mgbo Ambassadors FC, said that the Eagles had the youthfulness of its players as their saving grace.
“The team is fortunately dominated by youthful, energetic and skillful players, who used their resourcefulness and intelligence to cover the team’s inactivity.
“It is hoped that with the players’ staying together for Monday’s friendly against Burkina Faso, we would see an improved performance,” he said.
Chief Aniekwe Okafor, a soccer enthusiast, urged the NFF to utilise all Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) free days in 2017 and beyond, to keep the team in shape.
“There are not much ‘FIFA windows’ in between the ‘Russia 2018’ and ‘AFCON 2019’ qualifiers, the team must utilise all opportunities to ensure effective blending.
“Coach Gernot Rohr should also use the invited players for both friendlies, to execute the upcoming AFCON and World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Cameroon due to shortage of time for effective preparation,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles’ coach, Christian Chukwu and ex-goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala, have expressed satisfaction in the international friendly match between the Super Eagles and Teranga Lions of Senegal, saying it was a good assessment match for the coach.
Chukwu said the Super Eagles showed resilience, especially during the last minute of the game.
“It is a friendly match. It is a good assessment match for the coach.
“It will make the coach to understand the individual players and the various departments in the team.
“I am sure that coach Rohr will now know how best to beef-up the team and solidify it,’’ Chukwu, a former national team captain said.
Chukwu, who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Enugu Rangers International FC, lauded the creativity of Manchester City wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho toward the end of the match.
“Iheanacho bringing Nigeria fully back into the game at the 83rd minute is laudable.
“It is good that we train our players on stamina and the mental-frame of mind in holding to any game to the last minute,’’ he added.
Also, Okala, a former Green Eagles goalkeeper, said that the match was a good one.
Okala noted that the essence of the match was to test the blending ability of the old players with new ones injected into the team by the coach.
“At least, the coach, with this match, must have understood one or two things concerning the team,’’ he said.
Okala urged Nigerians to continue to support the national team in all ramifications to bring out the best in the players.
Anthony Nlebem with agency reports
