Using only one striker cost Nigeria more goals at the last AFCON match between Nigeria and Cameron.
According to the once Pillar of Sports and now Senator representing Abia North at the National Assembly, Orji Uzor Kalu while analysing the encounter said, “I was impressed over the match between Nigeria and Cameron but it was not totally a good one”.
According to him, “Some of the players showed class. William Troost-Ekong was very good in defence, as well as Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhene and Frank Onyeka. These players were really on duty during the match.
“However, I expected the coach to have featured two strikers since he knows that everybody knows Osimhene internationally as a striker. In my opinion and as we used to do with Enyimba in those days, was to feature a second striker from one of the best at National League so that while the opposition players will be following and chasing Osimhene, the local, hitherto unknown striker will be scoring goals and when they go after the second striker, Osimhene will take over. thereby getting the opponents confused”.
Kalu, who led the Enyimba FC to continental victories as the then governor of Abia State further expressed his expectation that the Eagles coach should have prepared the players to be able to play full-time without getting tired, stating, “This means that although the players are playing according to instructions, massive attack and massive defence approach should have been used.
“In all, I saw a better Eagles and I pray that next time, they cone out more forceful. There is nothing wrong in Nigeria to collecting all the cups in Africa, even at the world level.
“If you give me that team, Nigeria will have the best players in that team, but now, Nigeria don’t have the best team. We don’t have a team yet, but has good players in the Eagles, but different professionals who play professional football outside the country. They are not yet a team”, Kalu said.
He however offered an advice, “They have to make the players a team and and make the players to be on duty. This team can carry the world cup. It is easy but requires determination and teamwork”, and encouraged the officials and players to do more for a better results.
Nigeria had during the match with Cameroon adopted a formation of 3-4-3 as follows: Goalkeeper-Stanley Nwabali, Defenders-Semi Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong, Zaidu Sanusi, Wing-backs-Ola Aina, Zaidu Sanusi, Midfielders-Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Forwards-Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, and Moses Simon.
