Izuchukwu Okosi[ez-toc]The countdown to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivorie continues even as there remains cautious optimism that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will bounce back in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures after the disappointing draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
On the morning of November 16, Nigerian football faithful were hoping that their team would trounce Lesotho in their first game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe game ended in an embarrassing 1-1 draw and four days later, the Eagles grinded another 1-1 draw at the Huye Stadium in Rwanda against Zimbabwe.
These two opponents were considered the weakest sides in Group C of the qualification campaign in Africa with the Nigerian side still to face South Africa, Benin Republic and Rwanda.
What was a hopeful outcome became a nightmare and many had given up on the chances of the team to book a ticket to the USA, Canada and Mexico after missing the party in Qatar in 2022.
However, a shocking 2-0 victory for Rwanda over South Africa coupled with the goalless draw between Lesotho and Benin Republic have rekindled Nigeria’s aspirations.
Now, the onus is on the Super Eagles to ensure that the remaining games in the qualifiers are won. That is tihe only guarantee to ensure that they make it to the mundial.
There has been agitations for the sack of Portuguese coach Peseiro, recommended to the Nigeria Football Federation by AS Roma manager, Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho has built some relationships with Nigerian football in some ways.
Some years ago, the former Porto, Chelsea Real Madrid and Manchester United coach was in Ilorin, Kwara state for a coaching clinic.
The self-styled ‘Special One’ worked with former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel at Chelsea where they won a few titles.
When he bought out-of-favour England international of Nigerian descent Tammy Abraham to Roma from Chelsea, he declared that the striker was good enough to play consistently for the Three Lions, otherwise Gareth Southgate should allow him to play for Nigeria.
Mourinho also had such attachment to Benni McCarthy who was part of his Porto side that shocked Europe and won the Champions League in 2003. Not to mention Didier Drogba.
So Mourinho recommended Peseiro for Nigeria’s senior national team.
Peseiro was linked with the vacant Zamalek FC coaching job but he has debunked claims that he has applied for it.
It has since been confirmed that the coach is owed backlog of salary arreas since he signed a new contract that will see him take the team to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivorie.
The possibility of relieving the coach of his job seems little as a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation Akwa Ibom state chapter disclosed that the NFF cannot sack a coach they did not employ.
The Sports Ministry reportedly hired the coach and only them have the rights to fire him.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivorie to be held in January and February 2024 is less than 50 days and despite the calls for the sack of the coach, it is almost impossible to have him fired.
Now is the time to set the agendas and not when the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivorie is almost upon us.
Therefore Prime Business Africa’s Izuchukwu Okosi has come up with five critical points that the ‘Mourinho candidate’ must address in order to the have the backing of the Nigerian supporters.
1. Who Replaces Awoniyi?
Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening began their journey in the Premier League without Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi who has been ruled out of action for a few months due to a groin injury.
Awoniyi is not expected to sufficiently recover from the setback by early January to make the trip to Abidjan.
Awoniyi would be a big miss for Nigeria but there are other in-form strikers/forwards waiting in the wings to make their cases.
Could this be the opportunity that the likes of the uncapped Gift Orban, Chidera Ejuke (who has played for Nigeria anyway), Daniel Akor, etc would need to establish themselves in the team? Or could that slot be given to a midfield player since the team don’t seem to have as many midfield players as expected ?
Another food for thought.
2. Monitoring Super Eagles Oppositions
While it is great to see Nigeria internationals at their clubs as most of Nigerian coaches have loved to do, it is perhaps of greater importance to monitor what the team’s opponents are up to.
Club matches involving players in the Group A of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations should be paramount to the Technical department of the Nigeria Football Federation and the team scouts.
The technical crew of the Super Eagles and the NFF must ensure that a professional ‘espionage mission’ on Nigeria’s AFCON opponents and even the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers are executed.
3. The goalkeeping Conundrum
The duo of Amas Obasogie and Omayi Kingdom of Bendel Insurance and Doma United respectively have remained impressive in the NPFL this season.
Kingdom has kept six consecutive clean sheets in eight league fawns and even have two assists to boot.
The regulars in the team like Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye have not covered themselves in glory and it is time to put some faith in the abilities of the home-based talents.
Only Israel-based Adebayo Adeleye from the foreign legion has been the in-form of the bunch getting call-ups to the team.
4. Home based quota in final Afcon squad
Aside the fact that the home-based keepers are deserving of a look-in in the Super Eagles main squad (not CHAN team), there is need to settle once- and- for-all the longstanding debate over the quota system based on team selection.
Where are the positions that the country can get good players from the NPFL to plug the gaps in the national teams.
For the current Super Eagles ‘Team A’ squad, the goalkeeping department, central defence and defensive midifeld are the positions that need an injection of players from the local league.
Prime Business Africa’s verdict is that the Super Eagles ‘Team A’ should have at least three (3) quality players that should be part of the team to qualifiying games and major tournaments.
Defending the idea of home based players being in the team is not the issue as they are also desperate to become ‘professionals’ playing abroad, but it is based on the team to also advertise the NPFL.
5. Working on Setpieces
Most of the goals conceded by the team have come via setpieces.
It’s almost conceivable that the Eagles back line will let in goals irrespective of the opponents or competitive nature of the matches they play.
This is because the national team defence has been poor in defending, and sometimes, attacking from setpieces.
Recruiting a very efficient set piece specialist ought to be the priority of the Nigeria Football Federation and the Super Eagles coaching crew.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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