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Football | Super Eagles
 |
For an hour on October 13, head coach of the Nigeria
national team, Stephen Keshi looked shell-shocked, disappointed,
listless and a bit distracted.
His charges were being bullied and played off the park by 11 unheralded Ethiopians at the Tessema Ydnekachew Stadium, Addis Ababa.
It was no real surprise when the Ethiopians took the lead in the 56th minute through Behalu Assefa.
Nigerian goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama insists to this day that the ball did not cross the line but the Ethiopians will claim poetic justice after Salhadin Said’s strike was not given even when it looked like the ball had crossed the line before Nigerian defender, Godfrey Oboabona cleared.
Nigeria eventually won 2-1 but Keshi told supersport.com afterwards that the Nigeria team struggled to get into their stride.
Keshi was right. The Super Eagles did not play well in the first leg.
The African champions however got the important victory and must take these nine steps to get another positive result against the Walia Ibex on Saturday and qualify for the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
In Addis Ethiopia played very well and gave Enyeama fits.
Stop Adane Girma
In the 64th minute of the first leg in Addis, the Ethiopian coach, Sewnet Bishaw made a rather puzzling substitution.
He took off star midfielder, Adane Girma and replaced him with Adis Hinsa. Three minutes later, Nigeria equalized.
From the moment Girma left the pitch, the Super Eagles began to dominate the midfield and subsequently got a second goal to win the game.
Girma will start against Nigeria on Saturday and Bishaw is unlikely to repeat his mistake of the first leg.
When Girma is in the mood, the Walia Ibex are a joy to watch and Keshi must deploy the right tactics to deprive the intelligent midfielder time and space to call court at the UJ Esuene stadium on Saturday.
Enyeama must stay focused
Nigeria’s goalkeeper and captain, Enyeama is currently rated as one of the best in the world.
He’s been in ridiculously good form for Lille OSC this season where he’s conceded in just two games in 13 starts this season.
Enyeama can however let his teammates down with shocking mistakes when least expected. In the first leg, bad positioning by the veteran goalkeeper allowed Ethiopia to get a soft goal.
While his ability between the sticks is not in doubt, Enyeama must keep his concentration for all 90 minutes and extra time and penalties if need be.
Big individuals must rise to the occasion
This week, players, staff and members of the backroom staff of the Super Eagles have been harping on the unity and oneness of the group.
While it remains an unchallenged fact that football is a team game, the importance of gifted individuals in a group cannot be over emphasized.
That is why Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo receive the adulation of fans across the world and also the reason they regularly rack up awards.
Emmanuel Emenike also exemplified this fact in the first leg when his double gave Nigeria the win in a dour display.
The star men of the Eagles must step up to the plate on Saturday afternoon.
Tactics
Bishaw is a shrewd tactician who knows how to deploy the right tactics against Nigeria.
When both nations met at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on January 29 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Bishaw’s tactics worked to perfection and only two late penalties from Victor Moses saved the Super Eagles.
In the first leg, Bishaw was again on the money until his risk with Girma backfired badly.
Keshi is full of respect for Bishaw and his well-oiled Ibex machine.
“I respect the work of Bishaw. His team plays good football and they have been together for more than five years so they are not easy to beat,” Keshi told supersport.com earlier in the week.
The “Big Boss” must go one step further and outfox Bishaw with superior tactic from the dugout.
Taking chances
Whenever the Super Eagles play in Calabar, they always carve out numerous chances. Accuracy in front of goal is however another matter.
Converting opportunities against the Ethiopians will be key on Saturday as missed chances could come back to haunt the African champions.
(Whoever starts among) Bright Dike, Shola Ameobi, Victor Obinna Nsofor, Brown Ideye and hitman, Emenike must be cold-blooded and merciless in front of goal.
The first goal scored, if it’s Nigeria’s almost doesn’t change anything as far as the eventual aggregate scores go as the Ethiopians will need to score twice anyway to have any chance of reaching the World Cup.
Nigeria must aim to score more than once.
Stop Kebede
We have eulogized the virtues of Girma in this article but one man Bishaw views as a very important component in his team is striker, Getaneh Kebede.
The 21-year-old has scored seven times in 19 appearances for the Walia Ibex and is a man to be feared.
He was absent in the first leg and was sorely missed as the available forward men missed a plethora of chances against the African champions.
Kebede is not just clinical in front of goal. He works hard for the team, holds up the play and is an inspirational figure.
He must be closely watched on Saturday afternoon.
Eliminate nerves
Only five of the 24 players currently in the Nigerian squad have previously have ever played at a World Cup.
Those five, Enyeama, Ideye, Nsofor, Elderson Echiejile and Austin Ejide must lead by example and school the others in the complexities of games like these.
The unheralded talent in the Nigerian team must play without fear and not let the occasion get to them.
Luck and the love of the fans
A team can play so well and be denied by an absence of good fortune.
The Eagles must pray for luck and the rub of the green today.
The fans in Calabar are among the most loyal in the country but the magnitude of the occasion might get to them if things are not going according to script.
The fans must stay with the team all through irrespective of how things are going.
If these steps are observed, then Nigeria will be among the 32 nations in the draw for the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
His charges were being bullied and played off the park by 11 unheralded Ethiopians at the Tessema Ydnekachew Stadium, Addis Ababa.
It was no real surprise when the Ethiopians took the lead in the 56th minute through Behalu Assefa.
Nigerian goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama insists to this day that the ball did not cross the line but the Ethiopians will claim poetic justice after Salhadin Said’s strike was not given even when it looked like the ball had crossed the line before Nigerian defender, Godfrey Oboabona cleared.
Nigeria eventually won 2-1 but Keshi told supersport.com afterwards that the Nigeria team struggled to get into their stride.
Keshi was right. The Super Eagles did not play well in the first leg.
The African champions however got the important victory and must take these nine steps to get another positive result against the Walia Ibex on Saturday and qualify for the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
In Addis Ethiopia played very well and gave Enyeama fits.
Stop Adane Girma
In the 64th minute of the first leg in Addis, the Ethiopian coach, Sewnet Bishaw made a rather puzzling substitution.
He took off star midfielder, Adane Girma and replaced him with Adis Hinsa. Three minutes later, Nigeria equalized.
From the moment Girma left the pitch, the Super Eagles began to dominate the midfield and subsequently got a second goal to win the game.
Girma will start against Nigeria on Saturday and Bishaw is unlikely to repeat his mistake of the first leg.
When Girma is in the mood, the Walia Ibex are a joy to watch and Keshi must deploy the right tactics to deprive the intelligent midfielder time and space to call court at the UJ Esuene stadium on Saturday.
Enyeama must stay focused
Nigeria’s goalkeeper and captain, Enyeama is currently rated as one of the best in the world.
He’s been in ridiculously good form for Lille OSC this season where he’s conceded in just two games in 13 starts this season.
Enyeama can however let his teammates down with shocking mistakes when least expected. In the first leg, bad positioning by the veteran goalkeeper allowed Ethiopia to get a soft goal.
While his ability between the sticks is not in doubt, Enyeama must keep his concentration for all 90 minutes and extra time and penalties if need be.
Big individuals must rise to the occasion
This week, players, staff and members of the backroom staff of the Super Eagles have been harping on the unity and oneness of the group.
While it remains an unchallenged fact that football is a team game, the importance of gifted individuals in a group cannot be over emphasized.
That is why Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo receive the adulation of fans across the world and also the reason they regularly rack up awards.
Emmanuel Emenike also exemplified this fact in the first leg when his double gave Nigeria the win in a dour display.
The star men of the Eagles must step up to the plate on Saturday afternoon.
Tactics
Bishaw is a shrewd tactician who knows how to deploy the right tactics against Nigeria.
When both nations met at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on January 29 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Bishaw’s tactics worked to perfection and only two late penalties from Victor Moses saved the Super Eagles.
In the first leg, Bishaw was again on the money until his risk with Girma backfired badly.
Keshi is full of respect for Bishaw and his well-oiled Ibex machine.
“I respect the work of Bishaw. His team plays good football and they have been together for more than five years so they are not easy to beat,” Keshi told supersport.com earlier in the week.
The “Big Boss” must go one step further and outfox Bishaw with superior tactic from the dugout.
Taking chances
Whenever the Super Eagles play in Calabar, they always carve out numerous chances. Accuracy in front of goal is however another matter.
Converting opportunities against the Ethiopians will be key on Saturday as missed chances could come back to haunt the African champions.
(Whoever starts among) Bright Dike, Shola Ameobi, Victor Obinna Nsofor, Brown Ideye and hitman, Emenike must be cold-blooded and merciless in front of goal.
The first goal scored, if it’s Nigeria’s almost doesn’t change anything as far as the eventual aggregate scores go as the Ethiopians will need to score twice anyway to have any chance of reaching the World Cup.
Nigeria must aim to score more than once.
Stop Kebede
We have eulogized the virtues of Girma in this article but one man Bishaw views as a very important component in his team is striker, Getaneh Kebede.
The 21-year-old has scored seven times in 19 appearances for the Walia Ibex and is a man to be feared.
He was absent in the first leg and was sorely missed as the available forward men missed a plethora of chances against the African champions.
Kebede is not just clinical in front of goal. He works hard for the team, holds up the play and is an inspirational figure.
He must be closely watched on Saturday afternoon.
Eliminate nerves
Only five of the 24 players currently in the Nigerian squad have previously have ever played at a World Cup.
Those five, Enyeama, Ideye, Nsofor, Elderson Echiejile and Austin Ejide must lead by example and school the others in the complexities of games like these.
The unheralded talent in the Nigerian team must play without fear and not let the occasion get to them.
Luck and the love of the fans
A team can play so well and be denied by an absence of good fortune.
The Eagles must pray for luck and the rub of the green today.
The fans in Calabar are among the most loyal in the country but the magnitude of the occasion might get to them if things are not going according to script.
The fans must stay with the team all through irrespective of how things are going.
If these steps are observed, then Nigeria will be among the 32 nations in the draw for the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
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