Some football enthusiasts in Enugu on Friday urged the Super Eagles technical crew to work more on the team’s defence line.
A cross-section of football enthusiasts told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that this was necessary to avoid another defeat in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
NAN reports that Nigeria lost their Match Day 3 fixture in the AFCON qualifiers 0-1 to Guinea Bissau on Friday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
The Chairman of the Enugu state chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Gideon Iwueke, noted that the Super Eagles defence let the country down in the match.
He then called on the players to be more serious while on duty for the country.
“I think the coach has a lot of work to do on the defence line because the goal scored by Guinea Bissau showed the high level of complacency by the defenders or the defence line.
“But I believe that the return leg game will be better.
”It is just that the players have made it a hard task. But Nigeria needs to be at the AFCON.
“The result is not good at all because it has put us in a precarious position as we are now second to Guinea Bissau with six points, as against their seven points,” Iwueke said.
Osondu Ngwude, another sports journalist, on his part, said Jose Peseiro, the Eagles coach, did not use the right tactics for the game.
He argued that the players Peseiro picked for the game lacked coordination, zeal and determination.
Ngwude however noted that in judging a team and its play, it was necessary to evaluate the opposition.
”Guinea Bissau had a good game plan anchored on a solid defence, and the visitors exploited their game plan well to settle the matter.
”My advice is that the Eagles handlers should pay attention to the strength of the team by coming up with better tactics.
“Yes, a win in the return leg on Monday is possible, but we have to look at what we did wrong and play with more belief and fight.
“Our next game is crucial and we have to take it first before talking about qualification for the AFCON. Let us take a game at a time,” he said.
Also, Norbert Okolie, the Media Officer of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, said the Super Eagles’ loss to Guinea Bissau was a big surprise to everyone.
He however said this should serve as a big lesson to the football administrators in the country.
“We believed that with the individual talents in the team, we will override the visiting side. But football, as they said, is not mathematics.
“The lesson that came with the shocking result was that football is a team play and not an individual game and the players must play together to guarantee a good result.
“But I believe the Eagles can still work around it and defeat them in the return leg and go ahead to win the other games to qualify for the 2023 AFCON as group leaders,” Okolie said.
