By Jide Alaka
Lars Lagerback named his 30-man provisional list from which the 23 men that will defend the colours of Nigeria in South Africa will be named. There are so many questions that were asked and are still being asked concerning the make-up of the team.
Under pressure
Having accepted the burden of being the Super Eagles coach, Lars Lagerback has come under increased pressure to deliver, probably because of the huge salary - $300,000 per month - that he is being paid, in a land where hunger ravages a good percentage of the population.
After what must seem a trying period, the Swede finally scaled down his 44-man list to 30, with no apparent physical interaction between him and the players selected. Yet, despite suggestions that the NFF had some input in the list, he has denied being put under any kind of pressure by the NFF.
The Swede insists that the players are of his choice and not a settlement between him and the football federation's egg-heads.
Criteria for picking the players
"Individual skills and fitness levels were considered when picking the players. It does not matter if a player is 20 or 35 years old," Lagerback said.
The goalkeeping section holds no surprises, with the usual suspects called up. Vincent Enyeama is undoubtedly Nigeria's top keeper. No one seems to know who would be the second keeper.
Incidentally, three of the keepers listed ply their trade in Israel, so they must at least have learnt how to pray. Bassey Akpan is from the local scene, and it will be a big boost for the home-based players if he takes the third goalkeeping berth.
In the defence, the questions concern the match fitness of Bolton Wanderers' player, Danny Shittu, who did not appear for his team, Bolton Wanderers, throughout the season. He made it into the provisional squad while Olubayo Adefemi of the French side, Boulogne, was dropped.
Taiwo Ogunjobi, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), had an explanation for Lagerback's choice:
"When we asked him (Lagerback) why include a player who has not been playing for his club in the team he is taking to South Africa, the coach told us categorically that Shittu appears to be one of the best players he has seen in the country, based on what he saw of him in Angola during the Nations Cup.
"Lagerback saw video footage of Danny Shittu during the Nations Cup in Angola, and declared he was one of Nigeria's most outstanding defenders at the Nations Cup. He stated that Shittu looks more mature coupled with his confidence, determination, seriousness, and commitment.
"Although he has been inactive for his club in England, the coach has vowed to work on him."
But he admitted there was no guarantee that Shittu will make the World Cup team. If he (Shittu) doesn't measure up, then he's gone.
Many Nigerians agree that the midfield is where the Super Eagles problems mostly lie. Oluwafemi Ajilore and Sani Kaita both performed creditably at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where they played together. But Ajilore has been excluded from the provisional list. Lagerback's explanation is that they are the same. "They both play the same style quite alright, but Keita, he marks better," he said.
Desired formation
As for the attack, which holds much promise but has delivered so little for the players in their various clubs, Emmanuel Amuneke, former Super Eagles winger who scored two goals at the 1994 World Cup, said that tactical formation and fitness are the keys to getting optimum performance from the available strikers.
"A good coach is the one that will manage his resources in the best ways to get the desired results. There are various formations that Nigeria has the personnel to deploy, but the opponents have to be taken into great consideration," he said.
An often used formation when playing very slick opponents is the 3-5-2 formation, where the three centre backs do not overlap in any circumstance. Another is the preferred 4-4-2. The Nigerian squad cannot play this because of a lack of genuine wingers. In the 1994 squad, the Eagles had Emmanuel Amuneke and Finidi George patrolling the left and right wings respectively.
Then there is Shuaibu Amodu's version of the 4-3-3, considered flawed by his critics. The major exponent of this formation is FC Barcelona, and their success is hinged on mobility - continuous movement, by the midfielders and forwards. While Nigeria may have mobile players, the question is whether they will be consistent and technically astute enough to keep the shape. Well, that is what Lagerback is being paid handsomely for.
In the defence, the duo of Rabiu Afolabi and Onyekachi Apam could turn out to be the preferred pairing. Apam loves tackling and Afolabi is a more astute reader of the game and passer of the ball. He is also very good aerially. If it is a 3-5-2 formation, then Joseph Yobo could be added to the equation.
For the full backs, there is really no question, the team has to use Taye Taiwo, because of his experience and big game temperament. But that will be if (a big ‘if') he will be disciplined. He brings a potent offensive weapon to the game from the defence. He is used to scoring goals and he could be the designated penalty kick taker of the team.
On the right, Chidi Odiah should be deployed, also because of his attacking instincts. He should be fit because the Russian league has just commenced. Dele Adeleye has been Nigeria's most consistent defender in Europe, but he does not have the experience of some of the other defenders. Lagerback sees in Dele Adeleye a very good defender with great prospects. But he lacks the commitment of someone like Shittu.
"The central defence position is primary to how the entire backline performs," Lagerback told the members of the Technical Committee.
The coach of the Swedish national team in the 2002 World Cup is giving Lobi Stars defender, Terna Suswan, a chance in place of Olubayo Adefemi, who did not feature for his French side, Boulogne, in the tail end of the season.
For the attack, Everton has helped shape Anichebe from being one-dimensional to a player that can play as a winger in a 4-3-3, play with a partner in a 4-2-2, or play as the lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation. Chinedu Obasi, Obafemi Martins, and Ikechukwu Uche also have this attribute. That leaves Yakubu Aiyegbeni as the only type of striker in his own mould of a ‘bully'.
Ogunjobi defended Aiyegbeni's inclusion with this statement: "On Eneramo, he told us categorically that both Eneramo and Aiyegbeni play the same style of football - they bully. And there is no way he can take two bully players to South Africa.
"That also informed his preference for Utaka over Eneramo. Utaka has been scoring goals in Denmark, even though he does not have the kind of physique Eneramo has."
The important thing in squad selection is that there should be a sprinkling of players that can play in multiple positions.
Injuries in the squad
Mikel missed the final three games in Chelsea's season due to a knee operation, but he has said he will be back in two weeks, which means he should be fit by the end of May, in time for Nigeria's pre-World Cup training camp. It also means that he will be rested from the exertions of a long season.
Ikechukwu Uche has played only 15 minutes after a return from an injury he sustained at the beginning of the season. He may be physically fit, but definitely not match fit. If he were, he will be the first choice for the Eagles.
There are no other reported injury concerns in the team, but to forestall any occurrence in the training camp, the coach sent out a health document to all the players to be filled by their club's medical team.
Players that can fill in other positions on the pitch have a much higher chance of making the 23-man list to South Africa.
Nigeria is set to play friendly matches against Saudi Arabia in Austria on May 25, and Colombia in London on May 30, before heading to South Africa for further matches against North Korea and the tournament hosts.
Beyond Argentina
The time left before the first match against Argentina is not the time to teach techniques, but to create a fit, well drilled and malleable team. The prayer of Nigerians is that their country should not be embarrassed or disgraced in South Africa. For the first World Cup on African soil, our ouster at whatever stage must not be contemplated. This is all we ask the Swedish tactician.
Lagerback seems to understand the enormity of the responsibility and is unfazed by the pedigree of the Argentines:
"The World Cup is not only about (Lionel) Messi or Argentina. We need to prepare well and play well not only against Argentina, but the other two teams in our group. South Korea and Greece are equally two good teams. So, we need to win every of our matches until we reach our (semi final) target. We have the players, and with the right conditioning, we can do it," the Swede concluded.
He then reiterated, "I'm responsible for this squad, though I contacted those who needed to be contacted before I picked the players myself."
As satisfactorily as Lagerback may have explained his inclusions and exclusions to the NFF, he will have a greater explanation to give if the Super Eagles are disgraced or fail to put up a good show in South Africa.
Source: NEXT
