Now that the Flying Eagles know their foes at the Poland 2019 U-20 World Cup, ex-internationals and analysts say there’s work to be done before the championship.
Seven-time champions Flying Eagles started the recent CAF U-20 Cup of Nations on a promising note, beating Burundi 2-0; hosts Niger 1-0 and a 0-0 stalemate against South Africa to lead Group A of the competition.
The performance earned Nigeria a ticket to the U-20 World Cup in Poland, scheduled for May 23 to June 15.
It was a performance that sparked hopes of an eighth championship win for the team but it was a fairy-tale story that ended too soon in their first game of the knockout stage, a semi-final clash with fellow West Africans, Mali.
After a lethargic display, losing one chance after the other, the Nigerians found themselves behind in the 78th minute courtesy of a Mamadou Traore strike for the Malians.
But substitute Paschal Durugbor restored parity eight minutes later to ensure a 1-1 stalemate in extra time.
However, Malian goalkeeper Keita denied the Flying Eagles their eighth U-20 AFCON title after saving Valentine Uzornwafor and Okon Aniekeme penalties to help his side reach the final 4-3 on penalties.
It was more misery for the Nigerian side in the third-place affair as they once again fell 5-3 on penalties to bitter rivals South Africa after full time ended 0-0.
Failure to put away a number of opportunities that came their way proved fatal, and they had to endure the humiliation of finishing outside the medals’ range at the tournament for the first time ever.
It was a display that expectedly got coach Paul Aigbogun fuming.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t score during the 90 minutes and it goes to penalties like the semi-final and it’s anybody’s game. Unfortunately, we lost,” Aigbogun told reporters after the game.
“I don’t think you can train for penalties well. Our first penalty taker lost and he has been taking all our penalties.”
The Nigerians will know their group phase opponents today after the draw ceremony inside the Gdynia Sports Arena, Poland.
They have been slotted into Pot 2 of the draw, alongside African champions Mali, as well as New Zealand, Colombia, Korea Republic and Italy.
There will be six groups of four teams each at the 24-nation championship, with the top two teams at the end of the group phase, as well as the best four third-placed teams, advancing to the Round of 16.
Hosts Poland, Portugal, Uruguay, France, USA and Mexico are in Pot 1, with Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Argentina, Ecuador, Ukraine and Honduras in Pot 3. Pot 4 has Japan, South Africa, Panama, Norway, Qatar and Tahiti.
Though the Flying Eagles haven’t won the U-20 World Cup, they have reached the final twice (1989 and 2005) and finished third in 1985 in Moscow.
However, Nigerians have expressed varying opinions over the Flying Eagles performance in Niger, and are advocating for changes to be made in the squad ahead of the U-20 World Cup.
Former Nigeria defender Taribo West believes the squad is not bad but admits there is the need for Aigbogun to ring the changes in the defensive and attacking positions.
“They started well in Niger but lost concentration when it mattered most, the knockout stage. They were also unlucky because the two games they lost were on penalties,” Taribo, a member of the Flying Eagles at the 1993 U-20 AFCON in Mauritius, said.
“The defence and attack need reshuffling. The strikers had a lot of chances but failed to convert them. They should have beaten South Africa 3-0 or more if they were clinical in front of goal. So, they need finishers who can get the job done.”
Football analyst Aikhoje Ojeikhere insists it’s too late for any meaningful change in the squad and foresees a last-minute rush abroad for players due to what he termed “the poor youth policy of the Nigeria Football Federation.”
Ojeikhere stated, “It’s too late to prepare now with just three months to the commencement of the U-20 World Cup. And this is because we failed to do what we should have done in the past.
“In our usual way, a lot of players will be dropped and we will go abroad to shop for players of Nigerian descent to fill up the team. This is because the federation has no youth policy. How many of the last set of U-17 players are in this team? Just because they didn’t qualify for the World Cup, they’ve been thrown away.
“Well, the coaches have to put up a team; they will be responsible for the success or failure of the team in Poland.
“However, the question we should ask ourselves is, ‘are we going to Poland to win or for youth development?’ If we win, it’s a plus, but the aim of the event is to develop young talents which we fail to do most times.”
Former Flying Eagles defender Kayode Julius agrees with Ojeikhere on the gross disregard for developing talents through the ranks.
A member of the 1995 set coached by Fanny Amun, Julius said unlike now, their squad benefitted immensely from the avalanche of talents from the Japan 1993 U-17 World Cup Golden Eaglets.
He said, “You couldn’t compare our set of players with what you have now.
“Players like Manga Mohammed, Festus Odini, Ibrahim Babangida, Karibe Ojigwe and Blessing Anyanwu instilled a lot of confidence in us because they had played at the U-17 World Cup two years before then. So, there was a great difference.”
Julius, now a coach at NPFL side Sunshine Stars, said the squad needed a leader to drive them in Poland.
“They need more quality players in the defence, perhaps one in the midfield and attack but from what I saw in Niamey, they didn’t have a leader on the pitch,” he added.
“They need someone in the mould of Sunday Oliseh, someone to inspire the rest of the players. In our time, we had Duke Udi, Ojigwe and Anyanwu. They were leaders.”
SuperSport analyst Ojeikhere questioned Aigbogun’s tactics in Niamey.
He added, “That team didn’t play like a typical Nigerian team.
“There was no coordination in all the areas of the team. This is because some players were dropped on the eve of the U-20 AFCON. The team’s top scorer in the qualifiers, Wasiu Alalade, (was dropped) and we found it difficult converting chances in the competition.
“All this has to do with our disregard for a youth policy. How long did the coaches know the players? Did the coaches have enough time to study the players?
“At the World Cup, players will be dropped again for new ones. But what effect would that have on the squad?”
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu also shared his thoughts on the goalkeeping department of the squad.
“It’s a learning process at this level, so you don’t need to castigate any player. By my own assessment, the first choice keeper did very well, conceding just once in four games,” he said, admitting there could be a room to improve.
“But they can get better before progressing to the senior level. It’s a learning curve. I think they can bring in additional keeper to bring competition to that area.
“The essence of the U-20 AFCON is to prepare the teams ahead of the World Cup. The coaches now know areas to concentrate and improve on.”
Ex-Inter Milan, AC Milan centre-back Taribo is optimistic the Flying Eagles will get it right in Poland.
“I see them doing better at the World Cup because Niger was an eye-opener. I’m sure the coaches will work on the squad and correct the mistakes in Niger. Again, you never can write off Nigeria at this level of football,” he stated.
Credit: punchng.com
