Gideon Ayogu
31 July 2011
CAN the Flying Eagles shrug off their dismal form in the run-up to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011 which kicked off on Friday and finally dry the tears of millions of Nigerians who wait endlessly for a first victory at this level?
This is the question that the John Obuh-tutored side would be looking to answer today when they take the field against Guatemala in their opening game in the competition.
Pooled in Group D alongside today’s opponents Guatemala, Croatia and Saudi Arabia, the Flying Eagles would be eager to match the feat of neighbours, Ghana, whose cadet side defied the odds in claiming a first triumph for Africa in this competition at the last edition held in Egypt.
Incidentally, the Black Starlets will not be defending their crown in Colombia after they failed to qualify for this edition of the competition, crashing out of the 2011 African Youth Championship (AYC) which served as the qualifying event for Colombia 2011.
The Flying Eagles, who claimed a record sixth AYC crown in South Africa, are expected to lead the continent’s charge at the competition, with Cameroon, Egypt and Mali, the continent’s other representatives at the bi-ennial event.
Obuh has largely retained the core of the Golden Eaglets side he led to a silver-medal winning finish at the 2009 U-17 World Cup in Nigeria in the team and he has also reiterated his belief that the side would justify the huge confidence reposed in them by millions of football-crazy Nigerians.
The coach, who recently unveiled a 21-man squad for the competition, would certainly write his name in gold if he succeeds in steering the side to a first ever World Cup crown for the country at this level after the near misses of 1989 and 2005.
For this to become a reality, though, some of the shortcomings noticed in the team’s build-up to this competition must have been addressed before their curtain-raiser against Guatemala today.
Chief among these is the team’s profligacy in front of goal. Having finished the 2011 AYC as the most prolific side on their way to a historic sixth success in the competition, the Flying Eagles have somehow managed to lose their sight of goal in their march to Colombia.
The inability to convert scoring chances was so glaring in the team’s tie in the Cope de la Republica against Panama in which they spurned a number of gilt-edged scoring opportunities. Even the losses to Portugal (0-2) and Mexico (1-4) might not have been, if only the team had been more clinical in front of goal.
Furthermore, the defence seems to fall prey of lapses in concentration. This is a soft underbelly that could be exploited by opponents in the competition, if not corrected by the handlers of the team.
Most importantly, though, Obuh and his assistants should emphasize the need for discipline in the light of the dismissals of the duo of Kenneth Omeruo and Abduljaleel Ajagun in the game against Mexico.
Players at this level are more prone to disciplinary shortcomings and Obuh should ensure he keeps his charges disciplinarily grounded; be it tactically, positionally and as well as in their conduct towards opponents.
Working in the Flying Eagles favour, it must be said, is the fact that the team comprise a nucleus of players who are no strangers to each other. Obuh’s decision to keep faith with the majority of the U-17 side he guided to the World Cup final in 2009 should be applauded as it is bound to bode well for cohesion, understanding and team work.
Aligned to the above is the effectiveness of the quick passing game and wing play adopted by Obuh. Provided the side can deploy the pace of Ahmed Musa and Omoh Ojabu on the flanks to good use, opponents might struggle to live with the speed of the team’s attack.
If the handlers of the team can plug the perceived loop-holes in the team and the strikers find their range, Nigerians might just begin to nurse hopes of finally claiming the only age grade soccer trophy that has so far eluded the country.
AllAfrica – All the Time