A week ago, we spent an afternoon in my favourite forum debating if Nigeria still needs Eberechi Eze, the QPR break out player of the season , in the English championship.
It was a heated conversation. We even got down to asking the obvious question, if he decides to play for Nigeria, who drops out for him? I was of the opinion that we should get Eze and drop Etebo.
After giving this topic another thought. I have a different opinion on the whole issue. Our desire to get Eze has mostly been driven by how much we miss the mesmerizing skills displayed by former Super Eagles captain, JayJay Okocha (so good they named him twice).
He was a marvel to behold and a lot of us still crave such artistic displays in our midfield. Okocha operated usually as the only central and attacking midfielder with minimal defensive duties while Sunday Oliseh mopped up behind him in the sole DM role in a 4-4-2. But football has long evolved from that.
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Gernot Rohr, the current manager of the Super Eagles in a recent interview described the way the Nigerian national team plays. He emphasized that the team is young and they like to use their speed to recover the ball and quickly attack using fast wingers and fast forwards. Speed of reaction is very important.
If we are to take Rohr’s words seriously, I suggest that we pay particular attention to the changes brought on since Afcon and how he set up his team in that defining friendly against Ukraine.
Let’s take a closer look at the key changes. In attack we play with Kalu, a fast winger who sometime this season led European top 5 leagues in the dribble completed percentage. Victor Osimhen is the breakout star in French Ligue Un.
For the Super Eagles, he has taken to life as a 9, as a fish to water. He doesn’t only score goals (4 in his last 4) but makes defenders pay by setting up his teammates with assists when double teamed. Samuel Chukwueze is always a beneficiary of such intelligent passes.
He can break down teams as well, as powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid have found out. This frontline has pace, power, guile and enough menace. You only need to take one look at the top 9 to know that they fear nobody.
In midfield, the key addition is Joe Aribo. He is the connecting dot. He can pass, dribble, carry the ball and drive deep into the opposite defence and can shoot. Aribo’s quick thinking allows balls retrieved to be turned immediately into attack with the help of Alex Iwobi(in the top 10 in playing through passes in the EPL). Wilfred Ndidi (Mr tackle or “Energy” as John Ogu refers to him) is a big reason why Nigeria recovers so many balls.
This year, Brendan Rodgers simplified his duties by simply asking him to get the ball and drop it off with the closest free teammate. Ndidi leads Leceister in player most involved in moves that lead to goals.
Should we change this. NO. Rohr should continue to harness the best out of this trio. How does Rohr improve on this? To change things up a bit when we need goals, I suggest we copy Leicester and bring in Kelechi Iheanacho. We move Iwobi into left forward so we can still use his excellent combination play (the quick one twos) to set up Kelechi and Osimhen. Oghenekaro Etebo(speed and hustle) and Dennis Emmanuel (quick and superb finisher) can both be brought on as support strikers who can also play behind the main striker as options to Iheanacho.
I prefer Etebo further up the pitch as a recipient of passes and not the player making the passes. If we need to run out the clock or hold on to a lead, Ovie Ejaria is the man. His excellent ball control means he wont lose the ball and can thread through passes through the tightest defences. He can up the pace or slow the game down. Billing can add some steel to our midfield. I suggest he is used as the back up to Ndidi.
Getting Eze, does not mean we go back to playing like the 90s Super Eagles. Eze can play as a 10 (AM) in our team but he is most effective with 2 hard working midfielders behind him. He has improved his work ethic and decision making this season.
He has a good eye for the pass but his biggest assets are dribbling and shooting. Is he a better shooter than Iwobi, YES. Having him behind Osimhen immediately increases our scoring chances. But Iwobi has the superior link up play. Conundrum? Can we play them together? Iwobi releases the ball quickly, will Eze slow the counter?
In conclusion, we are a good side and can get better with more games together. I suggest Rohr keeps this starting lineup, maybe add Saka to LB(if we get him). His speed and crosses down the left will allow Iwobi to move in closer to the box where his link up play can cause havoc. Adding Wolfsburg Felix Uduokhai improves our ability to build up play from the back. I welcome to Super Eagles Kingsle Ehizibue, he can make that Right back position his. Ola Aina and Tyrone Ebuehi may have something to say about that. Eze can be an option off the bench in the attacking midfield position. It will be interesting watching how Eze who is already friendly with Iwobi adjusts to playing with Iwobi in the lineup.
We do not need to make wholesale changes to a winning team. For now, bring on Iheanacho, or Ovie Ejaria off the bench.
S Madu Tudeme writes in from London
