This year’s African Championship edition was always going to garner a lot of interest from Nigeria’s football community especially among the NPFL’s new disciples. Judging from the social media response- that’s basically one way to tell nowadays how many people kept an eye on the game from their offices and homes- the game was taken seriously.
More like it’s more revered ‘brother’, the African Nations Cup, this Championship has teeming follower-ship and for the Nigerian Contingent, expectations are to high heavens despite Sunday Oliseh’s repeated claims that his is a youthful side, not obsessed with winning the Championship.
Having played their first 90 minutes, the score line birthed the anticipated reaction- exuberant praise for Oliseh and the lads. The gaffer especially for the way he set up his team and consequent switches when the occasion demanded it. Shooting Stars defender Jamiu Alimi’s [below] needless fouls earned him an early booking- the only booking of the game actually but he showed no signs that his jittery was ceasing anytime soon.
Oliseh accomplished more than one with that; avoiding a sending off and bringing on a calmer and more assured Central defender. Whether being jittery or a calming influence both have a way of seeping through a team especially in your first appearance in a tournament and a fixture where you are overwhelming favourites.
In the gaffer’s choice of starts, that Tunde Adeniji got the nod upfront was anticipated. First of all, he is inarguably Oliseh’s favorite in the position.Remember he started in both legs of the qualifiers. As a player in the League, the Sunshine Stars hit-man has shown steady and consistent improvement as a striker.
Aside just finishing top marksman second only to Gbolohan Salami last season, he has an impressive annual goals return; 16 in the just ended season, 11 in the previous one and 7 in the one before. Despite not being on the score-sheet against Niger, he clearly looked lively. Perhaps his positioning needs some working on but his all round contribution has to be applauded.
Ikechukwu Ibenegbu’s inclusion both as a late addition to the squad and in the starting XI ahead of Bature Yaro and Usman Mohammed stems surely from his heroics late last season with League runners up Warri Wolves. Despite his age, ‘mosquito’ as he dubbed remains one of the best and indeed better experienced central midfielders in the League.
His passing on the day however was below par especially in the first period and generally he failed to impose himself In the game as much as we know he is capable of. Subbed for Usman Mohammed late in the game, he could get another start in game against Tunisia but he owes his manager a much improved display.
But the master stroke in Oliseh’s choices was withdrawing Tunde Adeniji for hat-trick hero Chisom Chikatara. The timing of the substitution couldn’t have been any better- shortly after he provided an assist for the opener. A more pragmatic approach could have been to let things stay as they were having gotten your nose in front while anticipating a reaction from the opposition.
But he rightly judged that Chikatara’s searing pace would hurt a team surging forward for an equalizer and desperate to avoid a defeat in their opening game. Whilst some argue that Chikatara should get a start in Friday’s showdown with the Tunisians, it surely is going to be a different set-up against the North Africans.
Oliseh and his lads have passed the foremost test with distinction but make no mistakes about it, this opponent is the weakest of the trio the Eagles will be faced with in the Group stages. Sterner tests lie ahead but this tournament and this crop of NPFL stars present Sunday Oliseh his easiest shot at a foremost trophy as coach of the Super Eagles.
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