Lack of Offensive Options Beyond the tactical issues, it is becoming ever more apparent that Keshi’s squad-selection decisions were poorly t...
Lack of Offensive Options
Beyond the tactical issues, it is becoming ever more apparent that Keshi’s squad-selection decisions were poorly thought through.
The Big Boss hasn’t used his 23 picks intelligently enough to give himself options off the bench, and in a tournament such as the World Cup, this is imperative, particularly considering the capricious form of the front three.
In midfield, the starting trio of John Obi Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi and Ramon Azeez—all of whom were disappointing against Iran—are supported only by the peripheral Reuben Gabriel on the bench.
For a team that plays a 4-3-3 formation only to take four central midfielders is obscene, and it means that the Eagles have reduced options to change the nuances and qualities of their midfield.
All of this while the likes of Sunday Mba, Joel Obi, Lukman Haruna, Nosa Igiebor and Nnamdi Oduamadi are left at home.
In attack, the options are barely more convincing. Struggling for a goal, Keshi turned to Shola Ameobi and Peter Odemwingie. Together, these two scored eight league goals last season. Ikechukwu Uche, by contrast, scored 14 in 19 starts in La Liga, but he was left out.
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| Ike Uche was snubbed by Stephen Keshi despite his form for Villareal |
Victor Obinna, Ideye Brown, Chinedu Obasi and Sone Aluko are similarly absent, while Uche Nwofor, Michael Babatunde and Ameobi have travelled.
As soon as the squad was named, it became hard to envisage Nigeria having the depth to go far in the competition. Seeing how ineffectual Keshi’s options are, it’s become difficult even to see the Eagles out of the group.
Keshi Lacking Innovation
Stephen Keshi received great praise for his tactical work during 2013.
Writing on Bleacher Report, Jonathan Wilson praised the Big Boss for his approach during the successful Africa Cup of Nations and the way he had made his team into something more than the sum of its parts.
Wilson’s words seem a little empty now.
Faced with a resolute and organised defence—as Iran certainly have under Carlos Queiroz—there are several ways to break it down.
One way is to use width, to overlap the flanks using wide players and attacking full-backs. While Nigeria do, in principle, have the players who can contribute here, Keshi either didn’t pick them, or those he did pick have been underused.
It was bewildering when, early in the second half, Keshi removed Victor Moses, a player who has been so effective in troubling stubborn defenders since he made his international debut.
Another way of troubling a disciplined defence is by increasing the movement of the forwards and the pace of the attack.
Keshi’s Nigeria seemed resistant to do either of these things. The midfield play was lethargic and pedestrian, while his decision to turn to Shola Ameobi (who has scored five Premier League goals over the last three seasons) was hardly going to help the mobility issues.
Super Eagles’ Progress in Doubt
The side whose reputation was enhanced the most during the Nigeria vs. Iran match was Bosnia. While the Super Eagles and Team Melli played out a dour 90 minutes in Curitiba, the Eastern Europeans watched on from the comfort of their hotels knowing that the knockout rounds were edging ever closer.
Heading into the tournament, Argentina were considered the group-winners elect, Iran were deemed to be no-hopers, and Bosnia and Nigeria were expected to fight it out for second place.
Against Argentina in Group F’s first match, Safet Susic’s men did themselves proud. They made the Albiceleste look very average for long swathes of the match and even managed more shots than their more illustrious opponents.
It took a moment of inspiration from Lionel Messi to win the contest, and there was little to separate the two sides.
Unfortunately for Nigeria, there wasn’t too much to separate them and Iran.
While Bosnia are bottom of the group after the first round of matches, the Dragons will be hugely confident that they can claim a pair of victories against the Africans and the Asians.
The gulf in class was not between Bosnia, Nigeria and Iran, but between Bosnia and Nigeria, Iran. A massive improvement is needed.
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