U20 AYC BRONZE - NGR 0 vs SA 0 (SA WINS 3-5 on PKs)

[DIMKA76]

we lose 5-3

[DIMKA76]

Very negative football from SA. That said, I know it's a good thing to bring onstream young new coaches but man Siasia's team never took prisoners.

[tfco]

[DIMKA76]

hey sicko

[Gotti]

It's over...
SA gets the bronze on PKs.

CRIMINAL that FE ended up empty-handed again, but they would not have scored in extra 90 mins...
Coach Paul has to take DRASTIC steps about the anemic attack! OVERHAUL everything but the defense!!

[DIMKA76]

DNQ no good O

[Otitokoro]

Well, this just reinforces the fact that this team is poor. First time ever that we've come in 4th in this competition.
I had a feeling this would happen when it went into spot kicks.

We still have time to produce a solid team at the U20 WC. However, the bulk of this African U20 Championship team, save for one or two of them, need to be broomed out. They simply aren't intelligent enough!

[mystic]

Too bad. Very frustrating to watch a team that has no idea how to score goals.

Nonetheless the objective of qualifying for the U20 World Cup has been accomplished. Also, looking at the big picture of throwing up potential options for the Super Eagles, we have two gems in Central defense.

[Otitokoro]

DNQ?

DNQ no good O

[Oguleftie]

Only the Falcons GK and Ezenwa can handle PKs.

[Gotti]

DNQ?

Think that was a jibe on gloating TFCO...

[Oguleftie]

Well, this just reinforces the fact that this team is poor. First time ever that we've come in 4th in this competition.
I had a feeling this would happen when it went into spot kicks.

We still have time to produce a solid team at the U20 WC. However, the bulk of this African U20 Championship team, save for one or two of them, need to be broomed out. They simply aren't intelligent enough!

Do not forget about coaching/coaches.

[mystic]

Well, this just reinforces the fact that this team is poor. First time ever that we've come in 4th in this competition.
I had a feeling this would happen when it went into spot kicks.

We still have time to produce a solid team at the U20 WC. However, the bulk of this African U20 Championship team, save for one or two of them, need to be broomed out. They simply aren't intelligent enough!

Massive overhaul is a fire brigade approach and we know that doesn't work. Next up for the team is the Suwon tournament next month. Hopefully the coaches will be able to unearth a few additional players.

[Oguleftie]

The last time I saw a game in that tournament the pitch was atrocious so if anyone is asking why Nigeria is inable to move the ball around quickly they need glasses and if the are already wearing them they may need cleaning!

Their opponents were playing on the same pitch too.

[Gotti]

Very negative football from SA. That said, I know it's a good thing to bring onstream young new coaches but man Siasia's team never took prisoners.

Yep! They seemingly set out to play for PKs from the opening whistle...
But it is worrisome that this FE team could not break them down over two games.

[DIMKA76]

DNQ?

Think that was a jibe on gloating TFCO...

Indeed it was. Something which has been said several times is rather worrisome about the team, about not being able to score and lacking intellect. I am in denial about these two issues regarding these bunch of FE's.

[Gotti]

Their opponents were playing on the same pitch too.

Pitch remains a factor because SA were even WORSE on it...
At least the FE EASILY dominated (67% possession; 20(4) shots to 4(0) - SA 0 shots on target).

[DIMKA76]

Very negative football from SA. That said, I know it's a good thing to bring onstream young new coaches but man Siasia's team never took prisoners.

Yep! They seemingly set out to play for PKs from the opening whistle...
But it is worrisome that this FE team could not break them down over two games.

We couldn't mix up the play. Very predictable and easy to neutralise. Coach sometimes should look for an average striker with height rather than short and just plane ball skills. That way you can vary your approach.

[Gotti]

Well, this just reinforces the fact that this team is poor. First time ever that we've come in 4th in this competition.
I had a feeling this would happen when it went into spot kicks.

We still have time to produce a solid team at the U20 WC. However, the bulk of this African U20 Championship team, save for one or two of them, need to be broomed out. They simply aren't intelligent enough!

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Apart from the blunt attack, the team was top-notch all over the pitch...
The defense has been impressive throughout the tournament, except for perhaps RB Zaruma.

[mystic]

Well, this just reinforces the fact that this team is poor. First time ever that we've come in 4th in this competition.
I had a feeling this would happen when it went into spot kicks.

We still have time to produce a solid team at the U20 WC. However, the bulk of this African U20 Championship team, save for one or two of them, need to be broomed out. They simply aren't intelligent enough!

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Apart from the blunt attack, the team was top-notch all over the pitch...
The defense has been impressive throughout the tournament, except for perhaps RB Zaruma.

Zarumma was a massive disappointment. Had a good game in the opener against Burundi, then got progressively worse as the level of competition stiffened.

[Gotti]

We couldn't mix up the play. Very predictable and easy to neutralise. Coach sometimes should look for an average striker with height rather than short and just plane ball skills. That way you can vary your approach.

This game was simple enough for me...

SA played to their organizational strength by simply parking the proverbial bus with about 10 men behind the ball, and daring the FE to break them down, which they ultimately could not. They FE first tried to counter the negative SA tactics by going long, but the ball would simply run out on the bumpy pitch. They then tried dragging the SAs out wide but the final ball into the box was either lacking requisite precision or was easily won/cleared by the taller SA defenders. After that, they seemingly ran out of ideas and simply resorted to taking hopeful (and often wild) pot shots from outside the box.

By the second half, Coach Paul did not even seem to bother to do the coaching anymore as it seems Coach Abdu Maikaba took over on the sidelines until the end of the game. LOTS OF WORK NEEDED!

[TonyTheTigerKiller]

I just hope this isn’t the exact squad they’re taking to the WC


Cheers.

[Otitokoro]

Sorry, Mystic, but a massive overhaul might just be what the doctor ordered in this case.

This team is fundamentally poor, personnel wise. Their mediocre positional play, poor movements on and off the ball, players taking unnecessary extra touches on the ball and just the overall lack of situational awareness was evident in every match they played in this tournament. This just points to a glaring lack of footballing intelligence.

The U20 WC starts May 23rd. We therefore have about 3 months to build a new team. It can be done. We just need to manage expectations and know we cannot win the cup - making it to the quarters might be a reasonable target. However, the hope is that we can unearth some new talents to feed the pipeline.

Well, this just reinforces the fact that this team is poor. First time ever that we've come in 4th in this competition.
I had a feeling this would happen when it went into spot kicks.

We still have time to produce a solid team at the U20 WC. However, the bulk of this African U20 Championship team, save for one or two of them, need to be broomed out. They simply aren't intelligent enough!

Massive overhaul is a fire brigade approach and we know that doesn't work. Next up for the team is the Suwon tournament next month. Hopefully the coaches will be able to unearth a few additional players.