Super Eagles - What Is The Road To Genuine Greatness?

[Damunk]

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

[nanijoe]

FIRE ROHR....

You can't achieve anything until you believe you can

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

[Damunk]

And thats it and all will be well?
What next?

FIRE ROHR....

You can't achieve anything until you believe you can

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

[Bigpokey24]

We've been rebuilding for 5 years now, and we still do not have a pattern or style of play. We struggled to defeat Benin by scoring in min 93.. We struggle to keep cleansheets vs incompetent teams. We lead by 4 goals and the team collapsed during the 2nd half. What rebuilding was applied towards moral and team focus.

We celebrate defeating trash teams like freaking LESOfreakingTO . We do not have capable replacements for quality center backs. The team wins due to individual brilliance and zero tactical input. We can huff and puff with trash teams during qualifiers, but come tournament days , we choke vs the heavy weights in African football. Some fans do get delusional after putting lipstick on a pig alas Benin , Salone and lesotho

We are better off with a new way forward

[Tobi17]

We've been rebuilding for 5 years now, and we still do not have a pattern or style of play. We struggled to defeat Benin by scoring in min 93.. We struggle to keep cleansheets vs incompetent teams. We lead by 4 goals and the team collapsed during the 2nd half. What rebuilding was applied towards moral and team focus.

We celebrate defeating trash teams like freaking LESOfreakingTO . We do not have capable replacements for quality center backs. The team wins due to individual brilliance and zero tactical input. We can huff and puff with trash teams during qualifiers, but come tournament days , we choke vs the heavy weights in African football. Some fans do get delusional after putting lipstick on a pig alas Benin , Salone and lesotho

We are better off with a new way forward

And what new way forward do you propose?

[Bigpokey24]

We've been rebuilding for 5 years now, and we still do not have a pattern or style of play. We struggled to defeat Benin by scoring in min 93.. We struggle to keep cleansheets vs incompetent teams. We lead by 4 goals and the team collapsed during the 2nd half. What rebuilding was applied towards moral and team focus.

We celebrate defeating trash teams like freaking LESOfreakingTO . We do not have capable replacements for quality center backs. The team wins due to individual brilliance and zero tactical input. We can huff and puff with trash teams during qualifiers, but come tournament days , we choke vs the heavy weights in African football. Some fans do get delusional after putting lipstick on a pig alas Benin , Salone and lesotho

We are better off with a new way forward

And what new way forward do you propose?

Changing the current coach

[Damunk]

We've been rebuilding for 5 years now, and we still do not have a pattern or style of play. We struggled to defeat Benin by scoring in min 93.. We struggle to keep cleansheets vs incompetent teams. We lead by 4 goals and the team collapsed during the 2nd half. What rebuilding was applied towards moral and team focus.

We celebrate defeating trash teams like freaking LESOfreakingTO . We do not have capable replacements for quality center backs. The team wins due to individual brilliance and zero tactical input. We can huff and puff with trash teams during qualifiers, but come tournament days , we choke vs the heavy weights in African football. Some fans do get delusional after putting lipstick on a pig alas Benin , Salone and lesotho

We are better off with a new way forward

So let's look at charting "a new way forward" as you suggest.
What are the things that need to be done, how and with whom?

A SWOT analysis would help if you don't mind.
For real. No sentiment.

[nanijoe]

Obviously hire a Coach who thinks we can get to the World Cup SF, and accepts it as a reasonable goal. That coach would probably need a few "Papendal style" camps between now and the ANC/WC , and would need to play a few top teams in friendlies along the way as a way of realistically measuring the talent on hand.

While I have nothing against Rohr personally, it is evident that he sets the bar very low as far as what the SE can achieve

And thats it?
What next?

FIRE ROHR....

You can't achieve anything until you believe you can

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

[Tobi17]

Obviously hire a Coach who thinks we can get to the World Cup SF, and accepts it as a reasonable goal. That coach would probably need a few "Papendal style" camps between now and the ANC/WC , and would need to play a few top teams in friendlies along the way as a way of realistically measuring the talent on hand.

While I have nothing against Rohr personally, it is evident that he sets the bar very low as far as what the SE can achieve

And thats it?
What next?

FIRE ROHR....

You can't achieve anything until you believe you can

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

Can you list these world class coaches available to take Nigeria at short notice to the world cup SF?

[nanijoe]

Can you list the ones that are not?

Obviously hire a Coach who thinks we can get to the World Cup SF, and accepts it as a reasonable goal. That coach would probably need a few "Papendal style" camps between now and the ANC/WC , and would need to play a few top teams in friendlies along the way as a way of realistically measuring the talent on hand.

While I have nothing against Rohr personally, it is evident that he sets the bar very low as far as what the SE can achieve

And thats it?
What next?

FIRE ROHR....

You can't achieve anything until you believe you can

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

Can you list these world class coaches available to take Nigeria at short notice to the world cup SF?

[The YeyeMan]

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

Oya, what's your answer?

[aruako1]

Rohr has to create a team with a positive "We can win" mindset, not the current often-conservative mindset. The former does not mean that you cannot be good defensively. He should also work on creating a team that can press effectively

[Tobi17]

Rohr has to create a team with a positive "We can win" mindset, not the current often-conservative mindset. The former does not mean that you cannot be good defensively. He should also work on creating a team that can press effectively

He doesn't need to create the team, he already has the team. All he needs to do is to create the mentality cause this present generation of players have all the talents necessary to win a major trophy (AFCON gold), we can't waste a budding team like this on the altar of conservatism.

[aruako1]

Rohr has to create a team with a positive "We can win" mindset, not the current often-conservative mindset. The former does not mean that you cannot be good defensively. He should also work on creating a team that can press effectively

He doesn't need to create the team, he already has the team. All he needs to do is to create the mentality cause this present generation of players have all the talents necessary to win a major trophy (AFCON gold), we can't waste a budding team like this on the altar of conservatism.

I think we mean the same thing. He has the players, but not the team.

[Enugu II]

Damunk,

I like the idea of a SWOT analysis. That certainly will make things more vivid about the team. It will also force us to think more deeply and perhaps honestly about the team and players.

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

[Damunk]

Damunk,

I like the idea of a SWOT analysis. That certainly will make things more vivid about the team. It will also force us to think more deeply and perhaps honestly about the team and players.

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

Prof, it seems nobody wants to go that route.
Each player, the team, the coach and the NFF can all be SWOTed, but they're all more interested in making sentimental statements and scoring cheap points.
Izzokay....

[aruako1]

Damunk,

I like the idea of a SWOT analysis. That certainly will make things more vivid about the team. It will also force us to think more deeply and perhaps honestly about the team and players.

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

Prof, it seems nobody wants to go that route.
Each player, the team, the coach and the NFF can all be SWOTed, but they're all more interested in making sentimental statements and scoring cheap points.
Izzokay....

Strengths

1. Competition for places
2. Correct blend of youth and experience
3. Stability (same manager since 2016)
4. Decent WLD record
5. Great attacking options
6. Relatively united camp


Weaknesses

1. Inconsistency (after over 5 years and 2 major tournaments we should be more consistent)
2. Midfield - creativity in midfield has been erratic
3. Central defenders - while Eling and Balogun are probably good squad players, they do not always inspire confidence
4. The sometimes over cautious approach of the manager

Opportunities

1. Integration of quality naturalised players
2. Establishment of a strong no 1 (Maduka)
3. The use of home based players where suitable

Threats

1. Poor defensive performances in recent games might cost us
2. Inability to play enough friendlies before the world cup
3. Reluctance to try new players

[nanijoe]

Strengths - Players
Weaknesses - Coach
Opps - Can improve dramatically by getting better coach
Threats - WOWOs inside and outside NFF celebrating mediocrity

[Enugu II]

Aruako,

Great start. I added my views in red.

Damunk,

I like the idea of a SWOT analysis. That certainly will make things more vivid about the team. It will also force us to think more deeply and perhaps honestly about the team and players.

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

Prof, it seems nobody wants to go that route.
Each player, the team, the coach and the NFF can all be SWOTed, but they're all more interested in making sentimental statements and scoring cheap points.
Izzokay....

Strengths

1. Competition for places
2. Correct blend of youth and experience
3. Stability (same manager since 2016)
4. Decent WLD record
5. Great attacking options
6. Relatively united camp


Weaknesses

1. Inconsistency (after over 5 years and 2 major tournaments we should be more consistent)
2. Midfield - creativity in midfield has been erratic
3. Central defenders - while Eling and Balogun are probably good squad players, they do not always inspire confidence
4. The sometimes over cautious approach of the manager
5. Lack of trophy

Opportunities

1. Integration of quality naturalised players
2. Establishment of a strong no 1 (Maduka)
3. The use of home based players where suitable
4. With quality players, opportunity to be more adventurous in play.

Threats

1. Poor defensive performances in recent games might cost us
2. Inability to play enough friendlies before the world cup
3. Reluctance to try new players
4. Player compensation/bonuses delayed

[Damunk]

Here's my SE TEAM SWOT

Strengths
1. Good depth to central and wide attacking options with minimal drop in quality
2. Full back/wing back options, minimal drop in quality
3. Young upwardly mobile goalkeepers a medium to long term strength,
4. Young squad in general, some with high likelihood of entering elite teams of Europe
5. Loyalty to one another and to coach responsible for capping bulk of team and having grown together
6. Genuine inter-personal friendships: Chukwueze & Osimhen; Aina & Iwobi; Abdullahi & Musa; Ekong & Balogun; Ndidi & Nacho.

Weaknesses
1. Team lacks creative midfield
2. 'Oyibo wall' the weakest link
3. Young keepers a short term weakness
4. Poor appreciation of and adaptation to the 'African game' by many of the FB players
5. Coach too conservative for the 'Nigerian game', hence attracting negativity towards the team and possibly undermining confidence
6. The NFF - Needs to up its game on all levels including PR. All 'minor' decisions have MAJOR implications for team moral and performance eg stadium choice, playing surfaces, transport, hotels

Opportunities
1. Potentially the new 'golden generation' by winning the next AFCON and surpassing WC Rd 2
2. By doing so, could make it a much easier choice for top Nigerian talent worldwide to opt to play for Nigeria
3. Probably already the top brand in Africa, they could attract major multi-million dollar sponsors if they get it right on the field
4. Could once again build a world-wide fan base and build on the already prominent profile of Nigeria's young music and film stars (Did anyone see the breathless young girls almost fainting after watching the SE players live in Lagos for the first time?)
5. Possibility of attracting a world-class coach to take us to 'the next level' despite the country's shortcomings.

Threats
1. The usual Nigerian habit of changing for change's sake i.e. our legendary '20/20 Vision'.
2. Refusal of coach to 'upgrade' players for misplaced loyalties
3. Losing the fans' support if felt to lack commitment etc
4. Foreign born vs local player debates become toxic with racial undertones

[Enugu II]

Damunk,

Not much to quarrel with your SWOT to be honest. My only gripes, after quick read (leaving it open for a second read LOL) is your #1 & #4 weaknesses. #1 is not really a weakness. The midfield, in my view, is not a huge problem at the moment. #4, I agree it is there at the start but I do believe these players eventually adapt. Think Iwobi and now both Ebuehi and Aribo. #4 Threat get as im be. I actually do not classify that as a threat but will rethink its wording as a weakness i.e. the uber focus on foreign-based weakens the team in the long run by limiting access to possibly useful talents.

Here's my SE TEAM SWOT

Strengths
1. Good depth to central and wide attacking options with minimal drop in quality
2. Full back/wing back options, minimal drop in quality
3. Young upwardly mobile goalkeepers a medium to long term strength,
4. Young squad in general, some with high likelihood of entering elite teams of Europe
5. Loyalty to one another and to coach responsible for capping bulk of team and having grown together
6. Genuine inter-personal friendships: Chukwueze & Osimhen; Aina & Iwobi; Abdullahi & Musa; Ekong & Balogun; Ndidi & Nacho.

Weaknesses
1. Team lacks creative midfield
2. 'Oyibo wall' the weakest link
3. Young keepers a short term weakness
4. Poor appreciation of and adaptation to the 'African game' by many of the FB players
5. Coach too conservative for the 'Nigerian game', hence attracting negativity towards the team and possibly undermining confidence
6. The NFF - Needs to up its game on all levels including PR. All 'minor' decisions have MAJOR implications for team moral and performance eg stadium choice, playing surfaces, transport, hotels

Opportunities
1. Potentially the new 'golden generation' by winning the next AFCON and surpassing WC Rd 2
2. By doing so, could make it a much easier choice for top Nigerian talent worldwide to opt to play for Nigeria
3. Probably already the top brand in Africa, they could attract major multi-million dollar sponsors if they get it right on the field
4. Could once again build a world-wide fan base and build on the already prominent profile of Nigeria's young music and film stars (Did anyone see the breathless young girls almost fainting after watching the SE players live in Lagos for the first time?)
5. Possibility of attracting a world-class coach to take us to 'the next level' despite the country's shortcomings.

Threats
1. The usual Nigerian habit of changing for change's sake i.e. our legendary '20/20 Vision'.
2. Refusal of coach to 'upgrade' players for misplaced loyalties
3. Losing the fans' support if felt to lack commitment etc
4. Foreign born vs local player debates become toxic with racial undertones

[1naija]

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

We are already a great team. We are the currently the most dangerous team in Africa. We will win the nations cup to prove this. Mark my words...

[danfo driver]

Have EFCC arrest him

And thats it and all will be well?
What next?

FIRE ROHR....

You can't achieve anything until you believe you can

Much has been said in love and anger about our beloved team.
We are fans with extreme emotions and it is to be expected.

But now we have qualified for AFCON, I think we need to take a cold, hard and honest look and do a SWOT analysis of our individual players, our SE team as a whole, our coach and our governing body the NFF.

For perspective, we need to do it with a SPECIFIC goal in mind.
For me it is to meet an expectation of a World Cup S/F next year and an AFCON gold before that.

Who can get us there?
Who can meet the challenges and who can't hack it at that level?
Who is on an upward trajectory, who has plateaued and who is on a downward spiral?

What are the realistic options we have and what do we have to do to make the SE a credible threat on the world stage?

Foreign and local sentiments side, all loyalties shelved, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?