Why Chukwu Must revisit Korea/Japan Eagles
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Why Chukwu Must revisit Korea/Japan Eagles
Why Chukwu should revisit Korea/Japan Eagles
Everest Onyewuchi - Punch sports
THE Super Eagles’ camp in Faro, Portugal opened on December 18 with many Nigerians still criticising their Coach, Mr. Christian Chukwu, for inviting 41 players from which he will choose his team for the Tunisia 2004 Nations Cup.
Chukwu, however, has reportedly said that he had an idea of the players that would make up his team. Therefore, he is not losing sleep that key invited players will be arriving camp 13 days from the kick-off date of the Nations Cup on January 24, 2004.
All the players called up from the English Premiership League will not be available till January 11 while some others whose leagues are on Christmas break have decided to enjoy their holidays to the fullest instead of travelling to Portugal to begin training.
However, as Coach Chukwu cogitates about what to do with his 41-man list, there is the need to remind him to revisit the team that played against England in Nigeria’s last group match at the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup finals.
That team captained by Austin Okocha comprised goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama; defenders, Efetobore Sodje, Isaac Okoronkwo, Joseph Yobo, Christopher Justice and Ifeanyi Udeze; midfielders, James Obiora, Okocha, Femi Opabunmi and strikers, Julius Aghahowa and Benedict Akwuegbu.
The Super Eagles’ squad against England in Osaka, Japan was Coach Adegboye Onigbinde’s way of calling the bluff of remnants of the “old brigade” in the Nigerian camp led by Taribo West, who wanted the entire team that crashed at the Mali 2002 Nations Cup captained by Sunday Oliseh selected for the World Cup.
At the Mali 2002, a haughty Oliseh led some key undisciplined members of the team that treated Nigerian journalists, technical and administrative authorities with contempt.
Onigbinde’s team against England was fielded to point the way to a rebuilding process of the senior national team and to silence West that called his World Cup selection “a junk team.”
On assumption of office, Christian Chukwu wanted to build on the Onigbinde team. His programme was to have a standing home-based team that could be fortified with a few foreign-based players in some departments. The programme was on course until the Palancras Negra of Angola gave Nigeria a scare in Benin City in one of the qualifying matches for the Tunisia 2004.
Chukwu was forced to abandon “the experiment.” He had to make a resort to the wholesale fielding of foreign-based players that led to the recall of Ike Shorunmu, West, Victor Agali, Nwankwo Kanu Tijani Babangida and Garba Lawal.
Chukwu has continued to defend his decision to invite these players that lost their shirts under Onigbin-de, arguing that he wants to marry experience, youthful vigour and the zeal to make name. He will reap the accolades or carry the can if his team succeed or fail in Tunisia.
However, on current form and using other indices, Nigeria’s 22-man squad should look like this: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Sunday Rotimi, George Abbey, Romanus Orjinta, Joseph Yobo, Ifeanyi Udeze, Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West and Isaac Okoronkwo.
The team should also comprise Okocha, Kanu, Christian Obodo, Femi Opabunmi, Tijani Babangida, Obafemi Martins, Aghahowa, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Agali, Garba ‘Yaro Yaro’ Ahmed, Chukwudi Nwogu and John Utaka.
How they will be used in matches at the championship will depend on Chukwu’s strategies and reading of his opponents.
Everest Onyewuchi - Punch sports
THE Super Eagles’ camp in Faro, Portugal opened on December 18 with many Nigerians still criticising their Coach, Mr. Christian Chukwu, for inviting 41 players from which he will choose his team for the Tunisia 2004 Nations Cup.
Chukwu, however, has reportedly said that he had an idea of the players that would make up his team. Therefore, he is not losing sleep that key invited players will be arriving camp 13 days from the kick-off date of the Nations Cup on January 24, 2004.
All the players called up from the English Premiership League will not be available till January 11 while some others whose leagues are on Christmas break have decided to enjoy their holidays to the fullest instead of travelling to Portugal to begin training.
However, as Coach Chukwu cogitates about what to do with his 41-man list, there is the need to remind him to revisit the team that played against England in Nigeria’s last group match at the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup finals.
That team captained by Austin Okocha comprised goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama; defenders, Efetobore Sodje, Isaac Okoronkwo, Joseph Yobo, Christopher Justice and Ifeanyi Udeze; midfielders, James Obiora, Okocha, Femi Opabunmi and strikers, Julius Aghahowa and Benedict Akwuegbu.
The Super Eagles’ squad against England in Osaka, Japan was Coach Adegboye Onigbinde’s way of calling the bluff of remnants of the “old brigade” in the Nigerian camp led by Taribo West, who wanted the entire team that crashed at the Mali 2002 Nations Cup captained by Sunday Oliseh selected for the World Cup.
At the Mali 2002, a haughty Oliseh led some key undisciplined members of the team that treated Nigerian journalists, technical and administrative authorities with contempt.
Onigbinde’s team against England was fielded to point the way to a rebuilding process of the senior national team and to silence West that called his World Cup selection “a junk team.”
On assumption of office, Christian Chukwu wanted to build on the Onigbinde team. His programme was to have a standing home-based team that could be fortified with a few foreign-based players in some departments. The programme was on course until the Palancras Negra of Angola gave Nigeria a scare in Benin City in one of the qualifying matches for the Tunisia 2004.
Chukwu was forced to abandon “the experiment.” He had to make a resort to the wholesale fielding of foreign-based players that led to the recall of Ike Shorunmu, West, Victor Agali, Nwankwo Kanu Tijani Babangida and Garba Lawal.
Chukwu has continued to defend his decision to invite these players that lost their shirts under Onigbin-de, arguing that he wants to marry experience, youthful vigour and the zeal to make name. He will reap the accolades or carry the can if his team succeed or fail in Tunisia.
However, on current form and using other indices, Nigeria’s 22-man squad should look like this: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Sunday Rotimi, George Abbey, Romanus Orjinta, Joseph Yobo, Ifeanyi Udeze, Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West and Isaac Okoronkwo.
The team should also comprise Okocha, Kanu, Christian Obodo, Femi Opabunmi, Tijani Babangida, Obafemi Martins, Aghahowa, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Agali, Garba ‘Yaro Yaro’ Ahmed, Chukwudi Nwogu and John Utaka.
How they will be used in matches at the championship will depend on Chukwu’s strategies and reading of his opponents.
