We were taught a footballing lesson

[Enugu II]

How can you say that, Prof.?
What impact did Iwobi have in the 7 or so minutes he was on the field?
Tactically, Iwobi should have been brought on at half time for an ineffective Chukwueze, who was struggling.
He knew the Tunisians had checkmated his 1st half strategy and did nothing about it till we went a goal down.
Poor game management.

I disagree.
The eagles played well.
The coach to me is the problem...not the players.

A weird thing to say...they played well but the coach doesn't get credit for them playing well?

I wondered about such incongruency. The fact is that the team played well and went down surprisingly from a rather harmless situation. Yet, the coach made a GOOD TACTICAL decision bringing in Iwobi. Unfortunately, Iwobi had not settled down before he was sent off. At that point, the game was as good as lost, TACTICS not withstanding. That the team battled, had two pk claims ignored (replays confirmed handling deep in the box) and then Sadiq's presence s not indicate that this loss was down to the Manager solely.

While I agree that Iwobi should have been brought in earlier, please note that Iwobi did not play 7 minutes as you claim. He was there for 3 or less and virtually his first contact sent him to the showers. So what impact was that? Moreover, after he left it was virtually lef t to God and not tactics. 10 against 11? Iet me know a manager anywhere sure of rescuing a game in those subsequent circumstance.

[tmex12]

We played 10 vs 11 for just under 1/2 of the match and still had chances to equalize. We were not outplayed.

I am shocked at the lashing the team and coach are getting. We played well. Yes, some of our reliables were not effective - Aribo, Iheanacho, Moses & Chukwueze but those who came on worked to turn things around.

This is a great lesson for the team. Osimhen will be back. Same for Etebo. We need the Lookmans and Oliseh/Eze for creativity. All we need to do is maintain stability with Coach Eguavoen in charge and focus on the matches against Ghana.

Our chances of making it to Qatar is great. I say GO SE and no to journeymen coaches!

[tmex12]

I rewatched the match against Egypt over the weekend and one thing that was missing in our match against Tunisia was intensity. Our pace was just slower and we failed to press with intensity higher up.

Maybe the fact that it was the knock-out stage forced the team to be more cautious - we lost the key factor that threw off the Egyptians. It would have worked with the Tunisians. I still say, 11 vs 11, Nigeria wins!

[Lolly]

We played 10 vs 11 for just under 1/2 of the match and still had chances to equalize. We were not outplayed.

I am shocked at the lashing the team and coach are getting. We played well. Yes, some of our reliables were not effective - Aribo, Iheanacho, Moses & Chukwueze but those who came on worked to turn things around.

This is a great lesson for the team. Osimhen will be back. Same for Etebo. We need the Lookmans and Oliseh/Eze for creativity. All we need to do is maintain stability with Coach Eguavoen in charge and focus on the matches against Ghana.

Our chances of making it to Qatar is great. I say GO SE and no to journeymen coaches!

Etebo? Herein lies our problem. We really don't know our troops very well. When last did Etebo have a good game, club or country?

[Lolly]

I rewatched the match against Egypt over the weekend and one thing that was missing in our match against Tunisia was intensity. Our pace was just slower and we failed to press with intensity higher up.

Maybe the fact that it was the knock-out stage forced the team to be more cautious - we lost the key factor that threw off the Egyptians. It would have worked with the Tunisians. I still say, 11 vs 11, Nigeria wins!

The coach decided to rest 70% of the team against Guinea Bissau for reasons known to him. That was the primary reason for the slow start and sluggishness of our players. You don't' do that is a competition like the AFCON or Wordl Cup. Cameroon who were in a similar position like us fielded their best team. Some of us here said it, notably Cellular and myself. But our coach knows best.

[tmex12]

I rewatched the match against Egypt over the weekend and one thing that was missing in our match against Tunisia was intensity. Our pace was just slower and we failed to press with intensity higher up.

Maybe the fact that it was the knock-out stage forced the team to be more cautious - we lost the key factor that threw off the Egyptians. It would have worked with the Tunisians. I still say, 11 vs 11, Nigeria wins!

The coach decided to rest 70% of the team against Guinea Bissau for reasons known to him. That was the primary reason for the slow start and sluggishness of our players. You don't' do that is a competition like the AFCON or Wordl Cup. Cameroon who were in a similar position like us fielded their best team. Some of us here said it, notably Cellular and myself. But our coach knows best.

But he had to. Its standard in competitions like this. You need to give those that'll come off the bench some minutes to get in tune with the pace and conditions of the competition. He did nothing wrong there.

Was I disapppointed - yes. I was looking to a Cameroon Nigeria final to avenge 2000 loss in Lagos. We have something good going on. I lost interest in the SE under Rohr and this team and their play/style renewed my passion.

[vancity eagle]

I rewatched the match against Egypt over the weekend and one thing that was missing in our match against Tunisia was intensity. Our pace was just slower and we failed to press with intensity higher up.

Maybe the fact that it was the knock-out stage forced the team to be more cautious - we lost the key factor that threw off the Egyptians. It would have worked with the Tunisians. I still say, 11 vs 11, Nigeria wins!

The coach decided to rest 70% of the team against Guinea Bissau for reasons known to him. That was the primary reason for the slow start and sluggishness of our players. You don't' do that is a competition like the AFCON or Wordl Cup. Cameroon who were in a similar position like us fielded their best team. Some of us here said it, notably Cellular and myself. But our coach knows best.

I dont agree that was the wrong decision. If anything Egu messed up by not taking the lessons he learned from the GB match into the Tunisia game.

Chuks should not have started.

Sadiq should have started.

Nwakali should have shored up a 3 man midfield.

[Lolly]

I rewatched the match against Egypt over the weekend and one thing that was missing in our match against Tunisia was intensity. Our pace was just slower and we failed to press with intensity higher up.

Maybe the fact that it was the knock-out stage forced the team to be more cautious - we lost the key factor that threw off the Egyptians. It would have worked with the Tunisians. I still say, 11 vs 11, Nigeria wins!

The coach decided to rest 70% of the team against Guinea Bissau for reasons known to him. That was the primary reason for the slow start and sluggishness of our players. You don't' do that is a competition like the AFCON or Wordl Cup. Cameroon who were in a similar position like us fielded their best team. Some of us here said it, notably Cellular and myself. But our coach knows best.

But he had to. Its standard in competitions like this. You need to give those that'll come off the bench some minutes to get in tune with the pace and conditions of the competition. He did nothing wrong there.

Was I disapppointed - yes. I was looking to a Cameroon Nigeria final to avenge 2000 loss in Lagos. We have something good going on. I lost interest in the SE under Rohr and this team and their play/style renewed my passion.

If it was standard, why didn't Cameroon do the same? Same thing we did in 1998 that proved to be a mistake.

[Enyi]

They didn't have to shut Samu down, he wasn't gonna do ish anyways...was a good tactic to shut Simon down, but in the Egypt game they tried the same thing after Simon had been tormenting them and Zaidu then started joining in attack making it harder to just focus on Simon, but today Zaidu barely attacked, it was so weird...

That’s the downfall of 4-4-2….

Remember the Egu video….on YouTube….that basically is what any coach will play for his players….

Their plan….wing play….it’s old and outdated….double team the wings play 4-3-3 and let the 3 upfront keep the full backs busy and the 3 in midfield double team with your full backs and attack when the chance comes around…..

Mourinho masterpiece….,

Egu had no play B started throwing players in….Olayinka for Awoniyi is when I knew the game was over and Egu is gone

Thus the new coach take over from here you mean?

Easily

Based on his records I saw, I doubt he is good either

Like I said in another post….I totally agree with you. What is it with these foreign 60yr olds….is that not retirement age?

We should get a vibrant, Progressive coach that can adapt to what’s going on in the pitch and the team we are facing….

but will the people in charge see your point? At moment, our beating Ghana for a world cup spot - in Qatar - is beginning to look impossible

It is common sense…. No need getting a has been…. Why can’t they see it..I believe that we have a great first 11 but the NFF is holding us back

[metalalloy]

I rewatched the match against Egypt over the weekend and one thing that was missing in our match against Tunisia was intensity. Our pace was just slower and we failed to press with intensity higher up.

Maybe the fact that it was the knock-out stage forced the team to be more cautious - we lost the key factor that threw off the Egyptians. It would have worked with the Tunisians. I still say, 11 vs 11, Nigeria wins!

The coach decided to rest 70% of the team against Guinea Bissau for reasons known to him. That was the primary reason for the slow start and sluggishness of our players. You don't' do that is a competition like the AFCON or Wordl Cup. Cameroon who were in a similar position like us fielded their best team. Some of us here said it, notably Cellular and myself. But our coach knows best.

But he had to. Its standard in competitions like this. You need to give those that'll come off the bench some minutes to get in tune with the pace and conditions of the competition. He did nothing wrong there.

Was I disapppointed - yes. I was looking to a Cameroon Nigeria final to avenge 2000 loss in Lagos. We have something good going on. I lost interest in the SE under Rohr and this team and their play/style renewed my passion.

If it was standard, why didn't Cameroon do the same? Same thing we did in 1998 that proved to be a mistake.

Because they could have finished second in their group if they lost. They just needed a tie with Cape Verde to finish first. If they finished second, they would have had to travel to Limbe, for the quarters, an area they def wanted to avoid.

[OJI]

I rewatched the match against Egypt over the weekend and one thing that was missing in our match against Tunisia was intensity. Our pace was just slower and we failed to press with intensity higher up.

Maybe the fact that it was the knock-out stage forced the team to be more cautious - we lost the key factor that threw off the Egyptians. It would have worked with the Tunisians. I still say, 11 vs 11, Nigeria wins!

The coach decided to rest 70% of the team against Guinea Bissau for reasons known to him. That was the primary reason for the slow start and sluggishness of our players. You don't' do that is a competition like the AFCON or Wordl Cup. Cameroon who were in a similar position like us fielded their best team. Some of us here said it, notably Cellular and myself. But our coach knows best.

I dont agree that was the wrong decision. If anything Egu messed up by not taking the lessons he learned from the GB match into the Tunisia game.

Chuks should not have started.

Sadiq should have started.

Nwakali should have shored up a 3 man midfield.

Completely agree, and more.
1. The team knew they could beat Tunisia over a 90 mins span. 3rd ranked struggling team with no previous offensive production. With Egypt, the unknown with Salah and his potentially moments of brilliance kept them on their toes.

2. The preference for Chukwueze appears to be an attempt to get him going. Eguavoen's wing play philosophy requires both wingers to be on point. I don't know if Chukwueze was mentally prepared for Eguavoen's managerial approach. With 5 subs, he knew he was going to be subbed at one point in any game regardless of performance or opposing team to accommodate other players or for the discovery of the effectiveness of another player. That might have unnerved him.

3. We still don't know how to switch points of attack.

4. We have seen enough of Sadiq to know he should get more playing time. It is unfortunate it took a tournament for him to get his Super Eagles debut.

5. We should credit Eguavoen for the attempt to build tournament depth by using different players. He made the right decision to bench 8 of the starters. Some of the players are coming from clubs where the players appeared weekly at best.
Recovery time is key. He brought back competitiveness, and belief.

[Odas]

After all is said and done, who is our coach, who? Personally, I think Eguavoen should stay till after the world cup.

[Goalgetter]

This tournament has been no joke at all. I just saw Comoros (10 men for 90 mins with a make-shift goalkeeper- outfield player playing as goalkeeper) almond beat 11-man Cameroon. Obama had to make some incredible saves for Cameroon to limp to a 2-1 victory. Ego’s face at the end of the march summed it up nicely. Gambia also knocked-out Guinea. This is crazy! I expect Cape Verde to knockout Senegal.