Whether Super Eagles of Nigeria go a goal down, or see their lead erased by Rwanda, or just having a bad day at the office, how the new coach, Eric Chelle, deals with in-game adversity to turn things around will go a long way to determine the perception he will get from the Nigerian football community.
Will his players hang their heads and let the upcoming game against Rwanda get to them? Will the coach make the adjustments that will get them back in it? Will he make the right substitutions at the right time? There is precious little margin for error.
Some of the biggest issues Nigerian fans have had with coaches have been around in-game management. Chelle showed with Mali that he can play a high intensity attacking football involving every player.
What happens if the team do not respond the way he wants? Victor Osimhen says the coach has spoken about bringing down the hammer on non-performers.
“He said he can be a father, a big brother, an uncle to everyone,” the forward said on the Obi One podcast. “But on the pitch it is business.
“He said, ‘We going to do amazing things, but I need you all to work with me. If the players see you running hard they will do the same. It starts from you guys. I might yell at you, but you understand that it is for you to set an example’.
Any line-up surprises on the cards?
The first thing most Nigerians will be looking out for is who makes the coach’s first line up. With only three training sessions with the new coach under their belt, it is hard to see the team changing much from the past.
For Chelle, the most important consideration, apart from players who are ready to leave it all on the Amahoro pitch, are those who will be quick on the uptake and execute as planned.
African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, who is playing his first game for Nigeria since being crowned as Africa’s best player, says the team have been given a lot to digest: “We have had loads of meetings about how the manager wants us to play, our game plan and aspects of how we defend and attack.
“We are keyed into his ideas and we have implemented that in training and hopefully we can show that during the game.”
Defence all but picks itself, with William Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey the centreback pairing, while it would be surprise, barring injuries, to see anyone but Ola Aina and Bruno Onyeamaechi as fullbacks.
Midfield also looks similar in that respect, except it that could be where these three days of competition could play some roles. Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Raphael Onyedika looks sure bets to start, but Alhassan Yusuf showed at AFCON that he could have a say and might break up that trio.
Upfront, Lookman and Osimhen are virtual shoo ins, leaving one spot for the duo of Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze to battle over.
That looks straightforward enough, but could Chelle surprise us?
Leave a Reply