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YouTube - Australia V Nigeria - Highlights - 17nov07

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Where was our midfield?

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Whao, I'm sure the goalkeeper was glad it was over, it could have been worse, they practically played half field....miss those days of, it's Oliseh, to Finidi, on the right flank a lob to Yekini, it's a goaaaaaaaaaaaaaal...wish I could turn back the hands of time....

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Going into the nations cup proper, the midfield still remains the bane of our team. Ayila and Olofinjana are still not meeting my expectation. Paul Obiefule might not have enough time to understand the playing style of Obafemi and Osaze. I sincerely wish Obodo and Oruma would recuperate faster, as their experience is still being missed in the midfield. Mikel Obi and Taiye Taiwo are yet to show full commitment to the national team, so, I cant call for a half-hearted Mikel. On the average, a lot of experience was needed in such a high profile grade A match, and that was missing on the Nigerian team. Good enough, players are getting the needed international exposure. Not a bad result. I think, with the pool of regulars missing in the starting line up, the game turned out the way I expected.

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That was a screamer from Carney. Anyway our boys were not as bad as I had thought. What we need is for Mikel Obi to stabilize that midfield. Dele Ayenuga might be the next Peter Rufai that we have been waiting for. I had watched Ikechukwu Uche in Getafe colours against Barcelona. Getafe had won 2-0 and Uche was terrific. Yakubu Aiyegbeni has competition in his hands!

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Nigeria had a first class goalkeeper in this game. It was sheer pleasure watching him make those saves. The midfield wasn't too bad. If they can stay together and get more practise as a unit, and build on team cohesiveness, this team can go places. Bye Bye to the days of the Papa Eagles. Up Green Eagles!

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I think the biggest problem with the so-called super eagles is fear not lack of talent. For some reason, these guys seem to be stricken with fear when confronted with players from other countries. Many countries that have defeated us have often remarked that our players possesed superior talent. The situation was even more glaring during U.S.A '94 when players who appeared to be bodybuilders were losing balls to opponents smaller than they.

If I were Berti Vogts, I would look for players who play with a confidence bordering on arrogance, like Jay Jay Okocha. All the talent in the world can easily be inhibited by stage fright on game day. I think this explains why our junior teams tend to do better, even now that it is virtually impossible to field overage players. The younger ones are too young to understand fear.

No disrespect to Australia, but there is no reason why we should be losing to them, even in Australia. Soccer is not really their number one passion. Any European or South American country I can understand, but not Australia.

We have to do something about this fear otherwise our senior team will just keep being embarrased.