Africa Cup of Nations 2000 edition silver medalist, Benedict Akwuegbu, has taken a swipe at the Super Eagles over “their poor showing” at the ongoing championship in Cameroon.
After amassing maximum nine points from their group stage, the highly rated Nigerians were knocked out by Tunisia, which managed to qualify for the Round of 16 among the best three losers from their groups.
He expressed sadness at the Eagles loss adding that “the Eagles played that game as a team without focus and mission.” Akwuegbu said Eagles greatest problem was “their over confidence which they carried into the game against Tunisia” stressing their performance at the group stage gave them the false impression that they were already favourites for the Cup, and would not require much effort to win the Cup and also “forgetting that each match in competitions like this requires different approaches.”
Akwuegbu lamented that having studied the Nigerians with their predictable formations, which evolved round 4-2-4, it was easier for the more tactically disciplined Tunisians to contain the Nigerians and win the match, while Coach Austin Eguavoen, his assistants and his players were rendered mere spectators.
He said instead of blaming only Eguavoen for Eagles poor outing, his assistants made of high profile former internationals equally deserve knock for not making the required input that would have saved the day.
He criticized those who have been employing the social media, and other platforms to accuse the Nigerian leader of culpability in the team’s loss because of his video call with the players while they were in Cameroon. He described the critics of the President as “irresponsible and unpatriotic” adding the President made video calls to the players with good intention, to encourage them to win the game.
“His [the President’s} call was to motivate the team. And he did noble thing with that.Should Buhari be the one to enter the field and score for them? He asked rhetorically.
The former Nigerian international advised the team to change their attitude positively in their World Cup play off against Ghana in March, if they are to make it to Qatar.
“They [Super Eagles} will get the shock of their lives if they think they will easily prevail over Ghana.
“What happened to them in their game against Tunisia, and the Cup of Nations as a whole, should guide them against underrating any team.I wish them best of luck in their matches against Ghana.”
