Nigerians Discuss Super Eagles' Performance in Nigeria vs France Match
Yesterday, French national football team made sure that the FIFA World Cup was over for the Super Eagles.
Despite cheering from Nigerian fans (Naij.com editorial team included) and support from Brazilians at the Estádio Nacional de Brasilia stadium, the dramatic match full of thrilling moments ended with France beating Nigeria 2-0, with its #19, Paul Pogba, scoring a header in the 79th minute, and Super Eagles' defender Joseph Yobo scoring an own goal. This Friday, France will meet with Germany in the quarter-finals.
As the news surface about players and their head coach Stephen Keshi leaving the team, we have asked Nigerians to share their thoughts and reactions of the game and to estimate Super Eagles' yesterday's performance.
In general, the game received favorable reviews, with the majority of the respondents commending the brilliant performance by Nigeria's goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and praising Keshi.
Agbona Temitope Deborah said: As for me, Super Eagles did their best, but we Nigerians have one habit, which is bad: we don't appreciate what we have. All we do is condemn. Up Super Eagles, up Nigeria!
Monday Aluola said: Super Eagles as a team didn't do badly; the players did their best, especially the goalkeeper (Vicent Eyeama). The only thing is that experience played out against them. Up Nigeria!
King De Don Samuel said: In my own point of view, these guys are awesome. They have made Africa and Nigeria proud. Kudos to our wonderful keeper. We are expecting more in 2018. One love! #supereagles for life.
Olaleye Oluwatosin Banji said: Keshi is still Nigeria's best coach ever. Even though inexperienced Juwon, lifeless Moses and inadequate cover for Onazi cost us. Keshi didn’t trust the young Azeez again. Makes me wonder why Azeez and Reuben were picked instead of Igbeirbor and John Ogu. No competent backup for Echiéjilé. Juwon tried, but he altered the balance the team. Enyeama is a very good goalkeeper, Wenger wanted to sign him but he was put off by his positioning and decision-making during set pieces. Nigeria played well but they lost hope easily after Pogba scored. Enyeama, Onazi, Osaze, Omeruo, Musa should be proud of their performance in this competition. The future is bright when fully-fit Joel Obi will displace Mikel when he comes back into the team.
Dako Benefit Emike said: The Eagles tried and deserve a THANK YOU!
Patricia Obi said: They did very well, but there is always a winner and a loser in every game.
Soroye Janet Olusanjo said: To those who are saying Super Eagles performed below their expectations, I think match should be replayed and THEY would be the ones to play for us to rater their performance.
Roseline Ogban said: I actually thought they are going to make history today. I still give kudos to all the players. They have tried! But I am sad because there would be no more competitions. Keep flying, Super Eagles! Well done, Keshi!
Some Nigerians were deeply saddened by the outcome of the match and their frustration has manifested itself in their comments. Lack of "concentration" and "togetherness" in the teamplay were named among the reasons the Super Eagles have missed many opportunities to score.
Prince Zubby said: We need players with 200% energy, speed and agility.
Moruf Sola said: FIFA should reduce the official duration of the match to 45 minutes because that's how long the Super Eagles can endure. No fitness.
While some readers were quick to point out that certain players performed below expectations, others noted that, unless the Nigerian government "shows some interest in sports," Nigerian athletes will not be able to do their best. Also, a number of readers have criticized the coach for his choice of players.
Alabi Omotosho said: Let me use this medium to express my anger at Coach Keshi who, because of his selfishness, not minding the feelings of Nigerians, went to the World Cup with the likes of Ameobi, Azeez who do not have a role in that team in the first place. A coach who won the Africa Cup of Nations with the likes of Mba, Ogude, Odumadu and could not live up with these players but rather followed the path of his predecessor (Samson Siasia). Keshi must go, he has failed Nigerians.
Akinsanya Wasiu Adeboye said: I really commend the effots of some guys in the team but I feel so players like Mikel shouldn't be part of the team. Mikel as a very senior player did not contribute to the team. How I wish Keshi selected players like Joel Obi and Oduamadi, they would have added a little bit to the mildfield and probably helped to attack. Mikel never did any accurate passes and he lost the ball. He never felt eager to help the defence to retrieve the ball back.
John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Joseph Yobo ( Fenerbahçe), Victor Moses (Chelsea) were bashed by Legit.ng readers for their lukewarm performance. Respondents felt that "Mikel shouldn't have gone to Brazil at all," and adviced Chelsea to sell him to a lower team "so his ego will drop" and where he could have "more playing time to develop" himself.
Tonghinen Tong said: The governor of Plateau State should increase the tax Mikel's father is paying, or let him be sent out of Jos [Mikel's father Michael Obi runs an inter-state transport company in Jos].
Adeyeye Timileyin Joseph said: When will Yobo start defending like a real defense player? Yobo, Mikel and partially Moses were a disappointment. It really pained my heart that we are out of the tournament. But anyway, kudos to you Super Eagles! Osaze, Enyeama, Ambrose, Onazi, Omeruo and Musa (though he wasn't fed with the ball much today) are the ones I can rate high.
On his part, speaking after the game, Keshi said he questioned some of the U.S. referee Mark Geiger’s decisions: “The ref is a human being, but a lot of mistakes were questionable ... he decides what happens on the field. I’m not happy with the ref.” Many Nigerians tend to agree with the head coach, lamenting that “racism” still affects international sports.
Destiny Friday said: The whites will not stop robbing the blacks.Clear goal disallowed and a penalty.
Sam Jerry added: Bad officiating marred Eagles’ good job. Racism is still a problem.
Every cloud has a silver lining, and for some, the match ended on a brighter note, like for Chike Michael "I was angry and crying at Nigeria’s loss, but all of a sudden, they gave us light which we’d not seen since the beginning of the World Cup. And now we are all dancing and jumping up because of this miracle," he wrote.
Source: Legit.ng
