Nigeria vs Mexico

I tuned into Channel 52 ~ the local Telemundo and settled in to watch the game. Mexico started out aggressively but Nigeria also had a few early chances too.

My excited was based on my belief that the lineup looked like the most exciting lineup in many many years. That said after watching the game I have come to the following conclusions.

Firstly if we cannot hold on to a 2-0 lead then we are in BIG trouble. I have mixed feelings on Apam … some of you guys loved him, but he and Taiwo were racking fouls like air miles … anyway a few ramblings …

Mikel Obi ~ While a gifted player, his game today was rife with indiscipline and a growing spectre of nonchalance … Obi was slow, was dispossessed several times and made some bad passes. What was most glaring was his failed attempt to impose a pedestrian pace in the midfield … something that Carlos Valderama was a master of. The Mexicans swarmed him and he lost the ball on several occasions. On seeing this he should have run at them and changed his style. My solution to this is to have Obi work on his fitness … his running and his shooting …

Ishiaku Mannaseh ~ This is the guy I wanted to see. He really got no service today, and he had he had a badly taken shot in one instance … however his hustle and work rate opened space for Martins to operate … he tackled and won some balls. He will get another chance.

Ike Uche ~ This guy is pure wahala for any opposing team. He came on, won a penalty and then flubbed it. Very very uncharacteristic of him, my consolation is that God loves the Mexicans too, and he was not about to allow them to suffer an indignity at the hands of a Guatemalan ref on the eve of their game against Guatemala :D … that said a one legged woman should have been able to put that ball on target.

Olofinjana was ok especially in the first half, however Taiwo and Apam were racking up many fouls and Taiwo has somehow lost form … I no know wetin do am.

In light of this game I have a few ideas. I like some of Ayo’s ideas but I will deviate a bit. The solution to the midfield is to bring in Oludapo Olufemi and Uche Kalu. I will NOT shoo in Rabiu Ibrahim yet, because he may not be mature enough … I would NOT discard Mikel Obi, but I would certainly try out Olufemi AND Kalu Uche. These two would make a positive difference.

On Olofinjana, not many players can compete easily for his position. We have players like Moses Adams, Sunday Stephen, Sani Kieta and a few others … Moses Adams is an easy favorite, but is still very green. Sunday Stephen is good but I have to observe him more