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Quality made the difference
By
Charles Nyirenda - 31-03-2003 |
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The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday took a giant step towards the 2004 Nations Cup finals in Tunis when they edged the Flames 1-0 in front of an estimated 60,000 crowd at Chichiri Stadium.
Before match kickoff local fans doubted whether the Flames had the mettle to contain the Eagles, but as the game progressed it showed that there were two teams contesting the tie. The following department by department match-ups can illustrate this point:
Goalkeeping: Phillip Nyasulu was marvellous between the posts. Midway in the second half he twice foiled Chukwudi Nworgu’s attempts to score by bravely diving to his feet and lying across him to avert danger. On a number of occasions throughout the match he ably tamed good attempts by Super Eagles strikers particularly from aerial attacks.
On the Super Eagles side Vincent Enyeama was equally, if not more impressive. He proved his exceptional abilities when Peter Mgangira dispatched a hard drive from outside the box which appeared to be heading for the far upright. Using his reflexes Enyeama sprung up, flew to his left for seconds and punched the ball over for a corner kick. What an incredible save! Similarly he tipped over the ball a cracking direct close range shot from McDonald Yobe which also seemed destined to change the score board.
In defence Itaye Nundwe and Lackson Mtambo were rock solid. In very difficult circumstances they managed to hold back raging strikers Nworgu and Yakubu Aiyegbeni. Maupo Msowoya and Joseph Gatros were not at their usual best, however they still gave the Eagles something to think about.
On the other hand, the visitors were extremely fantastic at the back. Joseph Yobo and Seyi Olajengbesi took turns to snuff out twin snipers Russell Mwafulirwa and Essau Kanyenda. Neither goalking was allowed a free shot on goal in the entire game. In fact Kanyenda got so frustrated that he resorted to fouling his markers which earned him a yellow card. And wingbacks Joseph Enakhere and Ifeanyi Udeze on the right and left respectively frustrated wing attacks by restricting crosses from Yobe and Fisher Kondowe.
In midfield Mgangira had a grand game, he was always on the move connecting this to that during buildups and picking up the pieces when attacks broke down. Next to him Peter Mponda featured more as a defending midfielder although he would have assisted the team better by assuming an attacking posture to supply passes to Kanyenda and Mwafulirwa.
On the flanks Kondowe threatened to destabilise the Eagles in the first half with surging charges. Although he was contained somewhat in the second half, he was still a thorn in the fresh by the time Ernest Mtawali, who came back from a long layoff, replaced him on 80 minutes. In the brief period he played, Mtawali gave hints of a little lack of match fitness. Nevertheless the fighting spirit was there. Yobe started well but swiftly slid into oblivion afterwards and veteran Shabba Phiri took his place after the interval. He too hardly improved penetration deficiencies in the flames attacking machinery.
The area in which the Super Eagles dominated most was central midfield where Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha visibly caused consternation with his dribbling wizardly, change of pace, sudden switch of direction, vision and creativity. He was visibly the axis of all telling Eagles attacks. On numerous occasions his long balls and piercing through passes to deadly strikers John Utaka and Nworgu tore asunder the Flames defence. And industrious Ikpe Okong by his side gave him good support in linking the defence with the striking force.
The analysis would be incomplete without mentioning that in as far as commitment and dedication were concerned the Flames gave their all. They could not be faulted for lack of trying. Of course questions were raised about the appropriateness of substitutions. It would appear that the Eagles midfield defensive vulnerability was not exploited fully. Considering that the Eagles laboured to contain midfield attacks from where the best Flames shots came, one would have expected a gamble on a more aggressive player like Ganizani Malunga or even Wilfred Nyalugwe to be tried instead of say Mtawali who has yet to regain his fitness. Other than that the superior quality of the new generation of Super Eeagles players maybe blamed for the final outcome of the match.
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