BY Victor Akhidenor
The French were there for the taking and a quarter-final place was looming large, but instead of eating French, Fries the Super Eagles of Nigeria ended up eating humble pie after the painful 2-0 loss.
The song of “what-if” gets released after a yet-so-close-but-yet-so-far loss. It was played in 1994 after the loss to Italy. A remix was made after the disgrace by Denmark at France ’98. Before Don Jazzy and his crew come out with a Doro Eagles, we look at 7 of the reasons why Eagles lost to France on Monday.
1. Nigeria lacked the cutting edge when the team was dominating the game
It could all have been so different had the Super Eagles made the most of their early promise against the French. They had the territorial advantage in the first half, as France seemed content to keep their defensive discipline and attack mainly on the break. During that period, it looked more like “when” Nigeria would score, rather than “if” they would. They just lacked the cutting edge, that extra push and creativity to get their noses in front. So, once the momentum was lost to the French, it was game over!
2. Stephen Keshi did not counter Didier Deschamps’ key tactical change
Keshi had a brave plan for this game and his team had a good start, bossing ball possession in their half and pushing forward in numbers to support sustained attacks. As the game wore on and Les Bleus had sustained momentum, they attacked mainly down the right flank, with Mathieu Valbuena linking up play between the lines. Deschamps introduced Antoine Griezmann for Olivier Giroud in 62nd minute and that changed the game, as France pressed the ball in a 4-5-1 formation, with Karim Benzema the lone striker.
That five-man central-midfield block behind Benzema began to win back possession quicker and Griezmann could link up play down the left flank as well. By then, John Mikel Obi couldn’t cope, especially in the absence of Ogenyi Onazi. The collapse of the midfield exposed Nigeria’s defensive frailties. Eagles had Vincent Enyeama to thank for keeping out many dangerous attempts, even though it was the keeper who was ultimately culpable for France’s opener. The Big Boss should have brought in Ramon Azeez to add depth to the midfield. Or maybe he, too, was enjoying the Paul Pogba Show!
3. The referee’s crucial calls were against Nigeria
How differently would things have been for Nigeria had Onazi got up from Blaise Matuidi’s horrific second-half tackle instead of being stretchered off? What if Matuidi had received a red card for this challenge, instead of a mere yellow?
How differently would things have been for Nigeria had Emmanuel Emenike’s goal disallowed for a marginal, though legitimate, offside call stood?
Did Nigeria deserve two penalties when Ahmed Musa and Osaze Odemwingie were fouled in the box? What if the ref had pointed to the spot and a Victor Moses somersault was the next thing we saw?
How differently would things have turned out for Nigeria had Giroud been given the marching orders instead of a yellow card, for elbowing Mikel?
Keshi blamed the ref for being biased; it was one of the few calls he got right.
4. Nigeria literally had no bench?
There is nothing a tired team detests to see than an exciting, vibrant player coming on to run his heart out for 30 minutes. France brought in Griezmann to replace the ineffectual Giroud; Stephen Keshi called on Gabriel Reuben for the injured Onazi. The difference in impact was there to see.
Under pressure from Griezmann, Joseph Yobo inadvertently diverted a Valbuena cross into the corner of his own net. Meanwhile, Eagles’ midfield surrendered to Paul Pogba et al when Reuben was called to the fray. Nwofor came on late on for Moses, but nobody noticed his presence.
Players such as Ejide, Agbim, Uzoenyi, Gabriel, Egwuekwe, Odunlami, Azeez, Uchebo, and Ameobi were also available to Keshi in case he needed them. But these are players who will only instill fear on the opposition because of the pronunciations of their names, and not their footballing prowess. I’m sure I didn’t hear you say Ik Uche.
5. Nigeria could not score from a-score-and-one set pieces
Nigeria had 21 opportunities to score from set pieces – 9 corners and 12 free kicks. None was converted and one starts to wonder if the team ever practised conversion of such chances in their several training sessions. On the contrary, France scored two goals from two corner kicks.
6. Awful defending of the two corner kicks that led to the goals
Four of the five goals Nigeria conceded in Brazil were from set pieces – three corners and a free kick. France’s two goals came from corner kicks. Enyeama was caught in no-man’s land from Valbuena’s corner for the first goal. The ‘keeper should probably have stayed on his line, but he could only watch as the ball sailed over his head before Pogba nodded it into the empty net. What if Enyeama had stayed on his line?
For the second, Yobo put through his own net after a short corner was worked between Benzema and Valbuena. The diminutive Valbuena fired a sharp cross towards Griezmann, but Yobo got the final touch. What if he hadn’t?
7. The money row before the match
Teams with wrangling in their camps almost never perform well in a major competition like this. France learned their lesson from the 2010 edition, but when will Nigeria learn? Financial wrangling after qualifying for the second round saw the team miss a training session after dissipating all their energy arguing over appearance fee. While the French were busy thinking of the Eagles, the Eagles were thinking of their friends at the Bureau de Change!
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