By Augustine Akhilomen
Nigeria’s road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup will begin on
Sunday with a daunting task against the Zambia in what is expected to be
a mouth-watering encounter encounter in Ndola.
The team which is packed with youths like
Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi as well as experienced players such as Leicester
City’s Ahmed Musa and Chelsea’s Mikel Obi, will be hoping to pocket the maximum points in a bid to be in
total command of their group that also has Algeria and Cameroon in it.
Soccernet.com.ng’s AUGUSTINE AKHILOMEN x-ray four
things the Super Eagles must do if they are to claim the three points in
Ndola on Sunday.
1. Keep the defence tight
The technical crew of the Super Eagles must ensure that the
duo of William Paul Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo have a proper
understanding and a high level of concentration so as to checkmate the
attacking threats of Collins Mbesuma, Nathan Sinkala and Rainford
Kalaba, who are known for their pace and craftiness and sights for
goals.
2. Avoid delay of passes
There is nothing wrong when a team build gradually from the
backline, midfield to the attack. However, when there are certain delay
of passes from any of these positions, it could cause a team lots of
damage.
To this end, the Super Eagles must have a quick
vision of what they want to do with the ball without any form of
dressing the ball around. A player like Mikel Obi must be told to
release the ball quickly to the strikers if they are to put the Chipolopolo
of Zambia under pressure. If Mikel could replicate his box-to-box style
at the Rio Olympic Games, then the team could fly over Zambia.
3. Select the attacking trio of Iheanacho, Iwobi and Musa
Ordinarily, Brown Ideye would have been an ideal frontman
in the absence of Odion Ighalo, however, due to his profligacy in front
of goal, Super Eagles coach, Genort Rohr should deploy the deadly trio
of Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Ahmed Musa who are ready to take
their goal scoring chances against the strong defence of the Zambia
team that has Lawrence Chungu, Simon Silwamba, George Chilufya, Adrian
Chama and Ziyo Tembo.
4. Avoid conceding an early goal
Statistics have shown that the Super Eagles hardly win away
matches against African teams if they concede first. So, the team should make sure they make no blunders at the back.
In fact, the Super Eagles must try to score first in order
to destabilize whatever form of tactics, and game plans they will be
coming out with.
