Former Nigeria coach Samson Siasia believes that the only thing that the team needs to become world beaters is a creative midfielder, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles is one of the most talented teams on the African continent and even the world. Nigeria boasts of some of the top attackers in Africa like Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Taiwo Awoniyi, Ademola Lookman, among others.
There are also some decent midfielders and defenders like Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, and Calvin Bassey.
However, even with the talent in the team, they have struggled to win games or perform consistently.
Meanwhile, former Nigeria coach Siasia has been in and around the team a lot in the past 20 years. And he believes the team has a lot of talented players, but the only thing they lack is a player like Jay-Jay Okocha, who can take up the role of creating chances.
“We don't have an offensive midfield player that can give the last pass to the strikers. We have great strikers, but we need someone that is missing,” Siasia told Lagos Talks.
“Iwobi can not play that position. He's a good player, but he's not doing as much as he's supposed to as an offensive player. We have to look for that person in the center of the field, who can give the last passes and score goals.
“In the defencee and other parts, right and left midfield, we are good. We need someone like Jay-Jay Okocha, but it has to be somebody that can score more than him.”
Since Okocha retired from international football, no player has been able to perform the kind of magic that he did for the Super Eagles. Currently, no player has the kind of vision or skill-set that he had. A creative midfielder that can eke out chances for the Super Eagles could be the game-changer for the team.
Siasia the great has spoken well, it’s now left for who will volunteer to do the magic for us like the young Palmer of Chelsea.
Thanks.
PINNICK AND EGUAVON HAVE DESTROYED NFF.
REGARDS
we leave indelible mark behind on whatever we do. IGBO and PROUD
What has tribe got to do with this advice of Siasia. Who even told you Okocha is Igbo. Historically and up to date, Ogwashi people trace their origin to Bini and only migrated to where they are today with a distinct dialect of Igbo. Football does not know tribe, please.
Eguavon is the problem with our football. He works against any coach that comes around. He should be kept away.
Eguavoun on the rescue
Which one is Samson Siasia reveals the player who can transform Super Eagles to world beaters, without mentioning anyone last last? Isn’t that deceit and brainwashing?
Which one is Samson Siasia reveals the player who can transform Super Eagles to world beaters, without mentioning anyone last last? Isn’t that deceit and brainwashing?
He didn’t see anyone among the current players
Typical Nigerian journalism. Nothing but click bait. All flash and no substance. SMH
Eze is the guy for the job,that is if he is still eligible to play for Nigeria
The patriotism and passion exhibited by you and the other players back then have diminished.
I can only see such traits players like Osimhen, Ekong, Lookman, Bassey, and maybe, a few others.
The patriotism and passion exhibited by you and the other players back then have diminished.
I can only see such traits in players like Osimhen, Ekong, Lookman, Bassey, and maybe, a few others.
We mıss out on Eze and Olıseh, the two offensıve mıdfıelders who can plug that area. We can turn our searchlıghts on other players, both domestıc and foreıgn. We have good mıdfıelders of Nıgerıan decent who can plug that area ıf ınvıted to the natıonal team.
all these nonsense u wrote just to chase clout ?
am disappointed
Well said. Although foreign based players have better exposure but do not have the dedication of the local players. Of course, having showcased any player at International competition is to convert him to foreign based too. But the need to develop the locals cannot be over emphasized. Then, nepotism and other absurd ‘isms’ must be checked. It’s a pity, a formerly dreaded football giant now a dwarf, nay a weak dwarf that only reflect shadow of its past glory once in a while.
I was thinking Samson Siasia had seen one player he wants to chip into the position yet up saying nothing. even if we find one in that capacity would the coaches be fair enough to give him that chance to do it without getting at either tribal sentiments or personality egoism. the next thing you will here he is stubborn etc.
On a second thought, Samson Siasia is Eyeing the Super Eagles Job once More. He may have found one player in that Position to transform the Team into a winning Machine, but threw in that Statement of Fact as a Bait to NFF to Ponder giving him an Ear to Drop the Catchy Bomb.
We need to be fair and transparent in scouting for players like that , we have to put aside Croynism, favouritism, nepotism and sentiment. There are raw talents like Okocha on the streets who could probably do better than him. When was the last time we qualified for under 20 and 17 World Cup. This is what happens if we fail to do the needful. We are no longer scouting for talented and competent players, we are chasing shadows and we need to improve our league, revamp it by providing facilities. We also need to look inward, we are over concentrating on foreign players. It is so shameful and disheartening.
pls Nigerian should do general scouting for all the thirty six state for a mid fielder that will be like jay jay okocha pick one best from each state invite them for general drill and training
coupled with some matches played i tell you we will see hidden jay jay okocha that Nigeria ns will be proud of .
During the process of scouting they should be keen to see how the how he has confidence in holding and distributing the ball accurately with his prowess and speed..lastly the person should be selected by merit not because he has God father there pls.
i wish Nigeria well
Thanks
well said. Eze would have been that answer. However we can still create great offensive midfìeld out of Bashiru+Iwobi pairing. Olise is a versatile player who could play excellently well as 10 or 7 and he is still eligible to play for Super Eagles. Olise+Bashiru CM would be my second solution
What Samson siasia said is truth but I should have advised him to join eguavoun to fist that gap rather to go for the job