Why Super Eagles Fans Should Not Be Excited About 3-0 Win Against Seychelles

Published: September 09, 2018

As the verisimilitude of the occasion descended on every one of the players on the Stade Linite turf in Victõria on Saturday afternoon, the outcome of the tepid showdown could only mean one thing for both sides.

The Super Eagles, after losing 2-0 to South Africa needed a sound response here, and of course a 3-0 win, literally should be viewed a statement victory.

In all due respect, Seychelles are no footballing superpowers (they have not won any of their last 16 international games) and are not so expected to qualify from CAF's Group E, a pool which they share alongside Nigeria as well as South Africa.

It made for sorry viewing to see the style in which the East African nation crumbled, like a pack of cards versus their opponents right from the blast of David Omweno's whistle.

Having afforded Ahmed Musa all the time to crash home the opener after just 14 minutes his 16th strike in the green and white of the national team, the tiny Island country never recovered.

Chidozie Awaziem got another off another avoidable opportunity — with the Seychelles defence failing utterly to be in alert and clear their lines, ushering in that de ja vu feeling.

A makeshift Nigeria back line was one Gavin Jeanne could have set out his wards to exploit and had they been a bit more adventurous with their approach, could have had more decent chances to feed on and make their troubles worthwhile.

But they utterly wound up, making things seem like an easy stroll through a tourist garden for their visitors.

Their vivid problems ranged from struggling to cope with the pace of Samuel Kalu and Musa while their midfield was no match to duel Wilfred Ndidi, and even the jittery Ogenyi Onazi — the Pirates mishaps took the semblance of a team merely fulfilling a passion-less obligation.

As such, one can only conclude that the encounter though a good one for the new string of invited Eagles but in all sincerity, did little to stretch the team to its limits no thanks to the below-par quality of opposition.

Tougher tests will surely come but Rohr, the team and Nigerians should not overly feel excited about this one, hence having routinely taken care of business as the race for Cameroon 2019 continues.

Emmanuel Chinaza