New Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro needs to restore Super Eagles playing identity

Nigeria is undoubtedly one of the best footballing sides in Africa with a pool of outstanding talents scattered all over the footballing world.

The home-based players are also a special pool of talent. All in all, making the West African country an enviable football nation.

Despite all the success Nigeria has tasted on the international stage, there is still a feeling of underachievement, especially with the latest setback of failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Having appointed a new manager in Jose Peseiro, one question has been in the mind of most Nigerians. What will Jose Peseiro bring to the National Team?

While there are numerous answers to this million-dollar question, I think the new manager needs to take Nigeria back to her footballing roots.

Despite being overlooked, footballing roots are very important in football. Some clubs and national teams have an identity.

Barcelona and Arsenal are synonymous with playing beautiful possession-based football. Spain, Germany, Brazil and many more are national teams that have also built their reputation around possession football.

Decades ago, Nigeria's footballing identity was based on effective wing-play. The flanks were Nigeria's most dangerous weapon for getting the ball into opposition danger areas.

Clinical strikers like Rashidi Yekini were on hand to finish off any goalscoring opportunities that arise from the Super Eagles' dangerous attacks.

Nigeria had some of the best flankers back then. The likes of Finidi George, Segun Odegbami, Tijani Babangida, Celestine Babayaro, Victor Ikpeba and many more burned opposition full-backs very often.

While the nation has some excellent wingers like Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon among others, the style of play needs to be refocused to the devastating wing-play Nigeria was previously known for.

Although there is an argument that modern football is based around total possession, the time national team players and coaches spend together is short (due to club duties) and focus should be put on what really ticks for the country.

As such, Nigeria has to go back to her football identity and I think the new manager should focus on that.

Sofolowu Mayowa

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