It is no more news that the Super Eagles of Nigeria are yet to find a permanent replacement for Vincent Enyeanma between sticks but in recent games, what is more baffling is the lack of clean sheets in four games.
Between September and November, the national team have played games two friendlies and two AFCON qualifiers; Conceding in those friendlies could be excused considering the calibre of the opponents but the goals could have been avoided, against Ukraine in September, the Eagles shipped in two late goals in a tie they had total control over; though the second was controversial but both goals came in less than 5 minutes.
October in Singapore against the Samba boys of Brazil, an equaliser was conceded few minutes into the second half of the game after another blistering first half performance.
Heading into the AFCON qualifiers, two early goals against Benin Republic and Lesotho in the 3rd and 13th minutes respectively and a give away by Chidozie Awaziem at Lesotho makes a total of 6 goals conceded in 4 games.
Although, Gernot Rohr has had changes at the heart of defence severally with the usual ‘oyinbo’ wall of Leon Balogun and Willaim Troost Ekong changed at the 2019 AFCON to an Ekong-Omeruo partnership which gave us bronze at the mundial, fast forward, we have seen the introduction of Oluwasemilogo Ajayi to pair with Ekong in our recent games.
The full backs as well have been rotated among Shehu Abdullahi, Tyronne Ebuhehi, Ola Aina, Bryan Idowu, Jamilu Collins and Chidozie Awaziem with Shehu and Tyronne dropping down the ladder due to injury problems. We saw the trio of Ola Aina, Chidozie and Jamilu at the qualifiers but with the quality of the players, what could be wrong at the back.
Judging from both qualifiers, a jittery start to the games cost us those early goals, in Uyo, the ball was played at the back for 10 minutes before the team began to attack, a miscontrol from Ola Aina gave away the throw before Jamilu Collins was bulldozed for Benin’s goal, at Museru, it was Semi-Ekong that allowed an header in the box from a well floated cross.
Despite going down early in those games, the response and character shown have been quality, Rohr’s team took charge of both games and emerged with three points, but it is clear that playing from the back as we have seen in modern day football does not go well with the Eagles especially at the beginning of their games.
We have seen the national age grade teams perform woefully defensively in their respective tournaments and the Super Eagles should be weary of the dangers poor defending can bring
