Sports
Amodu Needs Keshi, Siasia For Comfort –Amiesimaka
Former Green Eagles winger, Adokiye Amiesimaka says for Super Eagles coach, Shuaibu Amodu to get credit from Nigerians, he will need the assistance of Stephen Keshi and Samson Siasia to help him drop his conservative style.
Amodu’s team have come under fierce criticism for playing stifling football and Amiesimaka, who won the 1980 African Nations Cup, says he will need help from two of his former charges.
“Even though credit should go to Amodu for winning us the coveted ticket, South Africa 2010 is not an opportunity for Amodu alone, but also for other promising Nigerian coaches as well,” Amiesimaka said.
“And Amodu can benefit from the likes of Keshi and Siasia.”
Amiesimaka pointed out that Amodu’s problems with Nigerians stem from his conservative tactics
“Nigerians want free-flowing, attacking football. Like eagles, we want to be seen as predators, flying purposefully on our powerful wings and descending relentlessly on our prey.
“Conservative, defensive tactics, anchored on extreme caution do not hold any attraction for us. And we do not want to be told that there may be a constraint in the calibre of players available to the coach.
“A coach that believes in being safe rather than sorry may not be popular with Nigerian fans. That is part of Amodu’s problem with Nigerian fans.
“The way many fans feel is, if this perception of Amodu does not change, even if he wins the World Cup, they will still not give him due credit.”
Amiesimaka went on to suggest that Keshi and Siasia could help Amodu solve the problem, “If Amodu is not to become a ‘coach Cassandra, winning but not appreciated, methinks he will need the support of Keshi and Siasia, but as assistants only. They can bring their different perspectives to the table, but Amodu as the manager has the final say.
“These two coaches are exponents of the kind of football that Nigerians cherish and they will take no nonsense from any player.”
Sports
Iwobi Optimistic On S’Eagles Qualification
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
Sports
ATLANTICBELL CEO ADVICE SPORTS WRITERS ON SPECIALIZATION
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
Sports
DEPUTY PRESIDENT EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SPORTS DEV, SWAN
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.
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