Five Lessons Learned From Dream Team 2 - 1 Win Over Congo

The Dream Team VI took on their Congolese counterparts at the Adokiye Amaisimeka Stadium Port Harcourt on Sunday, a match which saw the technical battle between our own Samson Siasia, and the French Coach Claude le Rey.

The game ended 2-1 in favour of Samson Siasia’s ward courtesy of a brace from Junior Ajayi but the Congolese pulled a
goal back in a pulsating encounter.

On this note, we evaluate the lessons learnt from Dream VI Olympic qualifiers ahead of the return leg in Congo.

PASSIONATE FANS IN MASSIVE TURNOUT

The Nigerian National team at all level have been faltering of recent and the fact that Nigerian Fans still came out in their numbers to support the team was commendable.

Recently the Flying Eagles was bundled out of the Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand by Germany with an uninspiring
display even with the talent in the team.

On the eve of that ouster in New Zealand the Super Falcons failed to get past the group stages even after a brilliant come back to tie 3-3 with Sweden.

Even with the talent of Okobi Ngozi, Desire Oparanozie and reigning BBC Women Player of the year Asisat Oshoala the Falcons bowed out of the World Cup leaving Nigerian fans with much to ponder.

The Super Eagles have faced dwindling fortunes with defeat at home to Uganda and a draw with Bafana Bafana of South Africa and an unassured victory over Chad leaving little to hope for.

In spite of all these fans trooped in to watch and cheer the Dream Team. It shows that Nigerians still love the team.

There is every reason for our various national teams to repay these passionate Nigerian fans with good result.

A QUALITY BENCH

The Olympic Qualifier between our Dream Team and Congo Brazzaville is not within FIFA window/calendar for international games and so the Dream Team could not make do of the services of players abroad like Simon Moses (Gent), Kelechi Iheanacho(Man-City), Musa Mohammed (Istanbul Basaksehir FK), Dele Alampasu(Estoril), Alex Iwobi (pending FIFA clearance)  to name but a few but the fact that the Dream Team has Taiwo Awoniyi, Musa Yahaya and Aminu Umar on the bench signals the depth of Samson Siasia Dream Team.

Those players are quality players and seeing them on the bench shows the depth of the team even in the absence of the above players.

Such a bench and even better will be needed in Rio during Olympic Games proper. Samson Siasia deserves the
credit for that.

DEFENSIVE MIX-UP.

There is no doubt that the Dream Team is a good side but they will need to do more work on their defense line.

On some occasion the defense line of the Dream Team was caught napping and this led to shaky moment at the back.

The back line lacked composure at some point in the game providing the Congolese with some space to attack.

The positioning of the defenders was not the best as a mix-up and indecision at the back led to the team conceding a vital away goal which brought their opponents back into the game.

The Dream Team lost possession in vital areas and will really need to improve on that when the return leg away comes around.

We hope to see a better defensive performance from the Dream Team if they are to progress to the next stages of the Olympic Qualifiers.

WASTEFUL/NOT CLINICAL ENOUGH

The Dream Team might have beaten Congo in the Olympic qualifiers by 2-1 but the game also look more to be deserved
from the Samson Siasia boys.

The slim victory was as a result of poor finishing in the final third. Although Junior Ajayi, scored a brace in the encounter but was one of the major culprits after he squandered several scoring chances especially in the first half.

The Dream Team failed to break the dead lock in the first period owing to the way ward finishing even when a replica of Uche Nwofor’s back heel would have been enough to do so but the player presented with the scoring chance wanted to turn towards goal and thereby narrowing the angle between him and the onrushing goalkeeper with Coach Siasia’s dismay.

Stanley Amuzie’s low cross from the left rolled across the face of goal with no green shirt near to apply the finishing touch.

The onus is left for the Dream Team to finish it off in Congo in the return leg.

DREAM TEAM HAS RAW TALENT BUT NOT FINISHED PRODUCT

The Dream Team showed quality in the Olympic qualifying game on Sunday, it was evident as they dominated possession in midfield, but they lacked the killer punch in the final third.

Players like Etor Daniel and Godwin Saviour displayed skills much to the delight of the Nigerian fans who applauded every good move by the Dream Team.

One of these moves saw Godwin Saviour’s cross been finished off by Junior Ajayi from a rebound. For the second goal a through ball found impressive Etor Daniel who crossed for Ajayi to nod into an empty net to complete his brace.

Nevertheless the Dream Team lacked calmness at some point with the defenders the major culprit as they ballooned the
ball occasionally as the game wore on .

Etebo Oghenekaro took a wrong decision to volley home with his weaker left foot which went high as Musa Yahaya was calling for the ball at the right side of the box to no avail.

The players of our U-23 team need to add more finesse to their game if they are to go places in their career.