The five lessons Nigeria must learn from African teams in 2022 World Cup

The Super Eagles are not part of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar to the disappointment of many who have seen the five African teams represent the continent creditably very well.

The following are the takeaways from the appearances and performances of the teams in Qatar that Nigeria must learn from.

1. Interference By NFF In Super Eagles Affairs

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is notoriously known to be ever present in the Super Eagles' (and other national team) camps or abodes during major tournaments.

This is seriously affecting the concentration of Nigerian teams at major tournaments and is arguably one of the reasons why players are left distracted by off field matters.

This is evident in the interference of Samuel Eto'o in the face off between Cameroon head coach Rigobert Song and first choice goalkeeper Andre Onana. 

The Inter Milan keeper is a world class custodian and one whose moments of brilliance might have kept the Indomitable Lions in the tournament. 

Cameroon managed to defeat tournament favourites Brazil 1-0 to became the first African team to do so but Onana's presence might have been able to get them a slim victory over Serbia in the 3-3 draw and conceivably a place in the knockout stages. 

2. No Nigerian Referees At The World Cup 

It is an embarrassing situation to see that when African referees are picked for major tournaments by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) that Nigerian referees or their assistants are not named. 

There seems to be an unwritten rule that suggests that African referees cannot officiate the biggest games at the World Cup albeit that was not case in 1998 World Cup final. 

Nigerian referees are considered as being too materialistic. It is time that Nigerian referees shunned receiving gratification to officiate matches as that seems to be the bane of such mistrust. 

In defense of the Nigerian referees however, there is not ample security put in place at stadiums to protect them from the attacks of hoodlums. 

That has led to the poor outcome of matches in the domestic leagues and by extension on the continent. 

This is a clarion call on the Sports Ministry and the NFF body to ensure that this sad development is arrested. 

3. The Call For Home-based Coaches 

The five African representatives at the World Cup all have (had) indigenous coaches in charge of the teams to the World Cup. 

This is not a total endorsement of the home-based coaches as most of them have either not lived up to expectation in the past or have failed woefully in qualifying campaigns of main tournaments.

It is instructive to note that there must be a conscious effort to improve the capabilities and capacities of Nigerian coaches.

There was a time that the idea of Nigerian coaches doing attachments under top class coaches in Europe was mooted.

If such steps can be taken seriously, it would go a long way in improving the quality of coaches the country entrust with World Cup bound teams.

4. New Generation Of Players

The Belgian and German national teams are ranked highly in the FIFA world rankings but their golden generation left Qatar empty-handed.

It shows that the Super Eagles must have a hybrid of experience and youth before the next World Cup qualification campaign.

Attention however must not be wholly focused on young and inexperienced players.

5. Development of The League

The current Nigeria Professional Football League is not as great as we had it in the last decades so the quality of players from the local league cannot be equated with the likes of the Tunisian, Egyptian leagues.

There has been debate over the invitation of players from the local league and Nigerians in Diaspora who have not played for the country. 

It will be foolhardy to believe that the Afcon 2013 feat where a number of home-based players made the squad handled by late Stephen Keshi is a criteria for the invitation of players from the home front. 

The quality is not the same again, there's dearth of talents and only about or three (defensive-minded) players from the NPFL are good enough to make a 26-man Super Eagles squad for a major tournament like the World Cup. 

Izuchukwu Michael
 

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