Enugu, March 2023, Some football enthusiasts in Enugu State on Monday expressed mixed feelings over the Super Eagles defeat of the Guinea Bissau 1-0 at the reverse fixture of the ongoing African Cup of Nations Qualifying.
Naija247news reports that the Eagles defeated Guinea Bissau 1-0 at the second leg of the qualifier at home after losing the first leg in Abuja with the same margin.
The win pushed the Eagles to the summit of the group A with Nine points and brightened their chances of reaching the AFCON tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.
Norbert Okolie, Rangers FC media officer and former Chairman Sports Writer’s Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Enugu, said the win did not come to him as a surprise.
“Like I said last time, the Eagles lost with the same margin in Abuja, I know the team will fly with good preparation.
“To a large extent, it has strengthened the chances of the team in qualifying to the AFCON tournament.
“My advice to the coaches, players and NFF, we have to take into cognisance that there are no more small teams in the football World.
“They have to be up and doing every time, invite players at the right time and in good condition for the players to deliver,” he said.
Ignatius Okpara, former SWAN Secretary in Enugu, however, said the present Super Eagles as constituted, was not a team that could deliver the needed result for the country.
According to him, that the team defeated Guinea Bissau 1-0 is not something we should be celebrating, because it was a narrow escape.
“From the performance of the boys, it’s obvious that they will not go far in the continental soccer competition when the time comes.
“None of the departments are fantastic, the strikers do not have enough needed bite to kiss their opponent net and they are over relying on Victor Oshimen.
“Nigeria should intensify effort in engaging a sound Technical Adviser because this present coach, José Peseiro, has nothing to offer.
“There are many sound coaches out there and Nigeria needed a good coach that can scout for good players from our Nigeria Premier Fooabll League (NPFL) to give the team much bite,” he said.
Blaise Ude, Enugu Boxing coach, said that Nigerians loved football and that the team needed to do well all the time to justify the government preferential treatment to the game.
“As for me, the current Super Eagles are not up and doing in terms of results and play and that is why I refused to watch them since the begining of the qualifying,” Ude said.
NAN reports that Moses Simon scored from penalty spots to give the Super Eagles victory at Estadio 24 De Setembro, Bissau.
