TheCitizen - It's all about you
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
TheCitizen - It's all about you
No Result
View All Result

Russia 2018: Lessons from Super Eagles’ ouster – The Sun

The Editor by The Editor
June 29 2018
in Public Affairs
A A
0
Russia 2018: Lessons from Super Eagles’ ouster – The Sun
22
SHARES
734
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

For a football-loving country like Nigeria, exiting the on-going FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia at the group stage, has left fans with mixed emotions, most of them negative. The disappointment was palpable and could be felt all over the country as the Eagles had come within a few minutes to qualifying for the round of 16; an achievement the nation had attained on three previous occasions and was hoping to surpass this time.

The match eventually ended 2-1 in favour of Argentina and put paid to any hope of further progress in the global football event.

It was a big blow to the psyche of Nigerians and indeed millions of other soccer fans on the continent as Nigeria, perhaps more than the other four African participants at the Mundial, carried the best hope of a good showing. This was not to be, with the exit of Nigeria on June 26.

But all hope is not lost, as some commentators have pointed to the technical quality of the young team and the imperative of keeping them together for the future. They also argued that the coach of the team, Gernot Rohr, should be retained for continuity and consolidation of what he has built so far. Under Rohr, it was the teams’ first real global tournament experience and many lessons were learnt from Russia 2018, which would be appropriated for the future good of the team and the nation.

A decipherable pattern in all the team’s group stage matches at Russia 2018 was that they started slowly in the first half. It was in the second half of the games that they turned up so good a performance. In the last group match against Argentina, it even got worse as the team retreated after scoring the equalizer. It was an unusual tactical approach by the national team which is known for its robust and early start to games.

This approach had helped our team, which tend to collapse before the end of the 90 minutes duration for football matches. This is attributed to momentary loss of concentration and lack of stamina

and discipline in our team. This is also evident in the performance of our team at this football fiesta and should be worked on rigorously if we ever hope to win the World Cup.

We should jettison the habit of unfairly criticizing and demonizing our teams when they do not meet our expectations or lose at football and other sporting tournaments. The habit of throwing away the baby with the bath water can never be the solution. The Nigerian team was the youngest at the competition and the majority of the players can build a strong team for the future. For continuity, team chemistry and bonding are essential characteristics of great teams.

There is need to fortify the areas of weaknesses in the team. This includes the defence, midfield and attacking positions. Some of our players are old and have lost form. The team should be reinvigorated with young and talented players from the local league whenever they are discovered. It is a fact that most successful soccer countries build their teams from the local league and spice them with a few from abroad.

We need to imbibe the lessons that have served other past winners well and find ways of reflecting them in our football. Football is like the modern warfare, every country goes into it with its best.

The next World Cup scheduled for Qatar in 2022, is only four years away. Its preparations should start with the next edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). All efforts must be deployed to ensure that we qualify for the continental soccer fiesta.

Share9Tweet6
Previous Post

Gain Executive Director bags 2018 World Food Prize

Next Post

Death by electrocution – Thisday

Related Posts

Beyond words: Nigeria needs a new plan against terror – Guardian
Public Affairs

Beyond words: Nigeria needs a new plan against terror – Guardian

October 23 2025
Kwara govt plans mass burial for unclaimed corpses
Public Affairs

Curbing the expansion of terrorism into Kwara – Punch

October 23 2025
Invest in vocational, technical education – Punch
Public Affairs

Invest in vocational, technical education – Punch

October 20 2025
End female genital mutilation – Punch
Public Affairs

End female genital mutilation – Punch

October 17 2025
Nnaji: Nigeria’s dodgy vetting processes – Punch
Public Affairs

Nnaji: Nigeria’s dodgy vetting processes – Punch

October 16 2025
Vacations and governance: Why President Tinubu’s trip matters -Guardian
Public Affairs

Tinubu, honour promise to ASUU – Punch

October 15 2025
Next Post
Death by electrocution – Thisday

Death by electrocution - Thisday

Presidency kicks as Nigerians taunt Buhari with alleged 2015 statements

Herders’ terrorism: Buhari’s failing presidency - Punch

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Oil production: Kogi State demands 13% derivation fund

Kogi fixes October 17, 2026 for LG poll

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

...

ALGON orders Edo council officials to wear Tinubu’s signature caps

ALGON orders Edo council officials to wear Tinubu’s signature caps

by The Editor
October 18 2025
0

...

Olubadan unveils legal committee to tackle land grabbing

Olubadan unveils legal committee to tackle land grabbing

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

Birnin Gwari needs urgent federal intervention – Emir tells Tinubu

Birnin Gwari needs urgent federal intervention – Emir tells Tinubu

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

...

APPOINTMENTS

Tinubu seeks Omidiran, 28 others’ confirmation as FCC members

Tinubu seeks Omidiran, 28 others’ confirmation as FCC members

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

Okpebholo swears in 19 commissioners, warns against corruption

Okpebholo swears in 19 commissioners, warns against corruption

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

Fubara drops Danagogo, appoints Anabraba as Rivers SSG

Fubara drops Danagogo, appoints Anabraba as Rivers SSG

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

...

Savannah Energy signs agreement with Chadian govt for new renewable energy projects

Savannah Energy announces board changes, appoints two Nigerians as Independent Non-Executive Directors

by The Editor
October 9 2025
0

...

ODDITIES

Kano Court orders Hisbah to marry off TikTokers over ‘indecent’ videos

Kano Court orders Hisbah to marry off TikTokers over ‘indecent’ videos

by The Editor
October 20 2025
0

Teenager plucks sister’s eyes for ritual in Bauchi

Teenager plucks sister’s eyes for ritual in Bauchi

by The Editor
October 20 2025
0

Lagos to probe school over alleged sodomy

Father impregnates 15-year-old daughter in Ondo

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

GLOBAL NEWS

US govt justifies sending migrants to South Sudan

Trump heads to Asia, eyes major trade, peace deals

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

...

Madagascar coup leader appoints businessman as new prime minister

Madagascar coup leader appoints businessman as new prime minister

by The Editor
October 20 2025
0

...

Madagascar’s military leader swears in as president

Madagascar’s military leader swears in as president

by The Editor
October 18 2025
0

...

Trump, Putin to meet in Budapest over Ukraine war

Trump, Putin to meet in Budapest over Ukraine war

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

...

2026 Hajj: Saudi govt approves 66,910 slots for Nigeria

2026 Hajj: Saudi govt approves 66,910 slots for Nigeria

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

...

State of the States

Cross River APC endorses Otu, deputy for 2027 election

Cross River govt shuts 36 illegal schools

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

...

Aiyedatiwa clears Ondo two-year gratuity backlog

Aiyedatiwa clears Ondo two-year gratuity backlog

by The Editor
October 20 2025
0

...

21.8% North-East residents HIV positive – NBS …as 16,000 die from HIV complications in Borno

Adamawa records 8,850 new HIV infections in four years

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

...

Zamfara APC condemns state govt’s mass sacking of civil servants

Zamfara APC condemns state govt’s mass sacking of civil servants

by The Editor
October 14 2025
0

...

Plugin Install : Widget Tab Post needs JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Cycling Kano 2025: Organisers open online registration for athletes

Cycling Kano 2025: Organisers open online registration for athletes

October 23 2025
Gov. Bago directs Niger state residents to defend selves against terror attacks

Gov. Bago directs Niger state residents to defend selves against terror attacks

October 23 2025
174 Nigerians arrive from Libya

FG receives 147 stranded Nigerians from Libya

October 23 2025
Beyond words: Nigeria needs a new plan against terror – Guardian

Beyond words: Nigeria needs a new plan against terror – Guardian

October 23 2025

EDITORIAL REVIEW

Beyond words: Nigeria needs a new plan against terror – Guardian

Beyond words: Nigeria needs a new plan against terror – Guardian

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

Kwara govt plans mass burial for unclaimed corpses

Curbing the expansion of terrorism into Kwara – Punch

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

Invest in vocational, technical education – Punch

Invest in vocational, technical education – Punch

by The Editor
October 20 2025
0

End female genital mutilation – Punch

End female genital mutilation – Punch

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

Nnaji: Nigeria’s dodgy vetting processes – Punch

Nnaji: Nigeria’s dodgy vetting processes – Punch

by The Editor
October 16 2025
0

Opinion

Dear Senator Tinubu, Buhari has thrashed us all!

If a coup happens in Nigeria, who will fight for democracy?

by The Editor
October 23 2025
0

...

Tinubu finds his own demons

Next time, Umahi should go to NTA

by The Editor
October 16 2025
0

...

Objections over presidential pardon for grave offenders

Objections over presidential pardon for grave offenders

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

...

1975 public service purge: What have we learnt?

1975 public service purge: What have we learnt?

by The Editor
September 30 2025
0

...

Plugin Install : Popular Post Widget need JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2024 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2024 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.