While Nigeria’s age grade teams continue to receive favourable ratings for their performances in international matches and tournaments, the same cannot be said of the Senior National Team, The Super Eagles.
From a super rating of “being among the fifth best entertaining team” in USA ‘94’, the Super Eagles has seriously fallen down the ladder in the FIFA monthly ranking to the extent that the team is no longer among the top ten in Africa! Quite regrettable and unfortunate one might say, but the continuous downward slide of our Senior National Team which has led us into playing ‘ungraded’ National Teams, thus killing the brand the Eagles were known for can be attributed to several factors, which the relevant authorities aren’t doing anything to correct.
The questions that many soccer loving Nigerians do not ask are, ‘when last did a Super Eagles’ player made the best three players’ list in Africa? Or when last did any Super Eagle made record transfer in Europe?
Whether we like it or not, the poor rating of players who get invite to Super Eagles camp or even wear our National Team Jersey is negatively affecting the National team brand. Our players either ply their trade in second rate European, North American or South American clubs or struggle as bench warmers in grade ‘A’ clubs in Europe.
The apparent lack of cohesion, unimpressive display and near goal draught when the Super Eagles play lowly rated opponents are also negatively affecting the ‘Eagles brand.
The poor string of results and obvious lack of leadership, whether on the pitch, on the bench or in the FA need to be urgently addressed if the continuous show of shame in the Super Eagles must stop.
In the time past, Eagles Captains such as Peter Rufai, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, Sunday Oliseh, Austin Okocha, Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama were personal brands with huge personalities, but it remains to be seen if the current Captain, Ahmed Musa can attract such International rating, not to talk of the seeming inconsistency in FA in terms of administration.
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