Chris Maduewesi
Member
It was a game many expected Nigeria to convincingly roll over and record an outstanding three points,but it was not to be as a heart-shattering draw settled the contest.
To some the campaign is over,because they can argue "what is the point hoping if you can't beat Iran,with tougher fixtures against Bosnia and Argentina yet to come."
Maybe nervousness played a huge role in Nigeria ending the match 0-0,but so far in the competition this is the only game that failed to record a goal,which gives fans genuine reasons to be worried.
So we tried to examine some things that we picked out from the dour game against the Iranians on Monday.
*Victor Moses has lost form:
Now it is becoming clearer that not getting adequate playing time in the cause of the season has really deteriorated Victor Moses.
He looked a shadow of the player we saw at the 2013 African Nations Cup,failing to make those incisive runs and seems to have a final ball judgement.
Moses also lacked sharpness and offered little in attack,unlike the deadly winger that we know he is .
It was of little surprise that coach Stephen Keshi hurled off the ineffective Moses just few minutes into the second half.
Keshi must now make a decision whether drop him in the crunch game against Bosnia or keep faith with him.
Osaze Odemwingie should start the next match:
It was glaring that the introduction of Osaze changed the complexion of Nigeria's game in Curitiba.
He brought pace and the urgency needed when in search of goal,probing and making runs to find an opening.
He did more than the entire attackers and his liveliness brought hope of a goal.
Maybe Keshi will have to rejig his squad against Bosnia,because that is a game that will define Nigeria's stay at the competition.
Emenike was short of ideas:
Very little was seen of Emmanuel Emenike who rarely troubled the Iranian defence through out the entire duration of the match.
He had limited support up front and wasn't getting the desired ball in the areas he would've wanted.
When support did come for Emenike with the introduction of Shola Ameobi,the Fenerbahce player was shunted to the right and that was almost the last seen of him.
Coming into the tournament carrying Nigeria's goalscoring hopes,Emenike didn't really show a glimpse of one who knew where the net was.
Mikel should play closer to attack:
He is the creative hub of the Super Eagles,surprisingly he was not pulling the strings as was expected in the game against Iran.
Mikel played more deeper in midfield,forming a double pivot with Ogenyi Onazi which in turn limited his influence in the game.
Keshi should carve out a formation that will see Mikel play more offensively in midfield,because not until Osaze entered the game did some creativity start to emerge.
Push Mikel further in center midfield to play closer to attack and we might see his best.
Keshi needs assistants who can read games:
It was quite evident from the way the game panned out that Nigeria was bereft of ideas coming from the bench.
The changes made didn't bring the desired changes needed to break down a resolute Iran team.
Nigeria pressed and pressed,but their play seemed almost one-dimensional and predictable.
A good technical impact from the bench would have seen Nigeria carve Iran open because it was not as if the Asian team was ultra defensive,but it wore on and Nigeria had to settle for a draw.
Maybe the earlier proposed foreign technical adviser by the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) to help Keshi would have made more sense now.
Photo Credit: @NGSuperEagles