The situation of Nigeria's Super Eagles is glaring, or perhaps not so much. The three-time African champions are currently without a head coach following the resignation of Coach Finidi George.

With the Current Squad, Super Eagles Can Easily Reach the World Cup Semis – Ola Aina

The situation of Nigeria’s Super Eagles is glaring, or perhaps not so much. The three-time African champions are currently without a head coach following the resignation of Coach Finidi George.

With World Cup qualifiers looming and hopes of qualification in jeopardy; having secured no wins from four matches, the path ahead seems fraught with challenges.

Only the winner of each group is guaranteed automatic qualification, and as things stand, the Super Eagles sit 5th on the table with just three points. With six matches left, the odds seem daunting.

Finidi George, Super Eagles

Nigeria’s head coach Finidi George. (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)

Is it too early to give up on the team? Perhaps not, though some believe the bus has already left the station.

Even winning all six remaining matches might not secure them a spot in the World Cup, potentially leaving them to vie for a place through the playoffs.

In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Super Eagles defender Ola Aina shared his thoughts on the current squad.

Though he missed the two qualifying matches under former coach Finidi George due to an injury sustained during the AFCON, Aina remains optimistic.

“I can’t lie to you, I think we will get there. It’s calm,” the former Chelsea man said.

“Is it a bit of a stretch? I don’t know. This is just me. You know how Ghana made it to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2010? With this squad we’ve got, we can touch the semis. I think our team is so talented that we can actually do something, and the AFCON was just a little glimpse.”

Ola Aina

Ola Aina and Simon Adingra during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations final match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast at Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Echoing Aina’s beliefs, Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi acknowledged the difficulty of their situation but maintained that there’s still hope.

“We still have a chance, I’m not going to lie. We’ve honestly made it hard for ourselves.”

How Realistic is Nigeria Making it to the World Cup Semis?

What Ola Aina said about the quality of the squad isn’t far from the truth. Properly managed, with the talent at hand, the national team could flourish and reach new heights.

That’s why it’s so disappointing for many to see how this team is currently faring.

A team featuring the African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, a team with the likes of Ademola Lookman, and a team blessed with strikers in an era where traditional strikers are becoming a rarity, this is a team brimming with talent, some of which hasn’t even been fully discovered or tapped into.

Super Eagles

Ademola Lookman (L) celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations last 16 round match between Cameroon and Nigeria at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium. (Photo by Haykel Hmima/Anadolu via Getty Images)

So, if the players can recognize their own qualities and worth, what then is the problem?

Is it administrative issues? Managerial decisions? The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) appoints the managers, so if the appointed person isn’t delivering, it still falls under administration.

The Super Eagles are set to take on Benin and Rwanda early next month, yet the team is still without a coach.

A major issue lies in the lack of preparation, poor training, and questionable decision-making.

Why hasn’t the NFF appointed a coach, even though the position has been vacant since June? This mirrors the path taken before the last World Cup qualifiers, which led to disaster.

Is the NFF treading down that same path again?

Nigeria’s head coach Augustine Eguavoen (L) during the Africa Cup of Nations. (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)

The players have at times been accused of not giving their all, but this might be a minor issue compared to the need for a capable coach who knows his onions, commands respect, and is respected by the players.

Such a coach, if given the freedom to choose his squad without outside influence, could ensure every player stays on their toes, knowing there’s someone ready to replace them if they don’t bring their A-game.

Will the Super Eagles Even Qualify?

The World Cup qualifiers won’t resume until March next year, which should give the NFF ample time for proper preparation and cleanup, allowing the team to find its direction.

Under a new coach, there will be time for the team to gel and adapt to the coach’s style of play, as they would have played six matches under him.

The Super Eagles have a legacy to protect and a future to build. Whether they can rise to the occasion will depend on how well they address the current issues and leverage the immense talent within the team.

The world is watching, and so are the millions of fans who believe in the green and white but only time will tell if this belief will be rewarded.

If you use the quotes from this content, you legally agree to give www.brila.net the News credit as the source and a backlink to our story. Copyright 2024 Brila Media.

With the Current Squad, Super Eagles Can Easily Reach the World Cup Semis – Ola Aina

The situation of Nigeria’s Super Eagles is glaring, or perhaps not so much. The three-time African champions are currently without a head coach following the resignation of Coach Finidi George.

With World Cup qualifiers looming and hopes of qualification in jeopardy; having secured no wins from four matches, the path ahead seems fraught with challenges.

Only the winner of each group is guaranteed automatic qualification, and as things stand, the Super Eagles sit 5th on the table with just three points. With six matches left, the odds seem daunting.

Finidi George, Super Eagles

Nigeria’s head coach Finidi George. (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)

Is it too early to give up on the team? Perhaps not, though some believe the bus has already left the station.

Even winning all six remaining matches might not secure them a spot in the World Cup, potentially leaving them to vie for a place through the playoffs.

In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Super Eagles defender Ola Aina shared his thoughts on the current squad.

Though he missed the two qualifying matches under former coach Finidi George due to an injury sustained during the AFCON, Aina remains optimistic.

“I can’t lie to you, I think we will get there. It’s calm,” the former Chelsea man said.

“Is it a bit of a stretch? I don’t know. This is just me. You know how Ghana made it to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2010? With this squad we’ve got, we can touch the semis. I think our team is so talented that we can actually do something, and the AFCON was just a little glimpse.”

Ola Aina

Ola Aina and Simon Adingra during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations final match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast at Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Echoing Aina’s beliefs, Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi acknowledged the difficulty of their situation but maintained that there’s still hope.

“We still have a chance, I’m not going to lie. We’ve honestly made it hard for ourselves.”

How Realistic is Nigeria Making it to the World Cup Semis?

What Ola Aina said about the quality of the squad isn’t far from the truth. Properly managed, with the talent at hand, the national team could flourish and reach new heights.

That’s why it’s so disappointing for many to see how this team is currently faring.

A team featuring the African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, a team with the likes of Ademola Lookman, and a team blessed with strikers in an era where traditional strikers are becoming a rarity, this is a team brimming with talent, some of which hasn’t even been fully discovered or tapped into.

Super Eagles

Ademola Lookman (L) celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations last 16 round match between Cameroon and Nigeria at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium. (Photo by Haykel Hmima/Anadolu via Getty Images)

So, if the players can recognize their own qualities and worth, what then is the problem?

Is it administrative issues? Managerial decisions? The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) appoints the managers, so if the appointed person isn’t delivering, it still falls under administration.

The Super Eagles are set to take on Benin and Rwanda early next month, yet the team is still without a coach.

A major issue lies in the lack of preparation, poor training, and questionable decision-making.

Why hasn’t the NFF appointed a coach, even though the position has been vacant since June? This mirrors the path taken before the last World Cup qualifiers, which led to disaster.

Is the NFF treading down that same path again?

Nigeria’s head coach Augustine Eguavoen (L) during the Africa Cup of Nations. (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)

The players have at times been accused of not giving their all, but this might be a minor issue compared to the need for a capable coach who knows his onions, commands respect, and is respected by the players.

Such a coach, if given the freedom to choose his squad without outside influence, could ensure every player stays on their toes, knowing there’s someone ready to replace them if they don’t bring their A-game.

Will the Super Eagles Even Qualify?

The World Cup qualifiers won’t resume until March next year, which should give the NFF ample time for proper preparation and cleanup, allowing the team to find its direction.

Under a new coach, there will be time for the team to gel and adapt to the coach’s style of play, as they would have played six matches under him.

The Super Eagles have a legacy to protect and a future to build. Whether they can rise to the occasion will depend on how well they address the current issues and leverage the immense talent within the team.

The world is watching, and so are the millions of fans who believe in the green and white but only time will tell if this belief will be rewarded.

If you use the quotes from this content, you legally agree to give www.brila.net the News credit as the source and a backlink to our story. Copyright 2024 Brila Media.