Not for the first time at this tournament, Nigeria’s 2-0 loss to France in the Round of 16 at the World Cup 2014 revealed the outcome of disgusting football; by the term ‘disgust’ I mean ‘small team mentality.’
Before the kick-off of the World Cup it was thought the Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi would play his preferred counter-attacking football to perfection, but over the course of time, situations have forced them to play possession based free-flowing football.
Nigeria’s opening game against Iran entirely changed Keshi’s game plan as Carlos Queiroz’s side copy pasted the Super Eagles philosophy, added with more perfection. Team Melli sat very deep at the back, allowing the Nigerians to play possession based football. Keshi hadn’t expected the defensive display by Iran and the Nigerian attack which was very well dependent on the pace of Victor Moses struggled to make the break through in the goalless draw.
Peter Odemwingie was brought in place of Victor Moses in the starting line-up against Bosnia and Herzegovina and with free-flowing attacking football, Nigeria clinched a narrow 1-0 victory against the World Cup debutants in a hard fought encounter.
Against Argentina, in the last group game, Nigeria came from behind twice to level through Ahmed Musa. But as the game progressed, the small team mentality coupled with the result of the Bosnia-Iran game, pulled them back with such a suction force, enforcing them to walk away from the pitch with yet another lose.
Monday’s Round of 16 game against France was no different. Nigeria stayed compact brilliantly until the moment Paul Pogba put the ball past Vincent Enyeama in the 79th minute. When the pace was expected to rise from the Nigerian side in the remaining part of the match, the Super Eagles stood on the other way thinking the game had been lost.
Nigeria had played good free flowing football in the second half, not providing time for the French to gain possession. A horrid tackle by Blaise Matuidi on Ogenyi Onazi mid-way through the second half paved the way for Reuben Gabriel to take Lazio’s midfielder role. Onazi is a positive player, who is always reliable to win the ball and the injury put Nigeria on the back seat.
After the first goal was conceded, it seemed that the Nigerians were playing for the sake of playing compared to French’s game of pride. The tempo, pace, momentum had reduced among all the players in green shirts as the other side were on the rise.
When five minutes of extra time was signalled, it should have brought extra energy within the Nigerian players. But it was not to be so as an awkward clearance by Nigerian defence paved the way for French corner, in which Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena combined well to earn the French’s second goal.
Despite being possessed with valuable talents, the ‘small team mentality’ has ruptured Nigeria, obstructing the Super Eagles from achieving elite status at the World Cup and has since seen Keshi step down from his role.
