After all the drama that followed the Super Eagles’ elimination from the second round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Stephen Keshi looks set to continue as Nigeria boss.
For many, the Big Boss remains the best choice for the job as a result of his impressive first stint with the team. There is a sense that the former defender has unfinished business with a crop of players that he has cultivated and developed.
In truth, such an opinion is not by any means misplaced, as the former Togo national team coach had succeeded in transforming the fortunes of a team once considered by their own supporters as being unworthy to bear the ‘Super Eagles’ nickname. Taunts of ‘Super Chickens’ have become much rarer under Keshi.
Who, among Nigeria fans could easily forget that memorable evening when a little-known Sunday Mba poked the ball home to hand his compatriots the continental trophy and give Nigeria her first major trophy in over 19 years?
Similarly, at this year’s World Cup in Brazil, Keshi equalled Dutchman Clemens Westerhof’s Last-16 feat, repeating the team’s greatest-ever showing in 1994 and 1998. This achievement placed Keshi side-by-side with a man considered by many as the national team’s best coach to date.
Keshi might have earned himself a place in the hearts of many Nigerian football fans, but this does not by any means indicate that his success with the team was not affected by his few shortcomings and mistakes both technically and tactically.
Throughout Keshi’s three year stay with the Super Eagles, he has often made the mistake of not wanting to let go of some under-performing players. Simultaneously, he often refused to give other players a chance to prove themselves, often supporting this decision with the excuse of wanting to maintain team unity and understanding.
He persisted in sticking with the same faces match after match during the qualifying stage of the 2013 AFCON and only invited new players when the tournament was on the horizon.
Little wonder the team struggled to find rhythm in their first three matches at the competition.
Both Ikechukwu Uche and Ezekiel Imoh were overlooked for the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil despite having scored more goals together than three of the strikers that Keshi took to the tournament.
Ramon Azeez was only drafted into the team few months to the World Cup regardless of the fact that he was already an integral part of La Liga side Almeria for over three months before the Super Eagles’ last match in 2013.
Despite Hope Akpan and Kenneth Otigba, for example, impressing regularly for their clubs during the 2013/2014 season, both players were not called up to the national team for any of the World Cup qualifiers or friendlies. Instead, Keshi opted to go with familiar faces, even though some areas of the team obviously needed reinforcements.
While Algeria successfully processed the nationality switches of several players who have proved pivotal to their success, Keshi demonstrated a reluctance to cast his net deep into the diaspora. As fans watch Reuben Gabriel, once again, let an opposition attacker pass him by, people can’t help wondering whether there are better options out there.
