A bitterly disappointing loss in Khartoum surely brings to a
close the Big Boss's era with Nigeria
There is no getting around it now. Stephen Keshi’s cycle as
coach of the Super Eagles has come to an end. There is no
anger, there is no bitterness. There is just… nothing. The final
whistle in Khartoum was a knell that rung hollow in Nigerian
hearts.
When Keshi became the trustee of Nigeria ’s footballing hopes
and dreams, the day was bleak. The Big Boss overhauled a
team that had failed to qualify for the 2012 Cup of Nations,
installing youth and injecting vitality. A policy of openness
saw the likes of Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo, Godfrey
Oboabona and Sunday Mba carve out a niche for themselves
in the Super Eagles.
The danger with success though, especially when unexpected,
is that it can cause the subject to parody himself. The fact
that anyone could play for the Super Eagles, a boon and
motivation for players to work hard, became in the long run a
tremendous problem. Needing a game-changing impact in the
Municipal Stadium, the ineffectual Gbolahan Salami was
withdrawn and on came Sunday Emmanuel of obscure Grodig,
making his debut for the national team.
Keshi has gambled on his popularity many times and won.
This time, it has come back to bite him. His arrogant
dismissal of the form of Obafemi Martins for example, who
has hit the 15-goal mark in Major League Soccer, was
laughable. Age can only mitigate against ability when there
are credible alternatives; alas in the same breath, the Afcon-
winning manager dismissed one such alternative: the
prodigiously talented Kelechi Iheanacho.
His constant bickering with Ikechukwu Uche in the press has
gotten embarrassing very quickly, like a public and messy
break-up between lovers. While it is unclear which of them is
speaking the truth, it is telling that Keshi only got tough with
Uche after triumphing in the Afcon in 2013. Before then, there
had been little indication of any sort of rift between them, and
indeed the Villarreal man top-scored to qualify the Super
Eagles for the tournament in the first place.
It is almost as though that historic moment convinced the
former Afcon-winning captain of the infallibility of his
methods. In his hubris, he has ploughed onward on that
course, alienating many and dividing opinions everywhere.
Now, we are back where we started: with one point from its
first three games, the defending African champions are on the
verge of elimination.
The walls have come crumbling down around the Big Boss
Keshi has given; is Keshi set to take away?
As if to show himself beyond saving, faced with a must-win
encounter, Keshi went against conventional wisdom in picking
the same ten outfield players who struggled for any rhythm or
cohesion in the last qualifier against South Africa. On that
day, Bafana Bafana did not have their scoring boots on.
Sudan were in no mood to pass up such an offering though,
and took the lead three minutes before the break through Al
Hilal forward Abdi Babeker Bakri, who stole ahead of Efe
Ambrose to power home a header.
Bakri had a tremendous game for Sudan, arcing behind
Ambrose time and again in the first half to receive the ball
over the top. The forward orientation of Nosa Igiebor, who
spent large periods playing pushed up into the attacking line,
prevented the midfield from closing down efficiently enough.
Ogenyi Onazi was typically industrious, and John Obi Mikel
pressed high sporadically, but the propensity of the Sudanese
wingers to come inside and occupy the space between the
lines was a strong enough deterrent.
The Maccabi Tel-Aviv man was the poorest player on the
pitch, and as the game went on, epitomised the team’s
display: lacking in belief and inspiration. Keshi’s strength lies
in coaching mentality rather than tactics, but it appears that
even this has been lost. There was no rally, no barrage, just
meek surrender.
The Falcons of Jediane were not great; they did not need to
be. Defensively their positioning was very naïve and
disorganised. But when you play a team 100 places above
you in the FIFA rankings and still manage to produce the one
moment of true quality in 90 minutes, you are fully deserving
of whatever credit you get. Sudan’s genius was in bringing
the African champions down to their level, and for this alone,
their win was richly deserved.
Nosa | Another ineffectual performance
It is unclear what to do with Keshi now.
He is not under any contract or obligation to the NFF, and can
rightly board a plane straight to the USA, where his family
resides. There is however a return fixture in four days, and
one which the Super Eagles absolutely must win. Does the
NFF officially relieve him, and seek to (improbably) get a new
coach within four days? Or do they stick with him and
possibly damn the Super Eagles? Whichever choice is made,
Nigeria do not get a good deal.
In Pointe-Noire, South Africa showed the daring and swagger
befitting champions as they swatted aside the Republic of
Congo to move into top spot in Group A. It is a result that
Nigeria must replicate if it is to have any chance at all of
playing in Morocco next year. There is no more margin for
error, and whoever takes the national team forward must get
it right, and do so fast.
Somewhere in Nigeria, Amodu Shuaibu is rubbing his hands
and waiting for his phone to ring. It would take a brave man
to bet against him now.

10000+ likes for the writeup.

only one thing goes when pride finds it's way into a man...... keshi your career it's at stake.....

Abeg make NFF sack dat guy, haba! right from the day he took over till now, he doesnt have a standby team he is testing n gambling, mixing personnal intrest with the countrys pride. NFF should do something nw

Make them give me keshi head on a plate sharpally joor