By Bolaji Douglas
The part 3 of this series would take a look at what has been described as the engine room of any football team-the midfield. In doing so I will be looking at the players most likely to make the team based upon their current standing and contribution to the team and baring any injuries or new players gate crashing the party.
John Obi Mikel: He is the fulcrum of the Nigerian midfield, around whom the Nigerian play especially in the third quarter is built. The former Chelsea man who now plies his trade in China with Tianjin TEDA F.C. Over the years, he has come to become a major player for the Super Eagles team. Currently the team captain, a well-deserved appointment, having come through the ranks and with over a decade of contribution to the team thus making him one of the most senior players in the team. He was part of the team that won the African Cup of Nations in 2013 and with almost a decade of English premiership experience behind him playing and winning titles with Chelsea, he is a well-known face in the football world all over.
While he has had to settled for a more restrictive role while at Chelsea, not so when he laces his boots for the Super Eagles as a has a freer and more creative role playing in the traditional number 10 role. And this is where the real Mikel Obi comes alive. His biggest asset remains his high intelligence with the ball, strength and range of passing skills. Hardly loses the ball and knows what to do with the ball. All of these combined makes him very dangerous to the opposing teams. Not the quickest on the ball, nevertheless his ability to read the game enables him to be a couple of steps ahead of his opponents. Also in the colours of the Super Eagles, he has managed a couple of vital goals, thus proving that he can also score goals.
Perhaps the major weakness to his game remains his inability to complete 90 minutes of the game, especially one that demands a lot of him. Pattern has emerged where he has to be substituted at the latter part of the game. More worrying is that the team appear to struggle without him on the field. Now 31, this trend is not expected to change and remains one that the handlers of the team would have to manage because Mikel remains indispensable to the Super Eagles team. The last two friendless prosecuted without him more than confirmed this.
Victor Moses: At 27 years of age, the Chelsea man is perhaps another important personnel the Super Eagles can boast of in the midfield. A former winger but currently deployed to play as a wing back, a position he has excelled at, in the last two seasons. Perhaps the benefit of this deployment to the Super Eagles is a toughened Victor Moses, one who now more conscious of his defensive responsibilities. Currently one of the most experienced members of the team, he was part of the African cup of nations winning team and also a veteran of the 2014 World cup, together with Mikel they are expected to provide the much needed experience and leadership needed to the team.
A very good dribbler who can operate on either flanks and if necessary from the middle as well. His strength is his ability to pick the balls and run at defenders taking them on. Has eyes for goals too as he demonstrated against Ethiopia during the 2013 African cup of nations semi-finals when he single handed took the game to the Ethiopians , scoring the two goals that won the Super Eagles the match. He has also demonstrated his proficiency from dead ball situations. Another one whose absence in the team leaves the team deficient.
Winfred Ndidi: When the 21 year old moved to Leicester FC from KRC Genk FC in Belgium not many would have expected him to make quite an impact he has made within such a short time. In a league that often takes time to bed in and get up running, not so Ndidi, he hit the ground running right from the first match. Perhaps what made his case more remarkable was the size of the shoes he was bought to fill. Leicester has lost their midfield powerhouse in Ngolo Kante leaving a huge void that threatened the stability of the team, Ndidi has since settled into the role.
What Ndidi brings to the table is an all action, hardworking, hard running, hard tackling midfielder with powerful shooting ability. He has scored a couple of goals for Leicester with his shooting ability. He also has decent repertoire of passing ability and Leicester have not been shy in deploying him in an attacking midfield role when needed. His ability to shield the defence with his high work rate has been immense, something which the team have come to appreciate even more in his absence. He won the Leicester FC young player of the year award.
He is expected to bring the same energy to the Super Eagles, where he is expected to sit in front of the defence and do a lot of the hard work that would free up Mikel and provide the platform for him to revel in his creative role.
Ogenyi Onazi: The 25 year who plies his trade with the Turkish side Trabzonspor FC. Also in the team that won the 2013 African cup of nations, Ogenyi is also one of the most experienced members of the team. This will be his second world cup tournament having participated in the 2014 edition in Brasil in which he acquainted himself very well succumbing to a nasty tackle from Matuidi in the second round game with France. The injury perhaps set his career back as it appears he has not been able to hit the mark that made him a vital player for his Italian club side at the time Lazio . However the move to Turkey has given him a fresh opportunity to attain to that level of performance once again.
Another one whose experience and leadership would be counted upon. Standing at only 1.73 metres, what he lacks in height he makes up for with his heart and tenacity. Like a ferocious pit terrier, he relishes the midfield battle snapping at the heels on his opponents cutting off space and at the same time making life unbearable for them. Such was his tenacity against the French side in Brasil that he had to be taken out by the horrendous tackle. He is one player who relishes the midfield battle, another one who can be entrusted with the job of sitting in front of the defence to serve as a shield.
Ogenekaro Etebo: Every time I watch the 22 year old CD Feirense of Portugal player currently on loan to UD Las Palmas in Spain, I am reminded of Daniel Amokachi the Bull. Not only do they share same physical attributes, they also share similar playing styles. Etebo is a box-to-box hard running midfield player, he is gifted with that explosive burst of pace that sees him arriving in the box at the right time. He can slot into any position in the midfield and you are guaranteed to have all day running from him. A hard working midfielder with eye for goals, one that I rate highly and strongly believe the team is yet to maximise his potentials. But at 22 there is a lot to come from him.
Joel Obi: But for the injury that has plagued his career he would have been one of the more experienced members in the current Super Eagles team. With so much potentials that were on show during the junior phase of his career, his development however has been hampered by injuries, which has not allowed him to showcase them fully. For a player who made his serie-A debut in 2010 with Inter as a substitute for Philip Countinho, his proneness to injuries have done his career progression a great injustice, especially when compared to Coutinho’s progression in the game. Such is often the cruel nature of this field.
Now 26 years old and fit at the moment, Joel plies his trade for Torino in Italy, he is worth another look at as the team shapes up. He was involved in the last two friendlies so the coaches must have him in mind. A left footed player, who operates on the left side of the midfield, if he can stay fit he should be able give balance and width to the team. He can also be deployed as a left wing back, another advantage he has on his side which can benefit the team. The question over the years has not been if Joel is good enough for the Super Eagles, rather the question is can he stay fit?
Alex Iwobi: The 22 year old Arsenal player has been of the Super Eagles set since he opted to play for Nigeria with his debut in 2015. He was active with the team during the World cup qualifiers and scored against Zambia in the final game played at Uyo. Often deployed to play on the wide side of the midfield, but he thrives better as a central midfielder. His strength is in his ability to run with the ball, change direction while exchanging shot quick passes. He is quick and skilful with a good eye for picking those passes that can unsettle the defence. A tricky player to deal with because he does not dwell too long on the ball which is his strength. He this plus a lot of energy to the team, one of the major of having such a youthful team such as the current Super Eagles team
John Ogu: Another left footed player, with career that has seen him play in Slovenia , Portugal and now in Israel with Hapoel Beer Sheva where he now appears to be more settled and is thriving, John has been around. Now 30 years, he made his debut in 2013. So he is not new to the Super Eagles set up. He provides the much needed physical presence in the midfield and offers a decent range of passing skills. Although he has been very much part of the current set up, his appearances however have been fleeting, always there when he is needed.
Conclusion
The Super Eagles is well stacked in the middle with youth, experience, grit, skill and guile. While not exactly world beaters in comparison to some of the best midfielders out there, nevertheless the team has enough to be able to trouble any team if they are able to play to their optimum best. If deployed in the way and manner that plays to what they bring on board, this perhaps the strength of this current team.
Who the handlers chose to select and how they chose to deploy these assets in the midfield is the job for the handlers of the team, but I would expect us to be able to deploy a compact close knit unit in the middle with the ability to absorb pressure from the opposing team and still with enough pace to burst out on the offensive.
The question that the handlers will be trying to find a solution for as they put finishing touches to this department of the team will be how to cope without Mikel? Thankfully he has managed to remain fit up till now with no major injury scare. Nevertheless, the team must have an alternative approach in place. Does the team formation have to change in order to take care of this problem? Perhaps duo of Moses and Iwobi can provide the alternative tactical approach towards solving this problem.