This weekend’s game is a win or mar scenario for coach Fatai Osho. So far it’s been an up and down season for the tactician, a 3:0 win against the Egyptians will prove enough for the boys in blue to progress. Can the Elephants score three un-replied goals against the money bags Pyramid at Aba?
Enyimba International stadium is a fortress yet to be breached in this year’s CAF competitions, however, Enyimba has failed to score more than two goals at home this season. They are yet to win with more than a goal margin at home. Many are now asking if this weekend will see the end of the jinx.
The history of football is littered with various comebacks many term miraculous. Even our dear team had its own fair share of these miracles in the past. Coach Fatai in a press conference after the defeat confirmed the possibility of knocking the Egyptians out of the tournament. He needed his boys to be focused and optimistic afterall it is football where anything is possible. The team’s defense has come under attack in recent times. In the last three matches the Elephants let in a whopping seven goals while scoring thrice, a testament of how porous the backline is.
The Egyptians might be money bags but defeating them 3:0 at Aba is possible if we remain focused. The players must also guard against conceding since the game plan of the opponents will be to score early and then defend. Counter attacking football might be the choice of the away team and those long balls into our area have been a problem for the team, a typical example is the away game in Sudan where we conceded twice through long balls.
The coach though to listen to warning calls on player rotation since this prevents partnerships from gelling after the Rangers game in Enugwu.
There is no chemistry between the front lines and this failure to understand each other down to the simplest of passes led to low scoring form. Consistency requires a constant fielding of the best legs. When players play together they tend to know what each other will do in certain situations.
The same can be said of our backline which saw constant changes in personnel for each match day. How can we have a solid defence when those who played at the back today won’t play tomorrow then one of them comes in for the next-tomorrow game. You replace players when they dip in form, injured, or because of an upcoming crucial game.
The idea of a first eleven encourages competition and unity in the field of play, thirdly it forces fringe players to work harder. Apart from Anayo and Oladipo (When he is fit), all other areas saw constant changes in personnel for various games.
Hopefully, if we progress coach Fatai must learn to define his best legs especially at the frontline where lack of goals has been our bane. Let’s keep hope, thrashing the Egyptians is a possibility. We must tidy our back while unleashing horror at the front. The Egyptians we see today we shall see no more.