Pre match nigeria v scotland was one of excitment and bustling fans.
Even the odd celebrity to take a snap of or with and tv crews and press shutterbugs clicking away.
The bagpippes where drowned out by the sound of nigerian drums and trumpets, such was the fact that the scottish fans proceedd to join in the festivities and in some sense try to hi-jack the affair.
A few players waved to the crowd before the team talk and the atmosphere was boisterous on the nigerian half.Wit the same drums and trumpets blaring and they did not stop all game even at half time they were still going.
Now getting to the game.
Ikechi anya got abused by the nigerian fans and we saw him quite alot since he was constantly terrorising the full-back closest to us. Babatunde i can be honest and say i did not see him first half but he showed some flashes of skill and technique in the second half before getting taken off.
Will he be going to brazil i doubt it along with oduamadi.
Defence in this game was a joke a very bad drawn out joke.
I said yobo had to step up this game and he quite frankly did not.
With scotland twisting our defence into whatever shape they could think off it does not inspire confidence if the two centre back for some reason or other have to be paired in the world cup.
I do not think keshi can pull any players out of thin air and hand them in to fifa if they were not on our 30 man list.
But we learnt our main two defenders are our main two and fourth defenders.
If yobo sneaks onto that plane via cargo hold or whatever he should only play to help sure up the defence in the last five minutes.
For me yobo is a right back who now has no pace and just happens to have experience.But i ask what experience is it?
Joel obi
My guy, this guy is a baller.
He had that technique and that swagger of a classy player.
And i was like i would love to see him play with mikel and onazi.
He has to be on the plain along with the next player i will talk about.
There are many talking points but i feel the class and silky approach joel has was overshadowed by woeful defending and a disjointed lineup.
Nosa
I can see why keshi does not want to give-up on this guy he is also a baller. Spraying that ball around comfortable on his feet and slick. Good performance but overshadowed by defence and a mismatched team.
But what does that mean for azeez he did not get on that pitch. Either his position is assured for the plane or assuredly dropped.
Reuben
I was suprised he played the whole game, it also does not look good for azeez.
It seemed he had the task of trying to replicate mikel's role but i don't think it worked.
He looked ok but still a little rough and lacking crispness or real urgency.
But playing the whole game he may sneak into the squad and because he will also get stuck in for tackles.
Ejike
Was a player many were looking forward to seeing since many had not seen him since chan.
He looked lively ready to run at and past people, hustle and shoot.
But i do think he is behind some players who came on afterwards. But should be on the plane.
Moses
Victor came on and he had that swagger and belief of a star player. Also having that direct running and the ability to switch into that hero mentality. With the next few games we will see him hit the next gears. Scotland were scared of him, trying to double up and he still found space and went passed opponents. But he has to work on his shooting and space usage. He likes the ball at his feet not necessarily to always or being ready to run in behind. But he is a star player and he gives us that x-factor and causes defenders to make mistakes.
odemwengie
Many waited for his return and i don't know if he did enough but the question is can he be dropped.
He did have that swagger of a star when he was on.He was drifting about quite a bit and coming deep. Because yes he can score goals but is not a striker and didn't really look like scoring though our midfield was not the best but when he did have a chance to shoot it was way over the bar. But since goals are hard to come by i think he will be in the 23 man squad.
Uchebo
Though he scored it was one of his worst games.Some of you may remember i put the question out there will keshi try to put ameobi and uchebo together.He did and it really did not work and is that just because of the support.But uchebo was sloppy but if he finished his previous chances then he would of been a sure bet for btazil but with this two up front nor really working.It kind of puts a face-off between uchebo and ameobi.
Ameobi
He battled but did not really have the technique or hunger or symbiosis with uchebo or any player to really cause scotland problems nor was he a threat from corners.Also the two up front did not really phase scotland who were more than ready to be physical.
HH said he should not be near the plane and i sadly kind of agree.Yes he has experience yes it would be really said failing on his last chance to go to the world cup.But then he should of chose Nigeria earlier.
At least Uchebo scored and was prepared to shoot at goal.
Nwofor
The guy who spared our blushes but i did say nigeria worst case scenario will draw. Though they left it nail-bitingly late and i was watching the clock thinking can we score a goal. Yes we have osaze, he is not doing much.Yes we have moses but he is just drifting everywhere and that nobody was running in behind.
And just before he scored nwofor managed to out leap a defender like some kind of salmon and head the ball just for it to just go over the bar. I was thinking this set up is not made for this player and well he is going to be axed. But nwofor had something else to say and that was i did not come here to lose. He grafted and he got his one chance and scored, but if uchebo or ameobi had that chance would they score?
That is why nwofor deserves a place. A inzaghi type maybe what we need when all the flashy stuff fails a guy who is a fox in the box and can smell goals.
He did not think twice about putting that ball in the net, he did not scuff,fluff or lose his footing just buried it.
Dead balls
Our dead balls are dead, corners are hit and miss and i do not remember when we last scored directly from one. Free-kicks do not strike opponents with fear, yes obinna and oboabona have scored one but we need more proof plus obinna is always a sub.
So the 23 man squad will be the biggest thing for nigerian fans to get their head around and support behind prior to the world cup.
The next game we expect like this game to see goals and try to not concede and to see the team start to shape up and play with the swagger of what we believe an african champion should.
