The patchy manner in which the Super Eagles recorded their victory over Benin Republic at the ongoing Orange African Cup of Nations is not enough to save the job of the embattled team handler, Shaibu Amodu.

Making this statement in a telephone interview with Trustsports yesterday, former assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Lawrence Akpokona, said the performance of the Amodu-led coaching crew in recent times have turned Eagles to a brand that most Nigerians do not want to watch.

Akpokona said, "If a coach decides to take half fit players to a major championship, whatever that comes out of it should be shouldered by the coach. Amodu took some half fit and bench-warming players to Angola, instead of players who are very fit and playing regularly for their club sides.

"The results we are getting from the Super Eagles suggest that some of the players taken to the tournament shouldn't have made the team in the first instance. But, whatever criteria that were used in selecting the current team are best known to the coach.

"The match against Benin Republic has left most Nigerians with disappointment. We saw out team struggling very hard to beat the Squirrels with just one goal, resulting from a penalty kick. The players and their handlers have not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians. The current team is not the best that can come out of 140 millions Nigerians," he reasoned.

Asked if Amodu should be sacked in the middle of the tournament or be left till the end of it, Warri Wolves handler distant himself from the sacking of the coach before the end of the championship, saying he should be allowed to finish the current assignment before being axed, if still found wanting.

While describing the last match as very difficult for the Super Eagles, Akpokona wondered what would happen to the team if it meets stronger teams like Ivory Coast or Argentina in South Africa come June this year.

"It is very unfortunate to see our team struggling anytime they play against another team, irrespective of the strength of the opposition. In the last match, we dominated the first half, but lost steam in the second, enabling the Squirrel to dictate the pace and trouble our defence. We were very lucky to have gotten away with the victory, because Benin would have levelled the score when they hit our cross- bar with thunderous shots twice.

"We have to step up our game against Mozambique in our final group match. We saw what they played against us both home and away during the South Africa 2010 qualifier. They are not going to be an easy side. And if we have to progress more than we did in Ghana, our players have to put in more seriousness and commitment," he advised.