For those who have been fervently following football, it is apparent that the Super Eagles team which participated in the recently concluded AFCON held in Ivory Coast was one of the best teams in recent times.
The team displayed proper coordination, understanding, and teamwork which greatly helped them to reach the final stage of the competition.
Despite the highly competitive nature of the tournament, the team fought wholeheartedly for Nigerians with a true spirit of patriotism from the first match through to the final. This was evident in the number of strong and competitive teams such as Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, and the defending champions Senegal, who had been making history in the competition over the years, but were sent back home in the early stages of the tournament.
Most of the criticisms against our team are coming from people who don't have a deep understanding of football and, therefore, have no clue about how difficult and unpredictable football matches can be. They started shifting blame to individual players, the coaching staff, and even minor errors that led to conceding goals, which are inevitable and common in the beautiful game of football.
It's worth noting that many Nigerians, regardless of their differences, converged in unity to show support for our dear Super Eagles. Even though the outcome of the match was not favourable to us, our coming together showcased that we are one people and one nation.
Joseph Posiero's managerial tactics and style of play were similar to his boss Jose Mourinho's. That defensive style is common in football and has worked for many celebrated football managers around the world. It is not surprising that the Super Eagles head coach, Joseph Posiero, opted for Mourinho's style of play.
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The officiating throughout the tournament was good, and many popular sports pundits and analysts have commended the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for their good work. However, some decisions that favoured the hosts were observed, especially in the final match between the Elephants of Ivory Coast and the Nigerian Super Eagles.
Simply put, the Super Eagles team deserves accolades for their performance, and every true patriotic Nigerian knows that we were well-represented. It's the tradition of the game that one must lose while the other emerges victorious at the end of the day.
The Super Eagles' relentless effort and commitment throughout the tournament symbolize unity and patriotism, which undoubtedly leads to prosperity.
In conclusion, football is more than just a game; it is an umbrella of unity and togetherness. Our players should hold their heads high, believing that the whole nation is proud of them.
Mubarak Shuaybu Shelleng wrote via [email protected]
