Join our Telegram group and receive breaking and trending news updates directly on your phone.
Join for News Updates ✕
By Seguin Odegbami
On Tuesday March 29, 2022, the ‘plane’ taking the Super Eagles to Qatar 2022 crash-landed on the tarmac of the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Abuja.Â
Rather than take a long, torturous and painful forensic investigation to unearth the full extent and implications of the events of that night,……permit me to take a short-cut, cut out all the fine details, and look at a basic and most straightforward cause of this monumental catastrophe…. .
To start with,…… the Super Eagles did not actually lose the match. They did not lose the first match in Kumasi either.  In both matches, they did not play as if their lives depended on it,… so they did not win.
On the other hand….the Black Stars were the worst I have ever seen……. last Tuesday, they were simply lucky….with only a single shot at the Nigerian goal throughout the 90 minutes
The Nigerian team..was poor…. the only ‘threat’ they posed being the tireless but harmless running of Osimhen.
…. ..in the absence of players with holding, dribbling, passing and creative skills in the midfield, Ghana deployed a very simple and very effective tactic …  the same old and recycled system of play thèy’ve been deploying against Nigerian national teams since the 1960s.
It has worked well for them through the ages….disrupted ….only whenever Nigeria assembled exceptionally gifted and skillful mid-field players who could hold, dribble, pass and even shoot at goal,… seen in the eras of Muda Lawal, Alloysius Atuegbu, Chibuzor Ehilegu, Paul Okoku, Jay Jay Okocha, Mutiu Adepoju , etc
Â
This time… Nigeria did not have the dreaded midfield players that would threaten them. Ghana saw that during AFCON 2021…..and capitalized on it in Kumasi and Abuja.
That’s why, the Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Rashid Bawa, could call me up the night he learned the two would be playing against each other, and confidently boasted that notwithstanding Ghana’s weaker team, they had Nigeria’s number. Â
 As it now turns out.. he is right.
Â
So, what did the Ghanaians do?
They went back to their simple, old, tried and tested system that every Nigerian coach worth his salt should know now. No other team plays Nigeria that same way.
At the end of the day, the stark reality is that the Super Eagles were not good enough. They did not play well.
The Ghanaians were worse in every department except team tactics……they have ‘Mother luck’ to thank for their trip to Qatar….. Â
At the end of the day, ….the pains are too deep. Some persons must be made to pay for our collective pain and humiliation.
For the full version of my opinion on this click on https://mathematical7.com/m7/?p=3098.
By Segun Odegbami, Former Captain, Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Strategic Media Partnership for Growth and Reputation: Introducing The Reporters
The Reporters is a dynamic online news publication committed to delivering credible, timely, and impactful journalism across Nigeria and beyond. With a strong foundation in professional reporting and editorial integrity, the platform focuses on social, economic, political, and human development issues that shape public discourse. Backed by decades of journalistic experience, The Reporters offers a trusted voice that informs, educates, entertains, and influences a diverse and engaged audience.
For members of the business community, The Reporters provides a strategic platform to enhance visibility, build brand credibility, and connect with target markets. Through well-crafted news, features, interviews, sponsored content, and digital amplification, businesses can showcase their products, services, and innovations to a wider audience. This engagement not only drives patronage but also positions organisations as key contributors to economic growth and development.
Political actors and aspirants also stand to benefit significantly from partnering with The Reporters. As the 2027 elections approach, the platform offers an opportunity for politicians to effectively communicate their vision, programmes, and track records to the electorate. Through balanced profiling, issue-based coverage, and reputation management content, The Reporters helps shape public perception and strengthens candidates’ connection with voters.
Beyond visibility, The Reporters plays a crucial role in image laundering and perception management, presenting clients in a favourable, credible, and issue-driven light while maintaining ethical standards. By highlighting achievements, clarifying controversies, and projecting leadership qualities, the platform supports politicians in building trust and acceptance among constituents, which are critical assets in any electoral contest.
Engaging with The Reporters is therefore not just about publicity, it is about strategic communication for mutual benefit. Partners gain access to a credible media channel with the wide reach of The Reporters while it continues to fulfill its mandate of promoting development-oriented narratives. We invite stakeholders in both business and political spheres to collaborate with us in shaping informed opinions, driving growth, and advancing democratic engagement.
Prospective clients can reach us via WhatsApp: 08032901058 or email: ahmeddada008@gmail.com.
- Management
