Russia 2018 World Cup: Chris Green Gives His Candid Assessment and Appraisal of Super Eagles Chances

Russia 2018 World Cup; Barrister Christopher Green gives his candid assessment and appraisal of Super Eagles chances. ..... Insists that there is need to beef up Rohr's back room staff ..... Appeals to stakeholders to forget the NFF election for now and stay focused By Adewale Ajayi Former NFF technical committee chairman Barrister Christopher Green speaking in a 'no holds barred interview on Nigeria number one sports platform NSM on Saturday is not totally convinced Nigeria is ready for the World cup based on some obvious technical and tactical flaws noticed in the team's last three friendly games. He is not impressed with the general team approach and the input from the team's bench. "Firstly, they were friendly games he began. Players are expected to put in their best to fight for places save for those already guaranteed like, Mikel, Onazi, Ndidi, Iheanacho, the oyibos except Tyrone, Ighalo, Moses, Iwobi, Shehu, that is judging from the body language of our coach. The team played like a group that has not been playing together for some time. They came in fit but lack cohesion. They hardly have a vocal and influential leader. Their tactic, formation or system can hardly win a European side. Some players also lack tactical discipline thus putting the entire team under pressure. We shall struggle to win all of our games and we are easily predictable. Areas of worry are basically the defense and abit of the attack. We have a good keeper in Uzoho but his efforts must be complimented by the defenders in terms of positioning. The attack finds it difficult to get the second balls because of our formation. I will recommend a 3:5:2 or a 3:4:3 formation which they would have mastered in training playing dummies else we revert to our traditional 4:3:3 using very fast wingers. We are in dare need of a psychologist now" He also took a closer look at the players selected by Rohr and admitted that, the team as presently constituted are more defense conscious compared to their group opponents. He attributed this to Rohr's failure to get creative and attacking midfielders into a setup packed with defensive players. "To an extent we are defensive minded because of the quality of players. We definitely do not have play makers that can compete at that level. We've got good markers but we need an Okocha or Nwankali that will not give square passes but passes that will break or split the opponents defence thus creating goal scoring opportunities. They must have vision and could anticipate moves" He said Nigeria's biggest problem going to the World Cup in Russia is not the lack of goal scorers as every player in the team can convert chances when they come but do these chances ever come he asked rhetorically. "We don't lack scorers, the problem is creating goal scoring opportunities and positioning at the right place and time. Our biggest problem will be nerves because our rookies will allow the game to get the better part of them. This is where late Keshi really excelled. Right now we do not have anybody in the team or T/C that can talk authoritatively with the players. You must have knowledge. I used to have sessions with the team during Keshi and Amokachi,s reign and it went well. The team needs to be flexible and impose their play and philosophy. On record they are the under dogs in the group and will find it difficult to out grow the tag unless somebody changes their belief. When they play, they will be in a hurry to release balls as well as make long passes. They will tackle hard and commit plenty of fouls. It can be curbed if our backroom staff is complete" The Rivers state FA chairman who still boasts of the richest individual curriculum vitae in Nigeria's football history after helping the Super Eagles win the 2013 Nations Cup, led Nigeria to back to back under 17 World cups and qualified the Super Eagles for back to back World cups as chairman of the NFF technical committee, was not bold enough to take a position on whether the Super Eagles will survive their group hurdle. "I cannot answer it for reason of patriotism. We shall pray they conquer nerves and take the game to our opponents and in the process instill fear in them. If we instill fear they will change their tactic and become confused. Mind you, they have all studied all the games we've played from qualification till now. They are masters in that act. We can go far" On why he has refused to pick up a form ahead of the September 29 NFF election in Katsina state, , this was what Barrister Green said. "My brother, I don't know where we are headed at. I believe starting the electoral process may be a distraction (apologies to Walker) and insensitive to our campaign at the world cup. I have also seen releases from the Hon Minister of Sports advising against on the above reason and in wait for an advice from the office of the AGF on the SC judgment. I am also wary of the fact that the issue of our last election is unsettled at the Fed High Court in Jos. I also would have to take stock of my performance if I will still be relevant and of assistance in the development of the game. I also will need to consult extensively with family, friends and stakeholders" Green ended the session by taking a look at the recent corruption crisis in Ghana football, telling all who care to listen that there are some obvious moral lessons to take from the fate that befell Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantackyi. "The lessons learnt here are quite simple that there's an end to every bad thing, sowing and reaping, arrogancy and cockiness and there's an unseen eye to every conversation. It can also happen here in Nigeria" What a day! Barrister Chris Green is always an interviewer delight. He has proved yet again that he knows his onion. Hope those who have eyes can read and learn lessons from this great Nigerian.