NIGERIA HAS NO WORLD CUP TEAM
By MONICA IHEAKAM
Friday, November 20, 2009

•Christian Chukwu Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Nigerians may be happy with the 2010 World Cup ticket, which Super Eagles delivered to the nation last Saturday in Nairobi after beaten the Harambee Stars of Kenya 3–2, and Mozambique piping Tunisia 1–0 in Maputo in the South Africa 2010 qualifiers. But former national team coach, Christian Chukwu, has said that the country has yet to produce a solid team, which could face the heat in South Africa next year.

Chukwu is of the opinion that as the country has successfully crossed the hurdle to play in South Africa 2010 World Cup, it has become imperative for the nation to critically access if we have a team that could execute the mundial next year.

In a telephone discussion with Daily Sunsport, the ex-Green Eagles’ captain informed that as the celebrations continue, it’s appropriate for all and sundry to note that Nigeria does not have a fantastic team yet for the mundial.

"Our journey through the qualification would have been much easier if we had got a few things right early enough. These are happy times for us because we have qualified for the World Cup, but it also calls for sober reflection on whether we have a good team or not. This is the appropriate time for us to access our past performances, so as to reposition for the future," Chukwu began.
"For the first time in the history of Nigerian football, the Super Eagles had a massive support from Nigerians during the qualifiers. And definitely, the same support would be giving to them at the World Cup proper, but that would depend on how we prepare the team for the competition.

"I advise that stiff competitions should be created in the team, whereby every player has to fight hard to pick a shirt. The era of big names should be ruled out; instead, we should look for younger players, who can give us the desired result.
"Also, Grade A friendly games should be organised for the team as a build-up to the Nations Cup and World Cup."

On the clamour for a foreign tactician to takeover the national team from Coach Shaibu Amodu, ‘The Chairman’ stated that time would not be on our side to embark on such a venture. The former Enugu Rangers chief coach said that the Nations Cup was barely two months away and any new coach brought in for the Super Eagles would start all over with his own programmes.
He, therefore, advised that the Nations Cup in Angola should serve as a litmus test for Amodu and others in the Eagles’ technical crew, after which Nigerians should be in a better position to judge them.
"Amodu should be allowed to hang on till the Nations Cup in Angola, and after that, we can begin to look out for a replacement for him if actually the need arises."

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