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Cape Town - Former Nigeria international Idah Peterside
said the national team’s performance during the Africa Cup of Nations
qualifier against Sudan on Saturday was deeply disconcerting.
Peterside explained that it was difficult to pinpoint what it was that has hampered the Super Eagles during this qualifying campaign but suggested that the internal team dynamics might be the source of the problem.
"The Eagles are not showing the spirit of a team wanting to score. There is a problem in that team," said Peterside on Saturday.
"I don’t know whether the problem is with the players or the coach. All I know is that all is not right with the team."
Idah said that he did not detect the desire to score or win from any of the Nigerian players, suggesting that the one-on-one situation between Emmanuel Emenike and Sudan goalkeeper Al Muez Mahgoub Abdalla should have resulted in a goal.
"Emenike should have dribbled past the keeper. In that kind of situation, Jay Jay Okocha would have finished off that goalkeeper and mess him up," added Peterside.
In what was the team’s least inspiring performance of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign thus far, one goal from Bakri Almadina was all that separated the two countries, and Idah said that it was not even that remarkable a goal.
"Just look at the goal the Sudanese scored, our defenders were ball watching. It is sad," he concluded.
Peterside explained that it was difficult to pinpoint what it was that has hampered the Super Eagles during this qualifying campaign but suggested that the internal team dynamics might be the source of the problem.
"The Eagles are not showing the spirit of a team wanting to score. There is a problem in that team," said Peterside on Saturday.
"I don’t know whether the problem is with the players or the coach. All I know is that all is not right with the team."
Idah said that he did not detect the desire to score or win from any of the Nigerian players, suggesting that the one-on-one situation between Emmanuel Emenike and Sudan goalkeeper Al Muez Mahgoub Abdalla should have resulted in a goal.
"Emenike should have dribbled past the keeper. In that kind of situation, Jay Jay Okocha would have finished off that goalkeeper and mess him up," added Peterside.
In what was the team’s least inspiring performance of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign thus far, one goal from Bakri Almadina was all that separated the two countries, and Idah said that it was not even that remarkable a goal.
"Just look at the goal the Sudanese scored, our defenders were ball watching. It is sad," he concluded.
