SCR Altach of Austria winger, Chinedu Obasi has expressed a strong wish that Nigeria’s national team, Super Eagles will get outstanding results in all their matches next year, as he wishes better luck for them than they have had in 2020.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, while using the Eagles’ recent capitulation against Sierra Leone, when the Nigeria side gave up a four-goal lead in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City and settled for a 4-4 draw.
Obasi, who became the first Nigerian to play at all levels of FIFA’s major global competitions when he starred for the Eagles at South Africa 2010 World Cup – having previously starred at the under-17 version in 2003, under-20 in 2005 and Olympic Games (U23) in 2008 – conceded that 2020 has not been the best for the squad.
The 34-year-old former Lyn Oslo of Norway, TSG Hoffenheim and Schalke 04 of Germany as well as AIK of Sweden star, however, advised Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr to strengthen the Eagles with well-exposed and experienced players.
Obasi, who was one of Nigeria’s top performers at South Africa 2010, but failed to help the team go beyond the group stage, had a total of 26 appearances for the Eagles and scored four goals during his time in the team.
He is now praying for better days ahead of the current generation of players in the squad, who finished this year 35th in the world and fourth in Africa, after failing to get a single victory in 12 months, even as the outbreak of coronavirus forced football activities to be put on hold.
Eventually, the Eagles played only four games this year, the first of which they lost 2-1 to African champions, Algeria in an international friendly played in Austria, then drew 1-1 with Tunisia in a similar game at same venue; following which the three-time African champions enacted back-to-back draws against Sierra Leone in the AFCON 2022 qualifiers.
The Eagles’ third game of 2020 was the infamous 4-4 draw with Sierra Leone in Benin City, as they surrendered a four-goal lead en route to shared points with their visitors and, while Obasi praised the current set of Nigerian players for their efforts, he admitted that there is room for improvements in all aspects, even as he submitted that the squad needs to be strengthened.
Obasi told Brila FM; “We have a great team, but sometimes it’s difficult. It didn’t go the way we would have wanted, going four ahead of Sierra Leone and the opponents coming back, it’s always a very difficult situation.
“At the same time, I think we have a great team, it’s all about finding a way to get the best out of the boys, I just think that’s the key. Sometimes, there are places where you need experience, but it’s not my job.
“I’m just a spectator watching from outside and it is a different ball game when you are with the team. But I wish them all the best next year.”
