Tianjin Teda of China midfielder, John Mikel Obi has admitted that he is worried at the rate in which the Super Eagles concede goals from set pieces, but says they will work on their lapses before Friday’s game against Iceland.
After conceding from two dead ball situations against Croatia on Saturday, the Eagles’ skipper acknowledged how the team always struggle under such circumstances, but hinted that it might be because they are still young.
Mikel was unable to explain why the national team have been conceding goals from set-pieces in their recent matches, the latest being the two goals they let in in their World Cup opener against Croatia on Saturday.
Against England on June 2, Chelsea’s Gary Cahill opened the scoring for the Three Lions after seven minutes with a thumping header from a corner, and four days later against Czech Republic, another Chelsea player Tomas Kalas finished off a goalmouth scramble after the Nigeria defence failed to deal with a corner-kick.
After the first round of games in Group D, Croatia lead the way with three points, Iceland and Argentina are joint-second with one point while Nigeria are bottom of the table, but Mikel says the team will keep improving.
”We have to keep going, try to improve on our set-pieces and try to keep improving our defense, this is four goals now we have conceded from set-pieces.
”When you concede set-pieces and try to get back into the game and you concede another one from set-piece, it is difficult.
” We try every day in training to correct it, it is difficult to explain. It’s difficult to explain, we knew our weakness, two goals, two set-pieces, difficult.
”I think the young guys did well, we did well together as a team, gave everything we have. We would try to improve, it is a young team and we keep going.”
Comment: I suggest that the Super Eagles gafer should use the second eleven for the match against Iceland. Yes you do not change a winning team, but this is not winning team seriously.
Starting from the goalkeeper, let’s have the second team. This vehicle has proved beyond doubt that it can not take us to our destination safely. We definitely need a rejig. Nigeria has nothing to lose, after all all the players were picked on merit.
This young,tall and best keeper is not controling his defense enough. The goals conceeded on set pieces speaks volume.
Allons nous. Go Super Eagles and get the job done. You can do it. Vive le Nigéria