Former Super Eagles coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde has added his voice to suggestions on the way forward for Nigeria at the World Cup, with a verdict that the team need to improve their ball possession, passing and marking abilities.
The Modakeke high chief, who handled Nigeria at Korea/Japan 2002, in which they played a goalless draw with England in their last group match, said the Eagles have to be more determined and hungry for victory against Iceland on Friday, in order to put their Russia 2018 hope back on track.
Onigbinde, who also led the Eagles to a silver medal at the 1984 African Nations Cup in Ivory Coast, stressed that ball possession is key to success in the clash against Iceland.
The veteran tactician, who became a FIFA/CAF Technical Instructor in 1994 and has attended every edition of the World Cup and Nations Cup, concluded with a warning that the Eagles must improve their marking skills against Iceland.
Onigbinde said: “I shed tears on Saturday watching my dear Super Eagles struggling to put two passes together when Croatia were making 10 passes or more without interruption and not losing the ball.
“He who holds it has it. You must hold the ball to dictate its movement. They also lacked marking ability or technique. This resulted in the two goals we conceded against Croatia.
“For instance, when Croatia took the corner kick, their strikers made contact with the ball twice with the defenders nowhere or wrongly positioned, leading to the own goal.
“Secondly, because our defender was badly positioned, he ended up grabbing his opponent as though they were in a wrestling competition.
“These are things they should not allow to repeat against Iceland if they hope to make the best of their desire to win and progress to the next stage of the competition.”
