Nigeria: How To Cross The Hurdle

Port Harcourt-based football administrator, lawyer and former Green Eagles winger 'Chief Justice' Adokie Amiesimaka watched the Super Eagles as they struggled to defeat Benin Republic 2-0 in the last group match on Tuesday.

Thereafter, he surmised that it was sad that Nigeria needed to struggle to beat minnows like Benin and depended on Cote d'Ivoire to qualify for the quarter finals of the 26th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.The former Sharks Football Club boss whose views on foreign coaches are public knowledge believes that Nigerian players really need to raise their game and do the country proud when they clash with Ghana tomorrow.

"At this stage I know Berti Vogts has nothing to offer. We have a great disadvantage in the person of Vogts. As a player he did well but as a coach his antecedents showed that we had no business hiring him in the first place but we are stock with him.

"They should also know that traditionally our strength lies in the flanks. We are wing players and that is the best way to beat a tight defence, especially when the team does not have crafty ball players in the mould of Austin Okocha or Nwankwo Kanu ( who is down with injury.)"In a situation like this, we should revert to wing play but Berti does not seem to understand that. If we play Ghana the way we are playing now it would be very difficult for us. The Ghanaians are technically superior and we cannot beat them in the midfield, we should use the wings instead", Amiesimaka said.

Adokie, as he is better known, recalled that the rivalry between both countries dates back a long time, stressing that the 1978 Nations Cup finals (They played 1-1 in a group match but Nigeria lost out to Ugandan Cranes in the semi-finals) between Nigeria and Ghana remained very fresh in the memories of most Nigerians and Ghanaians.

According to him, both teams would be under a lot of pressure to win. "In the eyes of Ghanaian demanding supporters they have not been that successful in this tournament. They are under severe pressure to perform and they will come all out smoking against Nigeria tomorrow. It is going to be an exciting thriller", he said.