My Ideal Super Eagles Team: Why Only High Performers Should be Call Up Ahead AFCON and World Cup Qualifiers

All the credit should be given to Gernot Rohr, Head coach of Nigeria national team...but some of us in the profession knows that Super Eagles success in defeating Zambia and Algeria in the World cup qualifers were more a function of form, combination of the performance rate of the Super Eagles individual players at that time. Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Victor Moses were in top form playing regular for Man city, Arsenal and Chelsea respectively.

Ahmed Musa also get playing time intermittently for Leicester city and John Mikel Obi was still in Chelsea. Cuminatively the performance rate of the Super Eagles team was high then.

 Rohr have ever had time to blend the players into a formidable team . He was just applying Fantasy Football game tactics; where you are expected as a manager to select a combination of players that will produce the highest performance on the lederboard. We give kudos to Rohr and his assistant Mohammed Yusuf for being able to make their selection without fear or favor.

But time have changed the momentum. As I write, Alex Iwobi has suddenly lost form and have been demoted to Arsenal team B. Kelechi Iheanacho has lost his place in the Manchester city first team, he now sit more on the bench. Victor Moses is just recovering from injuiry and need to get his form back. Ahmed Musa is technically relegated out of Liecster city first team... he has not been playing their recent matches.

On the other hand,  Mikel Obi, Brown Ideye and Odion Ighalo have moved away from the premiership to a lower Chinese Super League...and we all know their competitive form will soon drop.

One other thing the coaches will have to contend with is the switching  of position between club and national team. Victor Moses is currently playing as a defender (right half back) in Chelsea, but may switch to attacking midfielder (Play maker) when playing for the National team.

 Mikel is playing as a central defender in his chinese team and may be made to switch to central or attacking midfielder role in the national team. Switch positions could affect specialization and their performance rate.

I am not trying to paint gloomy picture, because we also have some Nigerian players currently doing so well and exhibiting high performance rate in their club.

 Wilfred Ndidi is in the form of his life for Liecster city, John Ogu probably the best player in Israeli Elite League, displaying some very high performance level for Heopel fc.

There are Nigerian breaking records in various leagues around the world, and need to be call up to start blending with other members of the team.


I think Vincent Enyeama, former captain of Super Eagles should return..comparing his performance rate at OSC Lillie in French Ligue1 with the dwindling form of Ikeme and  Akpeyi .

Then, Fanendo Adi goal scoring form has been high up in MLS Portland Timbers.
I also feel home boys Stephen Odey and Skiru Olatubunson should also be call up. These two MFM players are setting Nigeria Professional Football League on fire...displaying some High standard performance rate.


I think we should leave names and go for players in their best form. If we should follow the high performance rate theory, let me give you my Super Eagles ideal first team at the moment.
1. Vincent Enyeama (1st Choice Goslkeeper)
2. Kenneth Omerue (Right half Back)
3. Ekonu (left half back)
4. Wilfred Ndidi (Central Midfielder)
5. Leon Balogun ( Central Defender)
6. Mikel Obi (Central Defender)
7. Simon Moses (Right wing Attacking Midfielder)
8. Kelechi Iheanacho (Assist Striker)
9. Fanendo Adi (Striker)
10. John Ogu (playmaker, Attacking midfielder)
11. Victor Moses (left wing, attacking midfielder)

Substitute
12. Ikeme (Alternate Goalkeeper)
13. Elderson Echejina (utility defender)
14. Isaac Success (Sub Striker)
15. Ahmed Musa (Sub Attacking midfielder)
16. Ogenyi Onazi (Sub Central midfielder)