Mozambique’s captain Manuel Tico-Tico Bucuane celebrates his goal against Tunisia Photos\Reuters

Nigeria deserves World Cup spot, says Nooij

By Ifeanyi Ibeh

Coach of the Mozambican team, Martin Nooij believes the Super Eagles, and not Tunisia, deserve to be at the World Cup as he is of the opinion that the Nigerian team has a better international status than the North Africans.

Nooij, on Saturday, guided Mozambique to their first African Cup of Nations appearance since 1998 following their 1-0 win over the Tunisians in Maputo, a result which guaranteed a spot at next year’s tournament in South Africa for a Super Eagles side that won 3-2 in Kenya. Having played against both Nigeria and Tunisia in the qualifiers, he feels the Super Eagles have a better chance of making the rest of Africa proud at the World Cup than the Carthage Eagles.

“I have seen both of them play and they are good teams,” said Nooij in a telephone chat with NEXTSports, “but I think the Nigerian team is stronger and Africa will be proud of them at the World Cup.

“There are a lot of good players in the Nigerian team, players who play in Europe like (Nwankwo) Kanu, (Joseph) Yobo, (John Obi) Mikel, (Aiyegbeni) Yakubu and (Osaze) Odemwingie. They are all big players and any coach would like to have players like that.

“But the problem with the Nigerian team is that most of the time they don’t play as a team,” added the Dutchman. “They are more like a collection of individuals and that was why they found it difficult when playing against teams that play collectively like us.”

Teamwork

The Super Eagles all through the qualifiers found the going tough whenever they came up against coherent sides and Nooij feels that was as a result of the core of the team being based overseas which left the team’s coaching crew with little time to spend with the players prior to matches.

Although he doesn’t see that scenario changing considerably before the World Cup, Nooij hopes Shaibu Amodu and his assistants will find a way of making the most of any opportunity that may arise before the tournament gets underway in June next year.

Angola 2010

One of such opportunities, besides friendly matches, will be at January’s African Cup of Nations in Angola where Amodu will have the rare chance of spending between two to five weeks with his players depending on how far the Super Eagles go in the three-week tournament whose draws will be conducted on November 20 in Luanda.

There is a possibility that the Super Eagles will get to clash once again with the Mozambicans at Angola 2010 and if it comes to pass,

Nooij feels it will be a great opportunity for his side to avenge their 1-0 loss to Nigeria in Abuja, even though victory over one of the teams he considers favourites for the Cup of Nations isn’t his main priority.

“If we meet Nigeria in Angola I think we will win especially if they keep depending on individuality rather than collective teamwork,” continued Nooij. “But our target is to go very far in Angola,” added the Mambas coach who also feels the quartet of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and defending champions Egypt all stand a good chance of winning the Nations Cup.

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Reader Comments (11)

Posted by Philemon Elisha on Nov 16 2009

Am happy with what the Mozambican coach Nooij has just said. His assertion about the Nigerian team is completely true. They depend more on individual performance than on collective team work. I think Nigeria should learn and improve in this area if they really want to advance in both the African cup of nations and world cup next year.

Posted by oba on Nov 16 2009

This Mozambique coach can be a big ''hit'' with the Super Eagles! We dont need a high profile coach. you can see the way he moulded Mozambique into a great team. Let go for him!

Posted by wale adeyemo on Nov 16 2009

u r right,and in my candid opinion i think gradual & consistent introduction of some home base players will do the magic u dont depend on foreign players all the time.clemence westerhof was responsible for the development of most players that formed the bedrock of eagles of 19994 set from home base players whoever have ears let them hear.i think we did not deserve to qualify if not for millions of fans that sacrificed a lot

Posted by DADIGI BENSON IBILATE on Nov 17 2009

THE GREEN EAGLES SHOULD DROP THEIR PRIDE AND WORK TOGETHER WITH HUMILITY AND INCREASE THE PACE OF THEIR FOOTH-WALK. WE NEED I REJUVINATED EAGLES WITH FASTER MOVEMENT ON THE FIELD IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Posted by Chukwudi on Nov 17 2009

The Mozambican football coach's assessment of the Super Eagles is very true. Let's hope that they will learn to play like a team to make Africa proud on an African soil.

Posted by Chukwudi on Nov 17 2009

The Mozambican football coach's assessment of the Super Eagles is very true. Let's hope that they will learn to play like a team to make Africa proud on an African soil.

Posted by kelechi udoh on Nov 17 2009

i tag this the miracle of nairobi!God gave us the w'cup ticket in exchange fr the under 17 wcup!! we can,t eat our cake and still hav it!

Posted by BUCHIU on Nov 17 2009

IT IS SIR ,BUT OUR BIG BOYS WERE ASHAMED OF THERE WOEFUL PERFORMANCE ,THAT WAS WHY THEY DID THEIR WORK WELL

Posted by Dayo Ajayi on Nov 17 2009

Sincere comment from this coach. What we need is a team of footballers that play together regularly and not a foreign coach. A good foreign coach will not be allowed to work for another country peradventure he has to confront his home country. Learn from this. It took Westerhof four years to raise the 1994 team. A lot of our home coaches can do better. A good example is Chief Onigbinde in 1984.

Posted by Ebubedike on Nov 17 2009

Sure we have a good players,But there is one big problem with our super green eagles.they always jokes while playing football.Game is business and you have to be serious indeed.Just think about Brazil!! why are they best in the world,Because there is nothing forgranted.Nigerians need to believe theirselves and work like a team not indevidual that is how you will be a world champion. our players should know when they are in camp,the whole of millions of Nigerias are watching them and they need to do their best all the time.finally May God bless us and i hope to see their good job june 2010 in south Africa.