Super Eagles Afcon Squad SWOT Analysis

Super Eagles Afcon Squad: A SWOT Analysis

Conflicting reports or rumours from a cross-section on online media outlets suggest that some Super Eagles players, not least of which is megastar striker Victor Osihmen, are planning to give the Egypt friendly a wide berth so as to avoid avoidable injury ahead of the Afcon tournament.

So, for me, it remains to be seen how many players will actually turn up for the match. If you ask me, I think the friendly is meaningless, more so as the players only just emerged ruffled from a gruelling World Cup qualification playoffs.

However, the coaches are in Egypt and Francis Uzoho has also made an appearance so, the appetite is there from some quarters for the friendly to go ahead.

Since the Super Eagles Afcon list was released, I have been pondering whether it is strong enough to make a statement in Morocco.

Several observers have tipped Nigeria to lift the trophy. I am not sure I can go that far. However, on paper, and even on the pitch, this team and this coaching crew are more than capable of returning to Abuja with medals dangling on their necks.

A podium finish for this Super Eagles outfit is something I am willing to edge my bets on. On that note, I have undertaken my belated SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis on the squad.

Strengths:

No less than 17 players from the squad have Afcon experience and medals. This tournament exposure and experience should serve the team well.

In attack, Nigeria not only boast of some of the best strikers on the continent, they have also recently found their scoring boots in Super Eagles colour. Six of the nine strikers are also top performers for their clubs.

Weaknesses:

The retirement of William Troost-Ekong has left a massive gap that will be hard to fill.

The void created by his leadership qualities, off-the-field charm, proficiency in taking penalties, and offensive threats in set-peices will need to be filled. It was not fraud that Ekong won the player-of-the-tounament award in the last Afcon.

Against Congo, lacks of creativity, dynamism, penetration and magic in Nigeria's midfield was laid to bear. It remains to be seen whether Eric Chelle can issue instructions and provide directions (to Iwobi and co.) that can transform Nigeria's midfield to avoid the paralysis and subjugation experienced against Congo.

Opportunities:

With majority of our strikers hitting the sweet spot in club football, Nigeria has the chance to outscore opponents all the way through to the final.

People criticise Ndidi a lot but I would argue that Nigeria has one of the best centre/defensive midfield infrastructure in the tournament. What the midfield lacks in creativity, it posseses in practicality in how it shields the defence. Our midfielders also possess preeminent work rate that was instrumental in leading the team to second place finish in the last Afcon.

If Nwabali stays fit, Nigeria always have a fighting chance if knockout round matches go to penalties

Threats:

Nigeria continues to struggle with a back four. When we go to a back five, we became solid defensively but we are deprived of the firepower of our strikers who will spend the bulk of their time defending.

If the lack of dynamism in Nigeria's (attacking) midfield is not addressed speedily, it might curtail our ambitions, just like the same factor directly torpedoed our chances of advancing to the latter stages of the intercontinental World Cup playoffs.