Top 5 Talking Points in Super Eagles Sorjourn To the Semi Finals in this Afcon

The Super Eagles have coasted to the semis of this Afcon in flawless fashion having tasted zero defeats before making light work of Algeria in this week's quarters.

My 5 Talking Points

1. Chelle’s fearsome bench: With what the Super Eagles have achieved in this tournament thus far, it is scary to think how many top quality players have been on the bench, only to play minimal roles. Chukwueze, Onuachu, Dele-Bashiru and Onyedika, to mention but a few.

2. Chelle’s masterclass formation: How the team have taken to this diamond 4-1-2-1-2 (4-3-1-2) is nothing short of magic. The level of understanding and connectivity between Iwobi, Bruno, Lookman and Osihmen is magic. Same can be said for Bassey, Onyeka, Osayi-Samuel and Ndidi.

3. Passing Routines: I counted the Super Eagles exchange 22 passes uninterrupted before a minor dislocation by Algeria which the Super Eagles reclaimed before the second goal; magic.

4. Direct Driven Passes: Long passes on grass across a ridiculously long distance has been Iwobi’s stock-in-trade in this tournament. But, others have chipped in too. Semi Ajayi, Bassey and Ndidi have also threaded tantalising driven passes to open up defences.

5. Crosses and Goals: The team delivers as many quality crosses as one can count. Even unlikely crossers like Frank Onyeka troubled Algeria with neat crosses. Almost all Nigeria’s goals have been highly technical and well thought out.

Hence, Nigeria has been the only perfect side and a run away train in this tournament.

It will be an anticlimax if this team fails to fashion a podium finish in this tournament.