What Must The Super Eagles Do To Crush and Crucify Congo in World Cup Playoff?

Personally, I think Nigeria's chances of defeating Congo will be greatly enhanced by limiting the lapses of the liabilities in this Super Eagles outfit.

Coach Chelle has already addressed one of them by demoting Ekong to the bench, but more needs to be done.

Congo are a highly credible outfit with arguably the best back four pairing in African football at the moment. Make no mistakes, Congo is rock solid defensively.

In midfield, they are compact without the ball but offensively, they are nowhere near Nigeria's level.

Osihmen is top 5 global center forward class and as a unit, the Super Eagles under Chelle generate a raft of ravaging scoring chances. But for carelessness, Osihmen could either have had a brace in the first half against Gabon or he could easily have delivered the kiss of death in the last minute of the match.

With all the off-field distractions around this team, the Super Eagles appear to remain focused, resolute and united around the common goal of making the most of this second chance to the qualify for the world cup.

As a unit, you have to say the Super Eagles have a slight edge over Congo. Some would say the gulf in class between both teams is wider in favour of Nigeria.

But, in my estimation, we have far greater liabilities than Congo. Should Congo target and capitalise on the lapses of those liabilities, it's over for Nigeria.

Liabilities:

Nwabali must release the ball within 3 seconds or else a smart centre forward will rob him off it. He always seems to be a heartbeat away from making costly errors.

Ejuke hardly tracks back. If he did, Gabon would never have equalised.

Osayi-Samuel is great going forward but can be caught napping at times at the back.

Iwobi, a great guy with a great heart can really be more imposing at the middle. After all, he has been playing that role long enough for Nigeria.

As an outfit, the entire Super Eagles machinery becomes a liability late in matches as Chelle's Super Eagles have yet to master the art of seeing out games compellingly: conceding late, needless goals when victory was more or less in the bag, has become something of a recurring theme of this team.

Honestly, if these lapses can be addressed effectively, I boldly predict that the Super Eagles will defeat Congo convincingly 3:1 and the team will go on to at least reach the semifinals of the Afcon.

The team is good, lapses from liabilities remain a sore thumb.