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The Super Eagles have said that they are confident of coming back to improve their chances of progressing to the second round of the World Cup after a disappointing goalless draw with Iran on Monday.
The Iran underdogs held the Nigerian senior national to the first draw of the world tournament, after the Super Eagles were unable to find their way through the opponents’ defence while also failing to create clear cut opportunities.
Describing the match as a “scoreless stalemate,” the Super Eagles wrote on their official Twitter account that they would keep up with their game and turn around their fortunes for better in subsequent matches.
Soliciting the unrivalled support of Nigerians home and abroad, the Super Eagles said they would come back stronger and better in the days ahead.
“We showed a lot of heart. We live to fight another day. Keep rallying that support,” the Super Eagles wrote in a message on their Twitter page.
Meanwhile, Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, has said that he is thrilled and pleased with the outcome of the 2014 World Cup opening game of his country’s national team after the Islamic republic held the Nigerian Super Eagles to a goalless draw.
President Rouhani stated that with the manner in which his national team, which many had relegated to the background as underdogs, managed to secure a point in their first outing, the world should look forward to seeing more surprises.
Taking a break from his traditional and fashionable clerical garb, the Iranian President wore the sports jersey of his national team sipping tea, while watching the game, as indicated in the picture he posted on his official Twitter handle.
The elated Iranian leader took to Twitter to celebrate the first draw of the 2014 World Cup, which many Super Eagles fans describe as a disappointing affair.
“I am proud of our boys who secured our first point. Hopefully the first of many more to come,” the Iranian President said of the game.
Although President Goodluck Jonathan has yet to make his observations about the Super Eagles first outing at the World Cup, like his Iranian counterpart did, his words of encouragement to the national team has been consistent.
According to the President, there is no factor that should deter the team from doing the nation proud at the global sporting event.
Wishing the Super Eagles good luck while leaving for Brazil, the President gave a charge to them via his Facebook page, saying, “There is no stopping Nigeria. Support our national team, the Super Eagles, at the 2014 World Cup.”
But sports analysts and soccer loving Nigerians have expressed dissatisfaction with the pattern of play and fighting spirit of the Super Eagles.
Sports writer and broadcaster for the BBC World Service, Oluwasina Okeleji, who is in Brazil covering the World Cup for Optima Sports TV, stated that it was surprising that the Super Eagles were “wingless” and lacked tactics.
He expressed concerns that the national team has yet to win a world cup match since the France 1998 World Cup.
“Nigeria couldn’t end 16-year wait for a World Cup win in Curitiba, Brazil. The Wingless Super Eagles are winless since France 1998,” Okeleji wrote on Twitter.
Sports analyst, Segun Agbede, blamed the lack- lustre performance of the Super Eagles on the absence of a playmaker who would break into the Iranian defence.
He stated that the lack of such a creative player in the team was “very worrisome” and may be an impediment for the team to progress in the competition.
As a matter of necessity, Agbede argued, the Super Eagles must raise their game against Bosnia in their second group stage match, to get a chance of advancing to the round of 16.
“We don’t have world class players. All we can ask is committed performances from the boys in our next two games. The lack of a playmaker has been the bane of the Eagles. A player that can burst beyond the strikers.
“The Eagles were ponderous and too predictable yesterday. It was easy Team Melli (Iran) to keep us playing in front and not behind them. Teams earn results on the pitch. Anyone that feels Iran were obliged to donate three points to the Eagles must be smoking something,” he said on Twitter.
According to him, the widespread outrage by Nigerians over the Eagles’ poor performance is understandable but he added that fans should not write the Nigerian team off yet.
“Let’s wait for that game (Bosnia) before we write the Eagles off. I can understand the fans’ outrage over the Eagles tepid performance yesterday but the equation remains the same.
“To qualify we must beat Bosnia. Iran was disciplined and well organised. Eleven men behind the ball. The game against Bosnia will be much more open as Bosnia needs a win too,” Agbede added.
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