Hurrah! Nigeria beats Congo but this Super Eagles Must Improve

Peradventure you missed the game between the Red devils of Congo and our Super Eagles, i would say you misssed a great deal.

Some say in football you need some luck, i'll say that was what came to play on the day. Thanks to recalled Villareal striker Ike Uche who converted a penalty won by Emmanuel Emenike in the 58th minute before the man who plies his trade China Aaron Samuel, whom many have criticized coach Stephen Keshi for inviting, ''relatively unknown'' as he was then branded.

Both goals came in the second half, after a fruitless encounter in the first 45 minutes that would have seen the Eagles gone behind but for the wastefulness of the devils, glad they never scored anyway, it would have been worse. Being fully aware of the importance of the outcome of the game, the devils played purposefully with finesse and panache from the blast of the whistle, They looked like a team with a plan as they took our team to the cleaners, enjoying so much of the ball in the middle down to the wings but for some brilliance exhibied by the Eagles shot-stopper, Vincent Enyeama.

Soon after the Eagles the first goal, the devils were awarded a lifeline to put the game back on track for themselves and their already disturbed fans, but to their amazement, Vincent Enyeam stepped his game up, ha it saved and it was play continue.

Ike Uche made his presence known, not because he scored from the spot but for the way he kept the attack alive, holding on to balls when necessary, intelligently taking on defens and attempting to score when called up. His ball control was topnotched, you can tell where he plies his trade.

Lets just say getting the three points was very important and is all that matter right now, the Eagles didnt get better as a team until the introduction of Sone Aluko and Aaron Samuel who changed the game and the team began to string a couple of passes. The needful then was someone who could connect easily with the forward which we did not get to see earlier, thanks to the wasteful long balls from the back and the midfield held by John Obi Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi and Hope Akpan who later got injured and was substituted for Aluko.

For me, the attack found it difficult to get balls at their feet as they had to struggle to come alive, until Mikel realised that going forward was best.

Frankly speaking, i really do not blam those who have been calling for the introduction of the likes of Kelechi iheanacho.Our Eagles need to play exciting football like we see other teams do, reference to the teams that have made it through to the competition already like Algeria, Senegal et al. Some individual intelligence, players who could make something happen with less struggles for the attackers.

Did I hear you say we miss Jay Jay, yes and Papilo? Yes! That was the song on everyone's lips where i watched the game. No one is saying play good football and lose would be better, but the confident play that got us that name ''giant of Africa''' is gone. No team would be afraid of this Eagles, that is why we struggle to qualify playing against the likes of Sudan and Congo. Wake up giants! You won Afcon just last year.

Credit must go to the team and Coach Stephen Keshi for securing the all important victory, but the truth must be told as we approach the final game on home soil. It will be against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa on the turf of the new Akwa Ibom Statdium. Come Wednesday, the fate of the Eagles will be decided, in fact, the team under pressure is Nigeria because the men from the South have their feets already in Equatorial Guinea.

Have your say, this is Amos' opinion.