Ex-international, Mutiu Adepoju, has x-rayed the Super Eagles’ performance in Saturday’s first game against Burundi in the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Egypt.
He commended the players for their performance but identified the need to employ faster and more coordinated transition in their subsequent games.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Saturday after the match, he said the team could go far in the competition if the right tactics are employed.
NAN reports that the Super Eagles secured a narrow 1-0 win over debutants Burundi in their opening match of the 2019 AFCON, with substitute Odion Ighalo scoring with a cool finish.
Adepoju who maintained that there were no more minnows in African football praised the resilience of the Eagles for picking up the three points.
“You know there are no longer minnows in African football, so we have to respect the Burundi team and others.
“I commend the boys for a job well done. But going forward I think we need faster transition from defence to midfield and attack.
“We need to have the ability to surprise our opponents and not to be very predictable,” he said.
The 1994 AFCON winner said the introduction of Ahmed Musa and Odion Igahlo in the second half changed the game.
He called on Nigerians to continue to support the Eagles so as to bring back the Cup at the end of the tournament.
The Super Eagles will take on West African counterparts Guinea on Wednesday in their next match in the group.
The Ibadan, Oyo State-born Adepoju played most of his career in Spain, amassing La Liga totals of 175 games and 22 goals over the course of seven seasons and mainly representing Racing de Santander and Real Sociedad.
A Nigeria international for 12 years, Adepoju appeared for the country in three World Cups and as many Africa Cup of Nations.
He left Nigeria in 1989 to join Real Madrid, but never made it past its B-side. His first professional season was impressive as he scored 11 Segunda División goals to help Racing de Santander return to La Liga, and he continued to feature and net regularly for the Cantabrians in the next three years.
Mutiu left for Real Sociedad for 1996–97 but, after a solid first campaign, struggled heavily to hold down a regular place with the Basques. In 2001–02 he represented Saudi Arabia’s Ittihad FC, but quickly returned to Spain where he featured rarely for second level club UD Salamanca.
After two more weak years, in Turkey and Cyprus, Adepoju retired in 2006 in Spain’s lower leagues. He subsequently returned to his first team Shooting Stars FC, as chief administrator.
