By Francis Ajuonuma
With less than three months to the kick-off of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Cameroon, Nigerian ex-international, Femi Opabunmi has warned that poor team play could ruin the Super Eagles chances at winning the trophy. The three-time African champions are drawn in Group D where they will face the likes of Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau for a place in round 16.
Opabunmi, who spoke, while reacting to the Super Eagles chances at the biggest African football fiesta, noted that in terms of quality players, the Super Eagles look good to conquer all and lift the title for the fourth time but only if they are able to play as a team.
Opabunmi, who was a member of the victorious Golden Eaglets team at the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago and a key member of the Super Eagles squad of the Korea/Japan 2002 FIFA World Cup challenged the coaching crew to work on the team’s midfield to improve on its’ link up with the defence and the attack.
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“The Super Eagles are favourites to win the Nations Cup in Cameroon. The team boast of quality players that can dominate any opposition that comes their way. “However, my fear for the team is that they lack team play and this could be their undoing in Cameroon,” he said.
“My advice to Gernot Rohr and his coaching crew is that they should work on the team’s midfield and ensure that the transmission of play from the defence to the midfield and from the midfielders to the attackers are well cohesive to get the best out of the team,” added the former Grasshopper of Switzerland star.
