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The two games against Guinea Bissau were meant to be a cakewalk for the Super Eagles. The last time the National Team was in action, they crumbled in a World Cup warm-up game against Portugal, losing four goals to nil in that encounter. That game meant that the Super Eagles had won just two of their last seven games and lost all the other five by an outstanding 11-2 scoreline. The first game against Guinea Bissau did not put an end to that wretched streak but instead extended their losing streak to four consecutive games.

There are various flaws in the team. Some fans are not completely convinced that the 4-4-2/4-2-4 formation can work, the midfield dynamic leaves a lot to be desired, and the front line is not firing on all cylinders. However, the most glaring weakness of the team is its defensive solidity. They simply concede a lot of avoidable goals. It is no news that one of the most challenging aspects of the game for managers who play heavy-possession football is the stability in defense. You want to attack with as many players as possible while still maintaining a solid enough shape that you do not easily get scored on the counter. The first game in Abuja saw the Super Eagles boast an impressive 68% possession, completed three times as many passes as Guinea Bissau, and also tripled the visitors’ shot attempts. The defense was unable to hold their own whenever Guinea Bissau countered, and a mixture of individual errors, missed assignments, and defensive breakdowns, saw them concede 2 big chances, including the game-losing goal. The second game of this series saw a better overall performance thanks to some changes made by the gaffer. It did not stop the defense from falling asleep in some critical moments, but they were spared by errant finishing.

Higher up the pitch, though, the Super Eagles are struggling to score goals. This may be the best time to mention that the leader of the scorer’s chart in Italy, Victor Osimhen, plays for the Nigerian national team. The team had an average of 63% possession across the two games played, but there is still a very obvious hole in the attacking third. With Alex Iwobi now fully reborn in a deeper role. There is no one else on the team who has stepped up and shown that they have the vision and execution to unlock tight defenses. The front two pairing of Osimhen and whoever has not positively affected the team’s goal-scoring form. They are then left to feed off half chances and set pieces when playing against uber-defensive teams.

It is not all bad, though. Bright Osayi-Samuel was the most impressive across the two games played and seems like a really good player in that right-back spot. He is an industrious fullback and very brave in the final third, attempting take-ons and finding ways to create for the team. Alex Iwobi, whom I mentioned before, has become the mainstay in midfield. He is a highly technical player who has all the attributes to control the game from deep and has added pass security to his game, averaging 89% pass success in the series. The Everton man is not the most defensively stout player, unfortunately, this has coincided with Wilfred Ndidi’s worst run of games since he became a household name. Victor Osimhen is still very much one of the most potent goal threats in world football, and between Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, and Samuel Chukuwueze, there are enough runners and dribblers on the team to help create something out of nothing. Consistent performances, however,  seem to elude this group. Since putting 10 goals past Sao Tome and Principe, the Super Eagles have scored just twice in five games.

The Super Eagles, who play for the most populous country in Africa and are known as the “Giants of Africa,” want and are expected to be as good as Algeria. The target is to compete with World Cup semifinalists,  Morocco and stand toe-to-toe with the current all-round African champions, Senegal. To get to that level, you need to be a consistent, well-coordinated, and fully functional football team. You need to be super. And right now, despite all the individual talent, there is simply nothing super about the Super Eagles.