By Solomon Nwoke

FORMER Super Eagles Coach Chief Adegboye Onigbinde and former Technical Director of the  Nigeria Football Association (NFA),  Kashimawo Laloko have urged the Super Eagles not to be carried away by the recent victories they recorded under coach Samson Siasia.

Both veteran coaches spoke to Sunday Vanguard Sports in separate chats and lauded the team’s performance in the two friendly matches played and one competitive game against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia last Sunday in Abuja, but opined that the team should not think they have arrived.

Chief Oniigbinde said that “from technical point of view, I will say that it’s too early to say that we have gotten the desired senior national team Nigerians are yearning for.

Again, I have not watched any of their matches live, I only saw them on television. I’ve always been wary of analysing matches from television point of view because you will agree with me that television will only focus on a narrow angle.

The Super Eagles celebrating a goal

“I have not seen them physically but, as every other Nigerian, I’m happy that we are having some good results . At the same time, from experience there’s a difference between result and performance.

Even in our private lives, it’s not every time we put in our best that we succeed and vice versa . Let me say that I’m the type who’s never satisfied with any level of achievement. So I always believe there’s room for improvement.

We should not rest on our oars because we are having good results. I want to commend Siasia for bringing in some new boys into the team. Let’s hope they continue like that and continue to brush up to a level they will be very useful to the country.” 

on his part, the former chief coach of the Gambia national team,  Loloko called for a total overhauling of the team.

“It’s encouraging for the players who have played up to two or three matches, not that we are there yet. It’s very good that we are winning.

“All the same, I expected that Siasia should have thrown away all the old players. I am still not  convinced  that Joseph Yobo can play in that team. If Siasia is overhauling the team, let it be total. He should not be afraid of anything, he should try and work hard. Even if he loses any match, I don’t care and  if he wins at the appropriate time, we’ll be happy, “ he said.