HOME > NEWS > SEGUN ODEGBAMI SLAMS THE STANDARD OF THE 2012 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Segun Odegbami slams the standard of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations

Odegbami sticks to Ghana-Ivory Coast final

Posted: 2012-01-31 14:29

Nigerian legend Segun Odegbami has slammed the standard of this year's Africa Cup of Nations and insists Ghana and Ivory Coast look like the most likely winners of the competition.  

Odegbami says while Ghana may not have played well so far, they still look the most likely winners ahead of the Ivory Coast.
 
"Ghana may not have played very well, but they still look the most compact team in the championship. If they will be beaten at all it can only be by their co-favourite in the championship, Ivory Coast, and even that would be a very steep mountain to climb," Odegbami wrote on his SuperSport column.
 
"Ivory Coast have won their matches but have not shown a cohesiveness that convinces analysts they can go all the way. Ivory Coast still need their current best player, Yaya Toure, to lift his game and knit his attack into a consistent goal-scoring machine in order to succeed. So far, he is not showing enough of his true capability."
 
The former Super Eagles winger is disappointed with the quality of football which he claims is partly because Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt and South Africa are absent.
 
"Afcon 2012, so far, has been disappointing. The championship has not lived up to my expectations in many ways," Odegbami said.
 
"The standard and quality of play have been relatively low. The high profile players (the superstars in several European clubs) have been subdued and unimpressive. The terraces in most matches have been full of empty seats.
 
"The audiences at matches outside of the host teams have not been as boisterous, loud, colourful and exuberant as we have seen in recent previous editions, where the atmosphere around the grounds gave the African football festival a unique flavour.
 
"The performances have been characterised by physical play and too much running without a discernible strategy and discipline; evidence of poor coaching. Even the teams that boast some of the best African players have not displayed mastery or been comfortable on the ball." 

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Game147: 2012-01-31 16:11

Mr. Segun Odegbami 'mathematical', your majesty, with due respect, I disagree with you to an extent. So far, I've seen all the matches at Afcon and your assessment if far from the truth ( from personal point of view though).
Mali's loss to Ghana was more of luck than judgment. The Malians crushed both sides of bar with a spectacular free-kick when the scoreline was still goalless , if that ball had gone in, then we would've had a different scoreline.
When Ghana was leading by 0ne-goal margin, the Malians had another clear chance to equalize when Kwarasey misjudged the corner-kick.

Ghana's real test is against Guinea. If they can stop the galloping,rampaging and menace of Guinean attack and creativity............hmmmmmmm.

The Guineas were just unlucky against Mali, they should've beaten Mali by 5 or 6 goals to 1.

Ivory Coast and Gabon are real contenders. Ivory Coast showed how classy they are by using almost their B-team to beat Angola (2-0); that's a big plus to them.

Gabon and Morocco match is the match of the tournament so far , very exiting game to watch. I think Gabon has the fire-power to excel in this tournament.

Ghana is tactically disciplined , but the real test is today.

Teams of the Afcon tournament are Gabon and Ivory Coast.
Players of the Tornament so far are : (1) Paschal Feindonou ,(2) Ibrahim Traore (3) Mayuka, (4) katongo, (5) Daniel Cousin ,(6)Bamba and Tunisian Number seven jersey.

For European based stars not to have lived up to expectation makes it more exiting.

'The Young shall grow'.

Good-luck to eventual winners.

krain: 2012-01-31 16:55

I beg to diagree with Mr. Odegbami, the best teams qualified to Afcon finals, unless he is saying the other teams were favoured. Its possible Sudan,Zambia, or Tunisia can carry the day. Mr. Odegbami (his opinion)he talking about nigeria, cameroun, egypt of yesteryears

9ja Guy: 2012-01-31 21:15

Oga Segun what good is Nigeria,Cameroon,Egypt and South Africa if they can't qualify for 2012 afcon.The performances are ok from all the teams, don't forget they beat those losers to get there.

BigE: 2012-01-31 22:13

Someone hit the nail right on the head. If the teams currently playing are as bad as he says, you can only imagine the "whack-jobs" who didn't qualify.
Many years ago Guinea, Mali and many other countries had a lot more pressing issues that focus on football. Those were the days where Nigeria's J J Okocha could show up out-of-shape and still dazzle. the world changed and the competition got stiffer, so its takes a little more than skill and some sense of entitlement to qualify.
I don’t care if Sudan wins. The point is, anyone who is here qualified to be here, so whoever didn't show up should take a second look at themselves before they rain on someone else's parade.

val: 2012-02-01 00:14

AAAAAAAAAAhhh!!, may be Ode really meant to say all the teams that qualified actually played badly, but those that did not qualify would have been worst enough to mess the game -Football.

Mimi: 2012-02-01 03:29

@Game147, I like your list of top performers so far at the AFCON, you've really got eyes for talent, I must say.
I object to one name there, though, Daniel Cousin. He has been okay, but Gabon's best player by miles has been Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. That number 7 for Tunisia you mentioned is such an exciting player. His name is Msakni. He currently plays in Esperance. Surely, he wouldn't be there for long before he takes his trade to Europe. Another impressive player has been the midfielder, Kalaba of Zambia.

On a lighter note, I like the question you asked Amata plus about his controversial statement on Okocha's career's impact on Nigerian football development. I was surprised that a Nigerian football lover could make such an awkward statement. During my studies abroad, I played pick up soccer with people from different parts of the globe and once many of them found out I was Nigerian, one name they kept mentioning was Jay Jay Okocha, even before Kanu. At such moments, I felt very proud to be Nigerian. I never knew Jay Jay was as good as he was until after his career was over. There was even a time I came across his videos on youtube and I literally wept afterwards- at the sheer talent that he possessed, and the fact that he didnt even play to the fullness of his potential. If Jay Jay was playing in this era (where clubs are ready to splash the cash at the discovery of real football talent), he would have been hot cake, with the very top European clubs scrambling for his signature.

Diehardbucs : 2012-02-01 09:53

Though im a S African,it pained me a lot to see my favourate Nigeria fail to qualify @ the hands of Guinea.Still i cant bealive this especialy watching Guinea play.But i think Nigeria's problem is similar to SA's problem.The local coaches.Simply get rid of localphobia & you wl see the results.I cant imagin the France98 game aganst Spain?Had it not Milutinovic's mistake playing 2nd team aganst Denmark,i think you were going to have a gr8 game aganst Brazil.Lastly plz goo Nigerians can you tel me why are you killing each other like that??Dont you know that there are different people with different cultures?How many potantial soccer stars have you murdered?You are a disgrace to God.

Game147: 2012-02-01 14:03

@Mimi, Absolutely spot on. Thanks for the info on the Tunisian number seven jersey identity.
I agree with you on the real performer in the Gabonese team, but i selected Daniel Cousin on the basis of his introduction which changed the Gabonese fortune, nevertheless you're right about Aubameyang, he's a delight to watch.
Yeah, Kalaba has been outstanding no doubt, he's so comfortable on the ball and possess creative spark.

On @Amata Plus issue, it got me absolutely stunned. The disapproval of his controversial statement is quite similar to the roasting I got from you when I said Steven Keshi was never a legend, lol.

It's wildly accepted that one mans food is another mans poison but My people also say ; 'you don't require a mirror to confirm what you have on your wrist '. I just don't understand what @Amata Plus meant by such bizarre comment.
Okocha is my all-time favorite footballer and he has a lot in common with Zidane and Ronaldinho. If Okocha were to be a European, imagine what he would've become.

I strongly believe that Okocha can also make a good coach if he gets the required knowledge. Pep Guardiola was a fantastic midfielder during his playing days and we can all see the translation in Barca's pattern.

Honestly, I love Siasia but he's billions of miles behind the legendary 'Jay Jay'. A lot of young talents in Nigeria want to emulate Okocha ; is that not a positive impact to Nigerian football ???.
Even Ghanaians, with their so much detestation to Nigerians still love and respect 'Jay Jay' Okocha....they simply call him 'THE SKILL'.

Abeg too much talk no dey for evening market.

@Mimi, I never knew you were a Nigerian, however , my philosophy is to judge people by the contempt of their character and not their color or ethnicity .

One love brother and may peace be onto your household.

Mimi: 2012-02-01 17:47

@Game147, you are right about Daniel Cousin being an impact sub for Gabon. He's their most experienced player, having been around for years. At 34, he has lost some of his pace and agility, if not, he would have surely been in the first team. I remember seeing him play for Rangers some years ago in the Europa cup (the year they got to the finals) and he was such a delight to watch, along with his attack partners, the Frenchman, Jean Claude Darchville and the Scot, Lee McCullough.

Your comment on the 'roasting' with respect to the Stephen Keshi legend issue made me laugh. I know you know what u r referring as roasting was done tongue in cheek. Haba, I no fit roast u now, u know how to hold on to ur own, defending ur points logically till the end...lol. I always expect any critique of ur views to come back at me with interest...lol.

To me too, Jay Jay is the best footballer to have come out of Nigeria, skill wise. I hope we can raise more Jay Jays in our country. It's always nice discussing football issues with you. Stay blessed bro.

uga: 2012-02-01 21:37

it looks like Caf is trying so hard to make Nigeria jealous with the bias officiating against Guinea in this Guinea Ghana match ROFL

uga: 2012-02-01 21:40

it looks like Caf is trying so hard to make Nigeria jealous with the bias officiating against Guinea in this Guinea Ghana match ROFL

uga: 2012-02-01 21:47

and whats up with Ghana and these white uniforms they are wearing?? It should be illegal for them to be wearing white. It's not like they have white in their national flag. I was rooting for Guinea thinking it was the Ghana team with the red and yellow. That stuff is really confusing. Can Caf please tell Ghana to stop wearing white? Its confusing the fans.
Just because Nigeria wears white now everybody wants to wear white. Geez!

uga: 2012-02-01 21:48

and whats up with Ghana and these white uniforms they are wearing?? It should be illegal for them to be wearing white. It's not like they have white in their national flag. I was rooting for Guinea thinking it was the Ghana team with the red and yellow. That stuff is really confusing. Can Caf please tell Ghana to stop wearing white? Its confusing the fans.
Just because Nigeria wears white now everybody wants to wear white. Geez!

uga: 2012-02-01 22:06

and whats up with Ghana and these white uniforms they are wearing?? It should be illegal for them to be wearing white. It's not like they have white in their national flag. I was rooting for Guinea thinking it was the Ghana team with the red and yellow. That stuff is really confusing. Can Caf please tell Ghana to stop wearing white? Its confusing the fans.
Just because Nigeria wears white now everybody wants to wear white. Geez!

Daniel: 2012-02-02 00:58

I tink we r not gettin wat mr ode is tryin to say dere is no doubt dat sum teams r missed in dis tournament which is affectin d game,even my ivorian team did not do well it was d second team dat playd wel against angola,@game 147 those players dat u listed r just exceptional expecially the tunisian num 7 he is a man to watch but stil hopin 2 see more crackers in dis tourney dany t takordi

MIKASA: 2012-02-02 14:02

CHINEKE...

Salazani: 2012-02-02 16:13

Problem with most Nigerians is that they overate themselves. It surely is not fair to say the current AFCON is below par because of Nigeria's absense. If for example they were their, which player of theirs was really going to lightup the competition because these guys are not known for good teamwork?

Cameroon were pathetic in the 2010 edition and they genuinely did not deserve a place here. Nigerian were lucky to go past the qurter finals, and their perfomances were nothing to write home about. I will admit, that I cant say the same thing about Egypt. Egypt were in a class of their own, but well, they were relying more on the aged players. They never replenished their squad, hence their failing to be at the AFCON.Their squad could not last forever and thus had to be given time to reorganise

Nigerians have to admit, unless they relook at their game, they may be in the afternoons of football. And it is not the first time this is happening to a team. Zaire(Congo DR) was once a football powerhouse, now, for them qualifying is a luxury. So were teams like Uganda, Algeria and even Sudan. These had their time and unless these so called powerhouses do something, they may be heading towards the history books of football.

Therefore, Mr Odegbami(whatever you are) swallow your pride. Nigerians were not good enough for this competition and there is nothing you can do about it. Your SUPPER OWLS did not make the grade sir. Just prapare for 2013, and by the way, Rwanda may not be pushovers, they may just spoil another of your chances if you contnue thinking Nigeria is a big football country.

PHRANCIS AYODELE : 2012-02-02 16:54

Ghana is likely to win but dont write off Gabon

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Game147: 2012-02-02 19:00

@Mimi, Yep you're right. Exchanging views and ideas bereft of nasty utterances is always a welcomed development. I enjoy your challenge too,always exiting. Its good to argue ,draw comparison and learn.

'Your comment on the 'roasting' with respect to the Stephen Keshi legend issue made me laugh. I know you know what u r referring as roasting was done tongue in cheek', you got my ribs cracking with that,lol.

Meanwhile, It's a widely accepted theory that football and politics are like twins , it manifested yesterday in the game between Guinea and Ghana. Caf are already counting their losses at the ongoing Afcon ,from economic view point and Ghana's elimination would've compounded the woes, thus the referee was instructed to frustrate the Guineans.

Guniea out-played ,out-classed and could've defeated Ghana if not for the referees decision to send a Guinean player off.

I'm sure at this point that honest Ghanian's guess are as good as mine,lol.

Daniel: 2012-02-03 00:58

I tink we r not gettin wat mr ode is tryin to say dere is no doubt dat sum teams r missed in dis tournament which is affectin d game,even my ivorian team did not do well it was d second team dat playd wel against angola,@game 147 those players dat u listed r just exceptional expecially the tunisian num 7 he is a man to watch but stil hopin 2 see more crackers in dis tourney dany t takordi

Mimi: 2012-02-03 02:08

@Game147, I concur with ur views on the referee's bias in the Ghana v Guinea game. Ghana didn't expect such a fight from Guinea. It was only after the sending off that Guinea lost their zeal; they were obviously demoralized. Ghana think that the cup is their birthright as Cameroun, Nigeria and Egypt are missing out, but they may just be in for a shocker. Personally, I don't see them winning the cup. Coted'ivoire, though they haven't hit their stride, seem to be a stronger team.

"...too much talk no dey evening market..." lol...that was a perfect conclusion to the Okocha issue.