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Musa key to beating Tanzania, says Elaho

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Musa, Ikeme, Ighalo, Moses declare war on Egypt

In from Nifemi Daniel
As the Super Eagles get set to take on the Taifa Stars of Tanzania on Saturday in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Group G qualifier in Dar es Salaam, a former national team winger, Friday Elaho, has called on the team’s coaching crew, led by Sunday Oliseh, to make use of Ahmed Musa’s pace and skill to get the job done in the Tanzanian capital.
Musa has for long been regarded as one of the fastest forwards in world football, and has a proven reputation as a goal scorer even though he has mostly been utilised as a winger both in the Super Eagles and at Russian club side, CSKA Moscow.
The 22-year-old has scored an impressive 10 goals in 48 appearances for Nigeria and has already scored six times in 11 appearances in all competitions for the former Russian Premier League champions this season.
Elaho, who made 14 appearances for the Super Eagles between 1990 and 1993 before losing his place in the Super Eagles to a then younger and faster Emmanuel Amuneke, who went on to become African Player of the Year in 1994, understands the importance of wing play and has advised Oliseh to make maximum use of Musa’s capabilities against the Taifa Stars.
“Musa should be well utilised as a winger because he is fast and can use his speed to outrun defenders,” said Elaho, who took part in two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments – Algiers 1990 and Senegal 1992.

Read also: Musa to captain Eagles as Thomas replaces Enyeama

“He should be used interchangeably on both the right and left flank upfront.”
The former Insurance of Benin, Africa Sports of Abidjan and Brondby of Denmark player, despite his high regard for Musa’s abilities, does not however think the Russian-based winger and other similar players in the current Super Eagles are as good as his generation of wingers, such as Amuneke, Finidi George, Humphrey Edobor, Wasiu Ipaye and Dotun Alatishe.
And he believes the current generation of Nigerian coaches are to blame for the shortage of quality wingers.
“It’s so sad that we don’t have fantastic wingers in the Super Eagles again and I will blame the coaches for that because they don’t have the patience to discover and nurture players,” continued Elaho.
“We started from the grassroots, played in the Nigerian league and then found our way into the national team, but our national team coaches now want to bank on foreign-based players without giving necessary attention to the lads available at home.”
The Super Eagles currently occupy second spot in Group G behind Egypt, but only on goals difference after both sides won their respective opening day fixtures with Nigeria defeating Chad 2-0 in Kaduna, while Egypt got the better of Tanzania 3-0 in Cairo.
Saturday’s game against Tanzania will be Oliseh’s first in charge of the Super Eagles, and Elaho believes the former Nigeria midfielder has no other choice but to secure a win against the East Africans.
“This Tanzania match is very crucial for Nigeria and the coaches have no choice than to win the game,” he continued. “The Eagles must win the game for themselves, the country and for the coach because this is Sunday Oliseh’s first game in charge and his first test.”
And asked to predict the outcome of the encounter in Dar es Salaam, Elaho said: “I believe our boys will secure a win; maybe 1-0 or 2-1 because Tanzania is not a threat to us.”

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