Posted by Samuel on Thu 12th Sep, 2024 - tori.ng
Siasia said the Super Eagles need a playmaker in the mould of former captain of the side, Austine Jay Jay Okocha to be a world-beater.
Samson Siasia, a former Super Eagles head coach, says he believes the team is currently lacking a creative midfielder.
Siasia said the Super Eagles need a playmaker in the mould of former captain of the side, Austine Jay Jay Okocha to be a world-beater.
Nigeria is yet to find a suitable replacement for Okocha since the former Bolton Wanderers star quit international football in 2006.
Former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi was expected to take up the role but failed to live up to expectations.
Fulham star, Alex Iwobi has been used in the number 10 role in recent years but Siasia claimed he is not good enough to play the position.
“We don’t have an offensive midfield player that can give the last pass to the strikers. We have great strikers, but we need someone that is missing,” Siasia told Lagos Talks.
“Iwobi can not play that position. He’s a good player, but he’s not doing as much as he’s supposed to as an offensive player. We have to look for that person in the centre of the field, who can give the last passes and score goals.
“In the defence and other parts, right and left midfield, we are good. We need someone like Jay-Jay Okocha, but it has to be somebody that can score more than him.”