Can The Super Eagles Continue With Their Bright Start Against Zimbabwe?

Eric Chelle was handed a poisoned chalice to qualify for the world cup after his predecessors hung him out to dry with poor results prior.

The former Mali gaffer must not be judged by qualification for the world cup which in truth is no longer In his hands. It is a 4-horse race with Rwanda, Benin and South Africa in very strong positions as Zimbabwe and Lesotho primed to be verified spoilers.

Chelle should rather be judged on how his Super Eagles prosecute games. And he started brilliantly against Rwanda.

The Super Eagles were compressed, compact and composed. The likes of Chukwueze, Simon and Ndidi suppressed their instinctive urges in order to support the fabric of the formation which led to the victory.

Modern football is one or two touches team-play with movements in sync with the fabric of the formation. The days of lone rangers are a thing of the past or reserved for under age football.

I keep making reference to Finidi's era because I felt he relied (a bit too much) on individual brilliance which - I must confess - I thoroughly enjoyed. But an approach that led to embarrassment and ultimate failure.

But Peseiro played compact football which was boring and widely criticised but was just over 45 minutes from leading to Afcon gold.

I struggle to criticise any of the players in the game against Rwanda. The toll it takes mentally for the likes of Chukwueze, Simon, Ndidi and Lookman to repress their in-built reactionary impulses in deference to the instructions of this new coach can never be appreciated by the average fan.

In time, I hope all these invited players and the ones (like Onyeka and Dele-Bashiru) to be called up later will continue to buy into and be submissive of Coach Chelle's methods.

Because I saw discipline, organisation and a unified sense of vision, purpose and direction from all the players (who all sang from the same hymn sheet).

Every time I see the level of togetherness, the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons tend to "do well". Do well doesn't mean winning the ultimate prize. It means playing football the way football should be played, regardless of the outcome.

The Super Falcons didn't break new grounds in the last world cup. In fact, there is an argument to be had that, results-wise, Coach Randy Waldrum was a monumental failure.

But one thing is universally undeniable: he improved the Super Falcons by injecting solidity into their tactical approach making the team a far more credible and highly respected brand in world football than what he inherited.

I didn't particularly enjoy the brand of football I saw against Rwanda. A part of me still loves Eguavoen's and Finidi's "players should express themselves" approach philosophy to games. If you grew up watching Okocha, Esin, Aghaowa and Ikedia, you will understand my plight.

But times have changed . We all saw the price-tag of failure that that recklessly individualistic approach purchased for Finidi and Eguavoen.

,Should Chelle continue with his team-centric approach, old timers like me might complain and grumble. But results will bear him out as a football revolutionary.

Whether we qualify for the world cup or not, I can already see the seeds of greatness in this team. A return of disciplined, professional, organised and strategically astute football is upon us (so long as he continues with the same approach that yielded the hard won win against Rwanda).