Pitch Expert Proffers Solutions To Super Eagles Unimpressive Performances At Home Games

Pitch Expert Proffers Solutions To Super Eagles Unimpressive Performances At Home Games

Few football stakeholders have attributed the Super Eagles' inability to secure the three points against Lesotho in last Thursday's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier to the not too good enough pitch of Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Concerned sports enthusiasts have however called on the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF to ensure a safer and durable pitches for Super Eagles to thrive, especially for home games.

Certified pitch construction expert and chief executive officer of Monimichelle Pitch Construction Company, Ebi Egbe stated that the Super Eagles were unable to adjust to the nature of the pitch provided for that encounter.

"Our boys will always find it difficult to adjust to slow pace football in just a few days of training. Our foreign legions are used to speed football".

Egbe added that the Nest of Champions pitch needs adequate maintenance and proper conditioning so as to give the players the suitability and comfort to express themselves well.

"I am not saying the Uyo pitch is bad. Naturally, 100% natural turf pitches give a totally different ball movement from an infused pitch that our foreign players train and play their club football regularly.

"That little change in playing surface can affect a players' performance".

The FIFA accredited pitcher expert emphasized the need for pitch conditioning before any football assignment.

"Take the same team to Remo Stars pitch, and you guys will understand my point".

He stated further that numerous oppositions have taken advantage of the poor states of some pitches around the nation to grind out decent results against the nation's football teams.

"Teams coming to play the star-studded Nigerian National Team know these facts about our players, and they will always take advantage of it".

He expressed fear concerning Super Eagles' next opponent because of the unfamiliar pitch that Zimbabwe will play against Nigeria.

"Our next game against Zimbabwe will be played on a 100% rubber synthetic turf pitch with an extreme artificial ball movement with flakes just like the Liberia pitch. Do you think our boys will be able to cope?"