AFCON 2023: Players Should Uphold African Play Style, Amokachi recommends
By Ngome Michael
With 50-matches of the tournament’s 52 down the lane, fascinating shocks and suprises, host nation rose powerfully from the brink of elimination into the final seeing off Congo in a remarkable comeback.
The 34th edition has eclipsed the last two editions in terms of numbers goals scored, averaging 2.35 goals per game and even more significantly, a drop in sets of goalless draws (4) registered this far.
However there is more to improve on the green tuff to take Africa’s biggest soccer jamboree to another pedestal of greatness according to former Super Eagle, Daniel Amokachi.
Currently serving as a CAF co-commentator at AFCON matches in Côte D’Ivoire, Amokachi acknowledged to the press the massive growth football has witnessed on the continent.
To him, there exist a-lot of talents that needs to developed keenly with emphasis laid on the African football playing style.
“In Africa, we have our culture, style of football and if we relate to this, we will always be the best football players in the world”, he spoke to journalists.
The 1994 African Cup of Nations winner with Nigeria believes it’s time to shift away from the European approach to football. “The European style kills our game because it is too tactically oriented”.
A clear example the 51-year-old alluded to was Côte D’Ivoire’s round of 16 win over defending champions, Senegal which he thinks boils down to the fact that Emerse Fae understood and implemented this African play style.
“A typical example is the last game Côte D’Ivoire played against Senegal. You have a manager who understands the quality of his players, inserting Michael Seri (MOTM) link between the defense and attack…,” he added.
He reiterates players work on decision making inside the opponent’s area, knowing when to strike directly, when to place a pass and to whom it is placed to. Coaches should understand players quality so as to allow them play freely like South Americans.
In his words, “If this is done, we (African Football) will fly up there.”
Daniel Amokachi earned 44caps with the Super Eagles between 1990 and 1999 featuring at two FIFA World Cups (1994, 1998) winning a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic games.
