WANTED: Strikers for the Super Eagles

It's not time to press the panic button, but we certainly should be worried. Forget the 6-1 scoreline from Monday night. Nigeria desperately need players, who can simply tuck the ball into the net. The days when we used to have powerful, hungry and clinical forwards like Rashidi Yekini, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi, etc. are now a distant memory. Perhaps, it is more shocking that Segun Odegbami, who stopped playing for the national team in 1982, is our second all-time highest goal scorer with a measly 24 goals. Yekini, of course leads that chart with 37 goals.

Let's move on quickly from those not-too-impressive stats. The Super Eagles were not crowned African champions by luck. I won't buy that. A certain Emmanuel Emenike, led the line brilliantly. It was a such a refreshing sight to have a battering ram in the national team. A player in the mould of Didier Drogba, who will not only bully defenders, but knows where the goalpost is. His physical presence has been sorely missed since he picked up a thigh injury. We can't also deny we haven't missed Victor Moses' trickery and width or Ogenyi Onazi's bite and aggression.

However, against Tahiti, a side making its debut in an FIFA organised competition, the profligacy took on embarassing proportions. Emenike's deputies, Brown Ideye and Anthony Ujah, failed their auditions woefully. 22-year-old Ujah, who surprisingly stands at 6'1, was Stephen Keshi's preferred starter. The FC Köln striker, who was largely anonymous, as Musa and Oduamadi provided action from the wings, latched onto a loose pass and sprinted towards goal, where he came face to face with Samin, in goal for Tahiti. Faced with the option of squaring the ball to Echiejile, Ujah attempted a weak dribble and the keeper gathered the ball comfortably. Ideye was no better when he came on. Apart from trying desperately to get on the end of an own-goal, the only notable thing he did, was miss two sitters, although he set up Oduamadi for his hat-trick.

Surely, we don't expect to have as much possession against Uruguay and Spain, which logically implies there will be fewer chances created. The game against the South Americans will decide if we will go an further in the Confederations Cup. Even the biggest believer knows too well, that we will not get a sniff against Spain. Interestingly, the Spaniards most times favour the 'false nine' formation, where they start with six midfielders and no out and out striker. It is a problem ever country prays to have. However, ours is a simple one. We need to start looking for players that can score, when we manage to create the chances.

The Happy One? You were never sad, Mourinho!

250 journalists obediently crammed into a room. There were 40 TV crews present in the building. These are numbers that confirmed that Jose Mourinho is box-office. Monday was his official unveiling, after he completed his second coming to Stamford Bridge and it was a fantastic opportunity for pressman to eat from his table.

Fashionably late for the occasion, the former Real Madrid arrived to a million camera flashes and desperate yelps from cameramen. He took his time to pose for pictures, revelling in the affection the English media has for him.

And then, it was time to milk the soundbites.

The first question flew out. "Are you still the Special One?"

"I am the Happy One," he said. It was almost instant. And that statement alone has become headlines for all the major sports websites and blogs I read.

This, is why we - this writer included - absolutely love the Portuguese showman. Articulate, blunt, engaging and armed with charisma.

However, as intriguing as that statement is, I find it hard to wrap my head around it. Was there ever a time when Mourinho was sad? I think not. From FC Porto to Inter Milan to Real Madrid, it has always been about him. He always sought absolute control, influenced every decision and before you knew it, he was on a flight to another country.

Like he admitted at the unveiling, he was never one to stay long. It was all an adventure playing with rich owners' cheque books, to fund his insatiable appetite for trophies.

He said: "My adventure around Europe was fantastic for me. I think, for this moment, with my 50th birthday, I am still very young. It is the beginning of a new period."

In the last three years, it has not gone his way and the 50-year-old has aged badly and been brought down to earth.

"When I was managing for the first time. I thought I knew everything. After managing for 13 years, your realise you know nothing," he quipped.

The Manchester clubs snubbed him. Pep Guardiola snubbed Abramovich. There was no other option than a reunion between Abramovich and Mourinho, who he denied falling apart with.

"I am returning to a house where I was happy and successful. The expectations are higher because people know what I can deliver. I know this club has a special fan base, a special club.

"I need a special family and this club gives me this."

That word 'special' again. Yes, I agree you are special, Jose. But it is time to weave your magic, like only, absolutely can. Sugar-coated words will not be your salvation this time around.

Mourinho’s second coming, Jesus is on his way and Neymar arrives

The circus is back in England. Jose Mourinho has sealed his return as Chelsea boss and in depressingly familiar fashion, resumed with feeding the media with soundbites, we frankly now take with a pinch of salt.

“I’m not happy – I am very happy,” he said. “When you return to a place it is for some reason, not just because you have good results in the past or because the fans like you very much, it’s also because as a human point of view you left something here.”

I don’t think so, Jose. Like someone said, this is a marriage of convenience. No one wants the hot seat at Stamford Bridge and there are no big clubs circling around the Portuguese.

Some Chelsea fans are very estatic already and the odds have been slashed on the Blues winning the League and maybe the Champions League. It won’t be that smooth. Arsene Wenger is planning to overhaul his squad this summer and mount a serious challenge next campaign. David Moyes is ready to settle in straightaway and continue Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy, while Manuel Pellegrini has been given a mandate to win five trophies in five years.

One of the players who will be part of that project is Jesus Navas. The Spanish winger is no doubt a very talented wide player, but like I always say, the English League is unforgiving. Last season, in 37 games, the Sevilla man failed to find the back of the net. In that same position from the right, Arsenal’s Theo Walcott scored 21 times.

More confusing is why City agreed to pay up to £22.9million for the 27-year-old. Navas, who suffered from a case of chronic homesickness, was not comfortable going anywhere beyond the Andalusian city and has not played outside La Liga. We will see how this pans out.

Finally, Neymar has landed in Europe and it’s official. The Brazilian superstar was unveiled on Monday at the Camp Nou and promised to “help Lionel Messi remain the best player on the planet”. It surely will be a big ask. Neymar is used to being the main man. The one who dictates the speed and direction of play. Now he will only be a part of a glittering support cast behind Messi.

One wonders if he will automatically walk into the first 11, or will be constantly rotated with Alexis Sanchez, Pedro Rodriguez and Cesc Fabregas. I’m not too sure if he should have joined Real Madrid, but I know his new challenge in Spain, will not be a walk in the park.