Monimichelle Says S’Eagles Have Pitch Advantage Over Algeria’s Desert Foxes
Ebi Egbe, Managing Director of Monimichelle Sports has said that if the Super Eagles could stay disciplined and focused, the pitch would become their silent ally.
Egbe, a Sports Facility Construction expert said the Super Eagles had a higher advantage that can give them victory over Desert Foxes of Algeria on Saturday.
He said beyond tactics, individual brilliance and team chemistry, the hybrid natural pitch being used at the Africa Cup of Nations was another factor that would count in favour of the Super Eagles.
“The game against Algeria is to the advantage of Nigeria not by luck, but by surface intelligence, this is not sentiment but sports science and pitch dynamics,” he said.
Egbe said most Nigerian international players plied their trades in top European leagues which had Hybrid turf environments for match days and training adding that they would have an upper hand in speed, ball control and confidence over their opponents.
He said hybrid natural pitch delivered faster ball circulation, consistent bounce, better traction and stability but did not forgive slow decision making, heavy first touches and poor body positioning.
He said unlike the Super Eagles, many of Desert Foxes players were based in the Algerian domestic league and not exposed to the sophisticated turf in use at the AFCON in Morocco.
According to him, this setup rewards teams that play high-tempo, vertical, transition based football which is exactly the DNA Nigeria’s the Super Eagles’ players are built for this surface.
“These elite players are conditioned for one-touch play, quick turns, explosive acceleration on firm, stable surfaces.
“A large percentage of Algerian players are still heavily exposed to 100 per cent natural grass pitches that are softer, slower and more forgiving.
“On hybrid turf the ball speed increases, timing errors are punished, defensive recovery becomes harder. That adjustment period can be costly at an elite tournament level.
“Nigeria’s athleticism, pressing intensity, and pace on the wings become lethal under these conditions,” he said.
