Former Nigeria international Etim Esin has offered a candid assessment of the Super Eagles’ tactical composition, identifying the lack of a specialized creative midfielder as a significant hurdle for the national team. While acknowledging the immense talent available to the coaching staff, Esin argued that the squad currently operates without a traditional playmaker capable of dictating the tempo and vision of the game from a central position.
Speaking during an episode of the Play Zone Podcast, the former midfielder touched upon the role of Ademola Lookman. Although Lookman has been a standout performer for the Super Eagles since his 2025 debut—tallying 11 goals and 10 assists in 43 outings—Esin believes that utilizing him as a primary creator for the national team is a departure from his most effective role, despite his successes in similar capacities at the club level.
Esin drew parallels to the golden eras of Nigerian football, noting that the team has yet to find a successor to the iconic “Number 10” archetype once occupied by himself, Henry Nwosu, and Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha. He described this role as the “architect and magician” of the starting XI, a player whose mere presence on the ball alters the opposition’s defensive strategy.
“I believe we are still in search of that creatively gifted midfield player,” Esin remarked during the broadcast. “Lookman fits into that category, but not entirely for Nigeria. At his club, he executes that role exceptionally well, but when it comes to Nigeria, I think we still require that creativity in the midfield.”
The veteran analyst elaborated on the psychological and tactical advantages of having a dedicated playmaker, suggesting that such a figure provides the necessary “magic” to unlock stubborn defenses and provide teammates with high-quality scoring opportunities.
“He is the architect and magician within the squad. He facilitates action. Even if he does not score, he can provide an assist and influence the game. Having such a player in your squad instills confidence,” he explained. “A number ten like myself, Henry Nwosu, or Jay-Jay Okocha, when we have the ball, the opponent will feel intimidated.”
According to Esin, the absence of this specific profile allows opponents to defend with less fear. He concluded by emphasizing that a true playmaker possesses the gravity to attract multiple markers, thereby creating the necessary space for the Super Eagles’ prolific strikers to exploit.
“You must intimidate the opponent and make them aware that you possess a player capable of drawing two or three defenders, creating space, and delivering a pass for someone. I think we still need that in our national team, which we currently lack,” he added.
