Nigeria have been the only team of the tournament with such an emphasis on creativity which has reached at least the semi-finals. This is not to say that other teams lacked creativity but the midfield of Kanu, Okocha and Finidi is surely something special. While for example Senegal used all knowledge of modern football and played a more simple game based on discipline, strength, fighting spirit, pressing and set pieces, Nigeria intended to go out to control a match, change tempo and decide it by the magic moments of their protagonists.

 Only this time they left a certain disappointment. It was not only to lose against Senegal. Although this result determined the way the tournament is regarded for Nigeria. They had left the better suited pitch of the big Bamako stadium for the bumpy ground of the semifinal venue, a surface that had spoiled the style of many short passing teams before. After difficulties in beginning they had found into the game but they had always problems with the Senegalese set plays. But in the end they had almost been able to force at least a draw only to miss a penalty unluckily.

 It had been the games before that left the bleak image. Three times 1:0, one time 0:0, a minimalism that would have been celebrated as effectiveness when crowned with the trophy but which is now leaving fans with disappointment. No title and not even a fireworks in one of the matches. Creative football is promising much and when it fails it leaves more disappointment behind because of this greater promise.

 Nigeria were a class ahead of most of those first opponents Algeria, Liberia, and Ghana, only to make concentration errors. But they have to accept that there are teams who can beat them under these conditions. 

 It was not the best Nations Cup for Kanu, Okocha, and Finidi and the klischee of an aging squad has been unwrapped once more. But apart from the midfield the team is well mixed and contains several young players.
 And it is hard to see who could replace the motor of the Nigerian game as Okocha and Kanu are experienced but anything else than old and play in European top clubs although they are not always first team starters.

 To leave them out would lead to a Nigerian team which could be seen in the match for the third place: less vulnerable to ups and downs of creative playmakers but much more limited in the horizon of the possible. It was enough to beat the hosts this time, it seemed even enough to play three decent World Cup matches, but to have the potential to try to go for a bigger prize Nigeria seems to need the special touch of its unique generation.