Super Eagles midfielder, Chidera Ejuke has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the team to pick up the maximum point against the Central Africa Republic in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Ejuke, who has become a revelation for the senior national team since making his debut against Tunisia in an international friendly game, told Supersports that the players played according to the instructions of the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr.
The CSKA Moscow star came on as a substitute for Ahmed Musa in the 65th minutes and was a delight to watch due to his mesmerising skills.
Nigeria had lost at home on Thursday to the Central African Republic in a shock defeat that was its first in 39 World Cup qualifiers stretching back to 2004.
But the team won the reverse fixture in Douala, Cameroon, with Leon Balogun and Victor Osimhen scoring in the first half.
In his reaction, he said,”As a team we collectively we played well and we followed the instructions of the coach. We did what was expected of us and we got the three points. We move on from there.”
Copyright © 2024 Completesports.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Completesports.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Completesports.com.
COMMENTS
Ejuke, a delight to watch due to his mesmerising skills, it can’t be truer… CSN can write for Africaa ooo! At this juncture, I would like to massage the ego of CNS by saying you are the best sport news outlet to happen to Sub Saharan Africa for your mercurial flexibility, impartiality, adaptivity, I could go on and on. Continue unearthing the qualities of Nigeria ballers anywhere they show skills in the globe. Kudos, to be continued…
Maka ndi “rohr is tactically inept”, “the players did the job for the coach”. Shebi una don hear am. Tell me how the team would have been able to overcome a stubborn foe that parked a train on the field of play if they didn’t obey the coache’s instructions or didn’t play to his instructions. African football has metamorphised and there are literally no longer minnows. Algeria were given the shock of their lives when they were humble by ” burkina Faso” which has made them sit second in their group and Senegal held to a draw by “Namibia “. We all know that Rohr has spoilt business for a majority of people who see themselves as “stakeholders ” in nigerian football who benefit hugely from the chronic corruption that has eaten deep into the fabric of our football administration. Hence, they venture out like hyenas and vultures to paint a grim image of the coach so that they can have their evil ways yet again in our football irrespective of the negative consequences. They don’t care as long as their pockets are enriched. Like i usually say, let us enjoy the ride while it lasts. Yobo has been a sitting dummy on the coaching crew bench but nobody, absolutely none of these useless internationals has come out to fault this needless appointment or presence which is having no impact whatsoever on the the progress of the team. All they know is to always sing an anthem with the name of rohr at any slightest given opportunity whilst overlooking a glaring huge clog in the wheel of the team. For crying out loud, the assistant should be as sound as the head, not a rookie that always thinks of the next designer suit he’d buy.
Senegal defeated Namibia home and away which draw?
Please get your records straight and stop the misinformation. Senegal never played draw. They defeated all their opponents home and away. Therefore becoming the first nation to qualify for the next feature.
And what did they play? You are very gullible my friend. Go watch the North Africans play. Fool who is always quick to call others fool.
Maka ndi “rohr is tactically inept”,
Boss Stfu on this particular statement
Rohr is good but not fantastic
He’s like Ole Gunner Solskejar of Man United.
He’s manageable and we’ll continue to manage him.
He’s not corrupt like our local coaches, he’s got good man management and all but tactically sound?? Nope
Rohr Stays tho
PS; not all people criticising Rohr has an agenda, some of us are just saying it as it is.
Don’t root for Rohr blindly, our loyalty lies with the SE
Right from his days with the Dutch side, am not very familiar with their names, was it erudives division or something, the boy has always been exciting. I remembered on 2020 when we were all there with the ESPN crew; hear Ejuke, “I am excited signing for a team like CSKA,” Ejuke told us. “It is something that I was really looking forward to, coming here and playing football. Now that I am here, I am just going to work hard and give my best for the team and hopefully we can gain a lot of success during his period.
I am not surprised he has attained such feats. Good luck to you and our country, Nigeria
“Maka ndi “rohr is tactically inept”,
Alaye Stfu on this particular statement
Rohr is manageable and we’ll continue to manage him. He’s good but not fantastic, so don’t make it sound as of those who are saying he’s not really sound tactically are planning agenda or something.
I like the man for he’s not corrupt like our local coaches, he’s got good man management and all, but talking about tactics, I’d rate Ole Solskejar over above him.
Some people hate to hear the truth
Such a wonder kid on the block. He’s only problem is over dribbling, he needs to calm down and be purposeful while trying not to be selfish. In his last outing, Osime was waiting for a goal like clinical pass but Ejuke decided to go the whole log, bumping onto Car defense and lost it. I hope Ejuke is reading to take corrections. He must be a team player so that Nacho and Osime could score goals for Nigeria.
Ebe-anistic. Well done o jare. Omo dada.
The news of how the D’Tigress have been cheated and mistreated has pretty much ruined the day for me.
Sometimes, I find myself wishing all our sports men and women will completely boycott Nigerian sports. Let me see where our greedy, corrupt officials will find money to steal from if that happens!
Alas, we can’t do that. We can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. A boycott like that will not only damage or even totally destroy the careers of our athletes, it will also put Nigerian sports in the doldrums, and most of all bring great sadness to the Nigerian people.
We must find a solution to this chronic corruption pandemic that continues to ravage Nigeria. There has to be something that can be done to stop these pot-bellied fat cats in their designer suits and agbadas, who continue to shamelessly line their pockets with filthy lucre! Stealing from girls young enough to be their daughters and grand-daughters! No shame, no conscience, no honour, no dignity, no character!
Are we cursed in this country?
First things first. Pay these girls now! Today!
Review: Super Eagles restore their pride but there are still problems for Gernot Rohr
By Joba Ogunwale: 2 days ago.
When Nigeria kicked off their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with a win over Liberia and Cape Verde in September, there was this belief that qualification could be secured in the next two games.
The Super Eagles had beaten Liberia 2-0 in Lagos before a depleted team under the scorching sun of Mindelo beat the Blue Sharks 2-1.
Following the two victories, the next two games against the Central African Republic were seen as routine victories as the gulf in class between the two sides was clear as daylight.
The Wild Beasts had never qualified for a major tournament in their history and had just one professional footballer in their squad- Atletico Madrid’s Geoffrey Edwin Kondogbia.
There were also 90 spots between the two sides ahead of the encounter, with Nigeria ranked 34th in the FIFA rankings, while CAR were ranked 134th in the world.
However, the first leg of the doubleheader delivered an upset of a lifetime as a CAR side full of semi-professionals stunned Nigeria at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, courtesy of a 90th-minute strike from Karl Namnganda.
Soccernet takes a look at some of the talking points from the first leg and second leg of both games.
An upset, but the result has been long coming.
While the upset is not what fans foresaw, it is a result that has been long coming. The Super Eagles might have started the qualifying campaign with two wins, but it only covered the problems.
For over a year, the Super Eagles general play has been disappointing and boring to watch. Aside from the wins against Lesotho and Liberia, every other victory in the last 12 months had an element of luck.
It is quite disappointing that the Super Eagles have played with no sense of identity in their last few games. They did dominate possession against CAR, but it was more of sideways passing, which has been reoccurring in the last few months.
There was no time the Wild Beasts felt threatened as the Super Eagles failed to create a clear chance. In fact, the two big chances created in the game were from CAR.
Although the Super Eagles missed the services of Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, they still had enough quality on the pitch to win the game.
However, the team had no pattern, and they had to rely on the long ball, which CAR dealt with effectively. This was also the same issue against Cape Verde, with the team lacking creativity, although they did win the game courtesy of two errors from the Cape Verdeans.
Immediate Redemption
Luckily for Nigeria following the shock loss to CAR, they were presented with a chance for immediate revenge as the second leg took place at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, on Sunday.
It was a chance they took as goals from Leon Balogun and Victor Osimhen sealed a 2-0 win for them and maintained their top spot in Group C.
The win was secured thanks to a switch in formation from Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr. Rohr decided to use a 3-5-2 formation, with Chidozie Awaziem coming in for Ola Aina, while Ahmed Musa replaced Chidera Ejuke in an unfamiliar midfield role.
Image restored, but problems remain for Rohr
The Super Eagles did well by securing the win to restore their pride, while credit should also be given to Rohr for deciding to play three at the back, which gave more freedom to the wingbacks and made it easier to control CAR’s transition.
However, the lingering problems still remain for the German tactician. The Super Eagles struggled going forward in the two games due to a lack of a creative midfielder and good passer of the ball.
Alex Iwobi, who would have occupied that role, missed the two games due to an injury. Iwobi might not be everyone’s favourite, but his creativity would’ve helped Nigeria in the final third.
It was no coincidence that he provided the two assists for Iheanacho’s brace in the 2-0 win over Liberia. But despite Iwobi’s absence, the three-time African champions still need a midfielder who has an eye for a pass.
Rohr played Frank Onyeka and Joe Aribo as his central midfielders, with Kelechi Iheanacho in an advanced role, but neither could unlock the CAR defence.
Onyeka did well in his defensive duties, but Aribo was poor in the first leg. Although he improved in the second leg, he is a good ball carrier and not a player with an eye for a pass.
Iheanacho made one brilliant through ball for Osimhen in the second leg, but that was his highlight over two legs.
It is not his fault, though, as he has proven repeatedly at his club that he is a striker and not an attacking midfielder.
This is a problem Rohr will need to solve ahead of the games in November, but more importantly, next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The German tactician has been in charge for almost six years, yet Nigeria’s creative play has come from counter-attacks and wing play.
On a side note, for all the talk about how the team hasn’t found Jay-Jay Okocha’s replacement, it is Sunday Oliseh’s passing range the team has struggled to replace.
Pitch problems
While it is not an excuse for the disappointing display, the state of the pitch at Teslim Balogun Stadium contributed to the first leg defeat.
Players like Aribo found it difficult to play their game on a pitch with uneven grass. Ejuke, who was the only player that tried to make things happen, also struggled with the state of the pitch.
It is no surprise that Aribo and Ejuke played better in Douala, which had a better playing surface. This raises the question of why the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) decided to take away the home games from Uyo to a sub-standard stadium like the Teslim Balogun.
Centurion Musa
Musa finally reached 100 caps for the country following the controversy that happened last month. The Super Eagles captain thought he had reached the number against Cape Verde last month, but two of the games were not recognised by FIFA.
Nonetheless, he is now Nigeria’s latest centurion following his appearances in the two games against CAR. It is a remarkable achievement for him as he is only the third player to reach this milestone after Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama.
And at the age of 28, Musa should easily break Enyeama’s record of 102 caps for the country. Congratulations, the governor
@Coach Rohr.
And the other SE player that has similar flexibility and swiftness is Tyrone Ebuehi but coach Rohr seems not to realize it. The coach should use those young players for better effect and besides, it it high time they played together for proper understanding. Good luck Ejuke.