Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has admitted that his team has a whole lot of work to do in terms of scoring goals during matches despite their victory over Liberia.
Victor Osimhen and Ahmed Musa scored from the spot to help the Eagles beat Liberia 2-0 in Tangier, Morocco on Saturday and moved Nigeria withini a win or a draw away from booking a World Cup play-off spot.
And speaking during the post-match press conference, Rohr stated that the Lone Star made things difficult for his team.
“The game was not easy for us and we knew before that it was going to be difficult like the first match that we played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. Then, we scored in the first half.
“And then, we were leading 2-0 but it was even more difficult on Saturday despite the good pitch. We tried to play our football with a few touches and going vertically forward.
“But our opponents were well organised and made a big fight, so we also needed to fight very hard to accept the duel in the air and on the ground but I must admit that it was not easy.
“We got two penalties but we were not able to score a goal from open play. If you ask me, though, I think those two penalties were very clear but I would always prefer to score from open play.
“We, however, could not score from open play but I hope that we will go ahead to achieve this when we play against Cape Verde in our final qualifier at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on Tuesday.
Also Read: Six Talking Points As Super Eagles Inch Closer To Qatar 2022 With 2-0 Win Over Liberia
“I think that the return of some players like Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi who did not play last month’s qualifiers against the Central African Republic is a very good thing for the Super Eagles.
“I admit that we really need to work on our attacking play, there is still a lot of work to do.”
The German Rohr explained why Ighalo did not feature in the game against Liberia.
“The reason why we asked Ighalo to come back is that we have such a young team, they are very young 22, 23, 21, Our strikers are all very young.
“Ejuke is coming now, Chukwueze is coming back from injury. Everybody is young, we need somebody to help them with his experience in the striker position and he’s good goalscorer we know it.
“We are happy to have him back, he only arrived on Thursday that’s why he couldn’t participate in this match. I hope that in the next match on Tuesday, he will be able to help us much more.”
On the quality of the players at his disposal and yet his team failing to score from open play:”When you score two goals, it’s not a disappointment. Because when you see the penalties, there was one-to-one situation. If there was no foul, perhaps, we would have scored from normal play like you said.
“So, we are happy with the victory, we knew before the match that it would be difficult to beat Liberia. We saw the videos of their games to have lost in the last minutes when they deserved to have got a draw.
“But I am happy that we did not concede any goal. Whether penalty or not, I am very happy that we won the game and picked up all the three points on offer.”
And speaking on Cape Verde’s 2-1 win against CAR, and if put his players under pressure before Tuesday’s final game against Cape Verde, Rohr said:”Yes, of course because as things stand, we have to make a result as we cannot afford to lose the final game. But we are at home.”
29 Comments
This man Gernot Rohr is past his usefulness… he has no clue whatelse to do! After five years your team is still playing kick and follow… They should let this man go
now so that someone else with fresh ideas can take on the saddle… we dont have a coach but a quack!
I knew it that it’s coaching crew that caution Ejuke not to dribble. Rohr even said it that they adopted touch and pass. with Liberia pattern a good coach would have encouraged Ejuke to penetrate Liberia with dribbling to get enough good passes to Osimen.
Thank God that the coach himself admitted that the team is not there yet. This is what we have been saying and some people would be saying that we are enemies of the coach.
If the coach still have a lot of work to do after 6 years of coaching the team is it this remaining few months to the two major competitions that he will make the team ready?
I want Rohr to take Super Eagles to the two competitions for those that refused to understand to see what we are talking about.
God bless Nigeria.
All the teams in the 10 groups in Africa have played 5 matches.
So far, Morocco, Senegal, Mali and Egypt have booked their places in the final round.
Morocco has been the most impressive team in the continent, with 5 wins, smashing in 17 goals and mean and stingy in defense, conceding only 1 goal. Morocco smacked the living daylights out of the teams in Group I, beating them up like small pikin. The second team behind them, Guinea Bissau, is a whopping 10 points adrift.
Just behind Morocco is Senegal. Also dominant in Group H, Senegal stockpiled 13 points, shaking the net 13 times and conceding only 4. Togo and Namibia languish behind Senegal with an 8 point deficit.
Mali has been one of the most exciting, entertaining teams to watch in the continent so far. They top Group E with 13 points.
Mo Salah and Egypt stuttered and stumbled to 11 points after 5 games, but find themselves in the next round, since the second team in the group, Gabon, is adrift by 4 points.
So, 4 groups are done and dusted. Now, let’s look at the undecided groups.
This is how it goes down.
In Group A, Algeria are in a showdown with Burkina Faso. The Fennecs have the sharpest attack in Africa, with 23 goals from 5 games. And their defense is not bad either. They’ve conceded only twice.
They host the Burkinabes on November 16 in an encounter they must not lose. Defeat at home, and Mahrez and company can kiss the world cup goodbye.
Group B has turned out to be one of the most interesting groups. A fight to the finish between Tunisia and underdogs Equatorial Guinea. Both teams are tied at 10 points each. If one of them sneezes or coughs, they are out of the world cup. Therefore, Tunisia will be aiming to beat a rampaging Zambia at home to secure the final round ticket, while Equatorial Guinea know they need a big win away to Mauritania. They also need Zambia to do them a favor.
Calculator time.
If Zambia beats or draws with Tunisia, then a 1 goal win is all Equatorial Guinea need.
There is much hope for Equatorial Guinea, because Zambia will be highly motivated against Tunisia, for the following reasons:
For Zambia to qualify, they will need to beat Tunisia by 3 clear goals. This will give them the same points and goals difference, and also give them the edge in Head To Head, since they lost at home 2 nil to Tunisia in September. Zambia will also hope that Mauritania does them a favour by beating Equatorial Guinea.
So while Tunisia still top the group on goals difference, Equatorial Guinea and Zambia are breathing down their necks.
With defeat at home to CAR in October in Group C, Nigeria handed a lifeline to Cape Verde, which they happily accepted. Now, all Cape Verde need to do is beat Nigeria in Lagos to book their ticket to the final round.
In Group D, we have another photo finish between CIV and Cameroon. CIV top the group with 13 points, but their 1 point advantage can be overturned when they visit Cameroon next Tuesday. A must-win for Cameroon, a must-not-lose for CIV.
In Group G, Ghana host South Africa tomorrow, and need a 2 goal win to tie them up on points and goals difference, and edge them in Head to Head. A 2 goal margin win is all the Black Stars need.
Finally, Benin currently top Group J with 10 points, but DRC host them tomorrow, and can send them tumbling out with a win.
Starting from tomorrow, 12 countries will go to battle for the remaining 6 slots. 6 will emerge to join Morocco, Senegal, Mali and Egypt.
The final round beckons.
Weldone Pompei. You have done the job CSN & Co should have done.
Thanks for the interesting update.
Exciting times ahead in the next few days.
Simply contribute and stop being a nuisance.
Firstly, congrats to the Super Eagles and congratulations Nigerians.
Meanwhile, let none be decieved, Coach Rohr, faced with international press conference, was only trying to hide his game plan away from our next opponents Cape Verde who are not supposed to be exposed to his new soccer pattern of having one’s opponent aimlessly running around while his charges continue taking the spot kicks and getting goals. What’s important in a soccer game are points amassed. SE got the 3-point despite the fact that the Lone Star who were clearly wounded ran round the pitch for the entire duration. There couldn’t have been a better plan, no injuries and the lads were able to cobble themselves.
@Pompei, Nice1!
Though yours wasn’t a compendious analysis, you did a detailed and concise dissection of the games in an objective pattern. The structure, the facts were simply apt.
Now looking at the larger picture and in resume, this goes to show an improvement in the development of soccer in the continent which clearly shown there are no longer minnows in Africa football, – Ethiopia drawing Ghana??? Obviously a very good development indeed. We take it from there going forward.
Pompei,
Quick Correction: Ghana actually only needs a 1 goal win over SA and they will be tied on GD. Ghana then has the advantage and will qualify, because they have scored more goals (GF) than SA. It’s GD first, then GF per CAF rules.
(Remember, a 1-0 win for Ghana means a GD impact of +1 for Ghana and -1 for SA).
Ghana needs two goals to lead the group. Study the Wikipedia on 2021 AFCON qualifier.
Please, you go and study the Wikipedia page again. This time don’t only look at Ghana’s goal difference, but also look at South Africa’s. The two countries will play each other so when one’s GD goes up, the other team’s GD goes down. Math is not that hard.
Ghana need one goal to qualify. If they beat SA 1-0, they will be tired with the same points but Ghana will go through on number of goals scored. In fact, Ghana just need a win….1-0, 2-1, 3-2…any type of victory!
That’s right. Thanks.
Thank you for the update of the 5th round results and an analysis of each group’s situation. Top quality, Mr Pompei.
The stakes are being raised, this is a wonderful development that needs to be sustained. Oseodion, has done well to raising the bar. As we can see, objectivity in commentary is way better than making noise up and down.
To the write-up, the coach’s only error in the game was to had started Iwobi instead of Ejuke. Ejuke in the few minutes he saw, seem matured in his approach. Rohr should start him against Cape Verde on Tuesday. Good luck SE!!!
Great match in all Ramifications.
You see am talking about Nigerians?
“I admit that we really need to work on our attacking play, there is still a lot of work to do.” When you don’t have a creative midfielder in the team?
“And speaking on Cape Verde’s 2-1 win against CAR, and if put his players under pressure before Tuesday’s final game against Cape Verde, Rohr said:”Yes, of course because as things stand, we have to make a result as we cannot afford to lose the final game. But we are at home.”
Hmmm, this is quite embarrassing. You wasn’t at home whe CAR hammered your team?
Can’t you see that Ndidi wasn’t fully recovered?
Nacho and Iwobi wasn’t in the game then both players played such amount of minutes when we had better replacements on the bench?
Why you made a late changes and both was wrong.
“We Still Have Lots Of Work To Do’ – Rohr Admits Despite Eagles Win Vs Liberia”
Of course kę. The best you can do is to resign.
Only the enemies of Nigeria/Super Eagles will celebrate the performance of the Eagles against Liberia in today’s match with you.
I am shaking my head for you, Amaju and your followers.
For sure, Super Eagles will be under pressure on Tuesday against Cape Verde.
We were lucky to had two lucky goals when we played CAPE Verde at their own backyard.
Now that you have to win against a team that came from behind to beat CAR and compare that to your star studded team that managed to score from two penalties.
You are struggling to beat weak teams in Africa and you have no right to be at the next year Afcon and at the world cup if we eventually qualify to Qatar.
Enough of this excuses kę. What kind of country is this? Patch and push Nigeria system. Who does that kę.
I love you Oga Rohr and I will advise you to tell your employer that you can not continue your job and the best you can do is to support the Eagles by scouting for the team.
Lagosians will reacts this time around oooo.
I am so happy for you that you haven’t played a single match in the main bowl of the old Surulere stadium. Count yourself lucky Oga Rohr.
Eko o nigba igbakugba o. Lagosians doesn’t take nonsense. They don’t care if you don’t do well. You better win the game on Tuesday and immediately hanging over your position to NFF. I have said my own ooo. God bless Nigeria!!!
Never mind Rohr, it was his game plan.
For me, I expected the Eagles to play better than they did. I was really tensed through out the match especially when Sanoh was left free to face Okoye, as the guy wasted the opportunity, I saw myself hands akimbo and mouth agape. Jesu, was what I muted down my throat. Thank God Okoye came to our rescue.
This completesports are the most lazy newspaper I have ever seen. Have never seen where they give update as to what is happening in other African qualifier or give updated report of others matches played but the only thing they know is to come here and start mentioning one obscure Nigeria players who is about to be cap by one country or report certain players scoring for his club because he was not invited by SE
Why not try opposite of lazy newspaper na?
The problem of the team is midfield not attack . The attacking midfield needs competition Aribo and Iwobi alone is not good
Enough and they are too relaxed. The team needs a playmaker the team now relay on looping ball
From defense to
Score .
@osedion, the Ethiopia vs Ghana’s match didn’t rattle football pundits but Ghanaian football fans. Sincerely, apart from Dede Ayew, Black Stars have an inexperienced side. It will take Ghana a long time to have players like Sulley Muntari, Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan, Steven Appiah etc… because these current crop of players don’t have what it takes for a tourney like afcon.
Ehen nah! See why I stood firmly for Odion Ighalo to be invited? Ok, let’s even say we forget about the Black Stars for now, if Odion was in yesterday’s game against the Lone Star, the out come would have be different. Coach Rohr I know would probably use Odion as super sub against Cape Verde. In any case, we need to concentrate on our next match since this one don pass.
A much calmer forum, this is good. Rohr should begin preparation for the next match asap.
Calmer because Rohr paid keyboard warriors have heard the truth from their master and are ashamed.
I am not against long balls but when you use them, prepare your team for the second ball. The Liberian coach knows his onions and kept shouting SECOND BALLS, SQUEEZE, HIGH LINE. These are clear cut instructions from their gaffer. The Nigerian bench had no tactical instructions except the ones I heard when Rivers Angels bench were playing their champions league matches viz a viz, YOUR BALL, FIRST TIME, FOLLOW, COME BACK etc.
Osdion, any stats?
We must throw caution into the win on Tuesday and make sure we score at least a goal in the first half……A goal in the first half will open up the game and worst scenerio will be that they equalize and we move to next round…….But if we are not able to break them down because of our cautious approach and they survive to 70 plus minutes without conceading a goal then they will come alive like mad dogs and attack us to kill us finally……From my observation our defense is shaky when under pressure and cape Verde might get a goal in the closing stage if they go for the kill late on……Oga Rhor the first half is key……We must attack them wickedly in the first half……We must at least get a goal in the first half……They will want to contain us in the first half but please don’t agree…….Rhor please don’t play a conservative game in the first half…..If they do not attack us in the first half we should attack them……. Don’t play for a draw because it will put your team under pressure in the closing stages when cape Verde know they can be able to snatch a win.
We have already brought out our calculators while playing minnows, just imagine what will happen when we gat to the second round and are pitched against teams like Morocco, senegal etc. What a shame, that is what you get when you hire the former coach of Niger who must have prayed day and night all through his stay in that country asking God to help him secure Super Eagle’s job that will gaurantee him big pay and lots of egunje. G.Rohr no send O, he will continue to hold on to certain players in that team who have no business to be in the super eagles of today not to talk of maintaining permanent shirts. Corruption and ineptitude on the part of Rhor is killing that team. We presently have talents , lots of them, so we have no business biting our nails this early in a world cup qualifier that have not gotten to the tough stage where shall be meeting the big teams.
the very same big teams were in our group in the last world cup qualifier for 2018 and I am sure u still remember the scores.
relax watch soccer stop complaining unnecessarily, secondly u were talking of calculator, its either eagles win or draw is that a calculator calculations in ur eyes, does that look like something that need calculator to calculate ? reason na
A team that cannot score in open play, a team that is not good in dead ball situation is no team. I wonder why Osimeh cant not score when alone with goalkeeper and miss unpardonable chances. If we progress on Tuesday and continue like this in the final round against teams like Morocco, Senegal, Algeria and other football heavyweights in Africa next round, it’s a pity we will lose out. In matches like this, you take your chances. With what I saw in that match, we should use Chukwueze on the wings and bring in Ighalo to start the match. Enough of these misses from Osimeh and negative possession by the team. However, I see a SHOCKER coming if these lackadaisical attitudes continues.