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/Welcome to the Completesports.com’s live blogging of Nigeria’s Super Eagles vs Carthage Eagles of Tunisia – a third placed fixture at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt
Stay tuned here for the live updates of the proceedings as they unfold inside the Al Salam Stadium, Cairo
65 Comments
I won’t be surprised if this eagles lose today’s match.
Are you watching it,?
…already 1 goal up in the very first minute!
Honestly ehn, ODION IGHALO is our biggest problem. The boy is just useless. All the problems we have in Nigerian football, even all our personal problems, Odion Ighalo is responsible!
BTW, Ighalo now has 5 goals at the 2019 Afcon.
Credit to him for getting 5 goals…he could’ve also got more if he converted some other chances but the fact is still that he is inconsistent, selfish, and sometimes not clinical enough..
Cool beans. BTW, your boot size never finish for market ooo. Maybe you can show us how it’s done. A striker scored 5 goals, with very little service. Very few crosses and passes coming from midfield. E no try?
E try now but we he have to be truthful to ourselves. Ighalo needs to be a passer of the ball sometimes too… He doesn’t have to be the only one to score. In this tournament I’ve seen him do that twice or so. All he needed to do is pass to the person that is in the best position to score. I’m not knocking his effort just saying he could do better.
Ighalo is injured unfortunately, hopefully he has is golden boot already, Osimehen get his chance to shine, Nigeria wins bronze. A win-win situation for everyone I think.
Ndidi concedes too many fouls around the box for a DM. Maybe due to the fact that he is normally out of position. I place that on inexperience at this stage of his career. He need to work on his positioning as a DM if he want to play for the big teams in Europe.
Amakapabo should be named the coach with immediate effect.
Someone said the other day that Rohr has not won TEACUP in his career. Hmmm. Anyway, his achievements with us may not include a trophy yet, but they are still impressive notwithstanding. Abeg Rohr, try and win this bronze today. Let us not leave Egypt empty handed.
Wonderful left footed curler from Chukzy saved by the Tunisian goalie.
Honesty this keeper looks sharper than Akpeyi I think Rohr doesn’t really know what’s his doing then Chukwueze needs experience to fit in better
A golden bronze. Congrats Rohr. Congrats Nigeria.
Hey see the way Rohr is happy he is satisfied now we need a Coach that wants it big
Bronze is big too na. This football, e no easy to play ooo. It may look easy on the telly, but if you enter the pitch, you go see say if you try win teacup sef, it’s something!
Why wont he be happy? Do u want him to be crying? They tried abeg
What a waste of time. No midfielders, no wingers. This is not our Super Eagles. The worst Nigerian team and coach I ever seen.
Congratulations coach Rohr. They said even you never won a TEACUP but now you have something to be proud. It’s time to gooooo. It is time for to leave us alone.
With the qualities in this squad, this is what we are getting in the end. Too bad. It is a big shame. God bless Nigeria!!!
Sorry bro he’s not going anywhere! He’s staying with us we defeated the second ranked team in Africa. If it’s that easy apply for the job of SuperEagles head coach. Pinnick has said he’s not going anywhere if you don’t like it make use of the next available transformer in your área. You prayed for over a year to see us lose a match under Rohr. Enjoy it while it lasts because it could take another year plus for you to celebrate another loss. Out of 7 matches at the AFCON he won 5 and lost 2 do the math and tell me they’re the worst Nigerian team and coach you’ve ever seen yet you’re still congratulating them. Rohr will stay BẸẸFẸ BẸẸKỌ ODITULAAASI!!!
Oga ni iya muda. Bow down to the greatest pundit that ever lived.
The irresistible, irrefutable, irreverent, omo9ja.
Both of you have already failed because Rohr is going no where. Your missions have not been accomplished. I know you only come here to mock your fantasy master because you already call him pumpkin earlier LEEEMAOO!!!!
Omo Nigeria irreverent? He is a lot of things, but I wouldn’t call him irreverent. Misguided, unrealistic, hard to please, stubborn, etc. But not irreverent.
If dem hug transformer sef, NEPA go vex take light. The Rohr haters must remain alive to see Rohr continue to attain to greater heights, to their chagrin!
I wish I can see omo9ja one on one and talk about his achievement in life before I ask about football.. Can you tell us your real name and let’s google you if you really important to be given reply cause you always talk garbage. Your hatred for Rohr won’t take you anywhere but render you useless cause soon no one will respond to your comments..
Alaye u get serious problem. Sniper go fit solve am. Badbelle
With all the potential we have even so many good players that don’t make the team with all these resources winning or no winning the issue is we should be laying better football than this, Its soo sad, we ve seen those guys play before, maybe at club level or wherever but throughout this competition they can hardly put passes together consecutively, don’t wanna put the blame on the coach or anybody, this is just not good enough.
What a waste of time. No midfielders, no wingers. This is not our Super Eagles. The worst Nigerian team and coach I ever seen.
Congratulations coach Rohr. They said even you never won a TEACUP but now you have something to be proud of. It’s time to gooooo. It is time for you to leave us alone.
With the qualities in this squad, this is what we are getting in the end. Too bad. It is a big shame as a football nation. God bless Nigeria!!!
Sorry bro he’s not going anywhere! He’s staying with us we defeated the second ranked team in Africa. If it’s that easy apply for the job of SuperEagles head coach. Pinnick has said he’s not going anywhere if you don’t like it make use of the next available transformer in your área. You prayed for over a year to see us lose a match under Rohr. Enjoy it while it lasts because it could take another year plus for you to celebrate another loss. Out of 7 matches at the AFCON he won 5 and lost 2 do the math and tell me they’re the worst Nigerian team and coach you’ve ever seen yet you’re still congratulating them. Rohr will stay BẸẸFẸ BẸẸKỌ ODITULAAASI!!!
The days of Obafemi Martins, name them. He scores but am not satisfied with his strikes. I no football not easy, is he the best ? Hell no.
Foolish set of people full that Naija,nothing way una like ..una for turn the team to Brazil team foolish people,If to say una fit protest like this I for like am
I suggest the TEACUP for Afcon 2019 should go to Egypt, the hosts. So at least, Mo Salah and co can have something to go home with! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Sorry for Nigeria…A team came to a tournament after missing two editions with average players of 22-23, with just 3 experience players and get to 3rd place and won bronze… Yet…some people are not satisfied.
Sean, it’s only in Nigeria that bronze medal is considered as nothing. Actually, let me rephrase. Not Nigeria as a whole, because many of us do appreciate. It is the STAUNCH ROHR HATERS that see bronze as valueless. All because the hated and despised Rohr won it. Hahahahahaha!!!
Bros, in all honesty the bronze medal is an achievement. That’s undeniable. What’s also undeniable is the lack of discernible pattern to the play of the Super Eagles. The lack of ability to string together any reasonable number of passes. The inability to for the captain to properly make decisions with the ball for almost 75-90 minutes of play and the palpable panic one had when the ball went anywhere near the teams goal keeper all tournament long. In fact with all these undeniable situations, one begins to even give more value to the achievement of winning bronze!
Winning bronze is the short term gain but i aspire a long term goal of a team capable of competing against the best in the world. I don’t know that this team can from the performances given over the past 4 weeks. What do you think?
Uzoho is a far better goalie than Akpeyi!!!
I agree with you on that one. Most of the fans were questioning Rohr’s decision to call Uzoho for the AFCON forcing the gaffer to settle for Akpeyi. It is crystal clear from the few times he was called upon that he’s the best bet between the sticks. Aloy Agu should be the fall guy on this one. I’m sure Rohr made the decision based on the recommendation of his goalkeeper trainers. I also think Aina shouldn’t have been taken out of the starting 11 for either of Awaziem or Collins, but what do I know I’m not in camp with them. It’s still a young emerging SuperEagles, I expect them to take flight from here. Some new discoveries will emerge along the way.
If Rohr would continue after this afcon please sir I have a list of midfielders who could add some spark in the team, just as mikel and ogu are nearing the end of their SE career:
-Obinna Nwobodo (best player in his Hungarian club upjest last season)
-Azubuike Okechukwu (watch out just got signed on by Istanbul Bk)
-Kingsley Sokari (decent baller but needs to add goals to his game)
-James Igbekeme (made 33 appearances for real Zaragoza last term)
Nwakali brothers ought to have been here but they should settle down in a club & be respected as an integral part of their Squad_ although good materials looking forward~
Let them put Iwobi on his toes_ We can Remain ‘Super’ for many years to come /Eze puo Eze anochie I.e Soldier go soldier come/
If he is ready to play for Nigeria, I will add OVIE EJARIA to your list.
Joe Aribo
I would add Atiemwen Iyayi Believe of Croatian champions Dynamo Zahgreb and Chidera Ejuke (former Nigeria under 17 – 2015) just signed by Netherland’s premier league team Heerneveen to that list. Maybe also take a look at Swedish premier league player Alhassan Yusuf of Gotenburg. The last two are surely worth of a call up to the under 23 squad for the game against Sudan in a couple of months with a view to them auditioning for the Super Eagles eventually. The former maybe a friendly or two to rate his quality.
All three attacking midfield players
Ahahahaha, this is so funny. So I have been praying for our team to lose over a year? Am I not a Nigerian? How would I?
Are you kidding me Ayphillydegreat?
I can’t analyzed the pattern we have been playing under coach Rohr. Most especially in this tournament.
This is the return of kick and follow football.
No pattern, no cohesion, no vision, no direction, no confidence and he wasted Nigerians talents in this tournament.
Just a quick question as a Nigerian? Did you enjoyed what you seen in Egypt about our team? If yes, you are not a patriotic Nigerian.
I’m sorry to disappoint you my friend, Mr. President doesn’t have a say over this.
We Nigerians are saying the coach must go and you are still counting on Mr. Amaju? A former politician? He doesn’t know nothing about football. Come on Nigerians.
Who voted him in? Nigerians abi? Don’t you know that we hire and we hire?
At this point, if Mr. Amaju doesn’t behave himself, he his going too.
Super Eagles is not a private property. For Mr. Amaju talking like that means we Nigerians have to act quickly to redeem our image.
So therefore, when I’m talking, you listen my friend. Mr. Must gooooooo. God bless Nigeria!!!
Mr. Rohr must goooooo. God bless Nigeria!!!
@omo9ja…I’m afraid u will say that for another 3 years
It’s not enough to say Rohr should go. I don’t have problem with that. I just need you to suggest a better replacement that our FA can pay. Should we throw away the water in the basic just because it looks like it’s about to rain? Over to you sir.
“Just a quick question as a Nigerian? Did you enjoyed what you seen in Egypt about our team?”.
My answer is NO.
I’m glad they came away with a trophy,but tactically I’m not impressed overall-a certain philosophy is limiting this team.
But I think Mr Amaju’s answer is also a NO,he even alluded to very resent disagreements between him and the coach. He thus is sending the coach to Bayern Munich for tactical lessons. If he won’t sack him,then booster courses like this should re-engineer the coach.
Truth does not depend on consensus. Rohr is a bad coach. We were lucky to get here with our insipid football. A coach who can’t name his first eleven, who plays uncoordinated football. Please, Rohr must go.
Go and remove Amaju now. Abooti YỌ Ni?? Even your fathers Chris Giwa and Dalung never succeed in removing him talk-less of ordinary you and your noise making cohorts. The only person that can remove Amaju is FIFA. He will complete his term by all means. Besides he’s a Niger Delta boy. The heartbeat of Nigeria. Both Pinnick and Rohr are untouchable until the end of his tenure. They also have the backing of the Vice President Osinbajo so if you don’t know what is going on in your country I feel sorry for your type.
Omo9ja abi wetin dem dy call you sef??? You’ve sum very few valid points though. The system these guys play are too shambolic in this Afcon compared to the world cup, I mean in terms of playing pattern, accurate passes and all that, I don’t know what went wrong though but I believe it will be fixed since it’s that same Rohr that managed the world cup team.
But Omo9ja , let’s be factual with ourselves o, are you telling me all these your hatred for Rohr is just because you love Super eagles and you want the best for them??? Hell No!!! The likes of Dr Drey,Ayphillydegreat also love them and want the best for them too but I know there’s something hidden about your problem with Rohr.
Ogboju alabosi ni e alaye, deep down in you, you want Rohr to fail but after you’ve written your nonsense, you would end it up with “God bless Nigeria” and with other words pretending to like Rohr. O je jawo lapon ti o yo bobo
Quiet there all u fools against dis team na real MUMU. Good two edition naija or go afcon, we don bring bronze now after going to world cup people still nor dey content. I wish una dey fit rebel lime dis with d politicians e 4 good oh. Omomumu n co…..
Omo9ja stop to dey call God for nonesense may you talk. Sometimes you have to be grateful.2015 and 2017, nigeria did not qualify for AFCON after does setback someone qualify you guys with a game in hand and without pressing calculator and also won bronzes in the competition. Abeg bro you go be a Player coach so that you go coach us and be one best winger
Sacking the Coach will bring doom to the country hope of qualifying for 2022 world cup or their hope of qualifying pass the group stage of the next world Cup
Afcon indeed was a success. From non participation in two afcion to winning bronze is a good omen.
We would definitely miss Mikel in the future. I personally feel he still has some football in him to play for our team, but if he decides to retire which looks very likely we have adequate cover for him.
Akpeyi and john ogu should leave the team. No more invitation should be sent to these players.
Areas to reinforce
We need fresh full backs both left and right ebuhi should return if fit, then yem newly signed gent player should come also.
Mikel agu and azubuike should be added, and not forgetting semi ajayi.
Musa is gradually fading. This marks his first tournament without scoring a single goal. He is aging but there are enough cover for him, Samuel Kalu, Samuel chuks are good replacement.
The future is very bright for this team.. Tunisia is 20 places ahead of us in FIFA ranking and we outplayed them. Keep the coach keep these players for another 2 years. We were undeniably not the best team in this tournament. Algeria and Senegal are better. They won’t kill themselves, but give them time, not many realize Tunisia has always been a major issues when ever we play them but today they weren’t in our level. This shows we are progressing.
I think i needed to see this 3rd place match to give my final assessment of the Team_ In the Langue of coach Rohr really this is a ‘Young team’ full of potentials since the more experienced Lad couldn’t find there Feet anymore ( mikel, ogu, onazi et al) mAybe we’r getting a little bit over the top based on their respective club performances truth is national team football is a different ball game all together’ take morroco’s squad for instance_ Ziyach is been tooted to replace ‘ozil’ @ arsenal but you see that it wasn’t all rosey for him and his team…
With the inclusion of some more eagerly awaiting Legs to beef up this team will come good on the long run.
It’s not as bad as we make it seem.
Besides other teams need to win too considering some facts; Algeria’s team have only achieved afcon glory once despite their great talents and senegal after this afcon may not come close to winning it again with this present good squad (the closest they came was in 2002) hope y’all get my point.
3rd place is not bad at all, although winning it was not afar off.
Omo9ja and co. Take a chill pill ‘iv seen worse eagles team/matches in tournaments than this (the Team prior to and at the 2010 world cup wasn’t better than this team trust me).
Wetuo nu Obi oo wetin de Hot go later Cool down, abi no be so…
Congrat to Ighalo, He’ll win d golden shoe and join the PDP of African football. wish him a speed recovery.
I agree about Ndidi, I am not impressed, we shouldnt always just take a player based on a “name” or because he plays in a certain ;eague, sometimes players get lucky, sometimes scouts get it wrong, sometimes God has a hand in elevating someone who believes and deserves a break, so all and any of these factors could lead to anyone being in Man City, Man United, Chelsea, even Leicester’s team, it does not mean we must close our eyes and just be hailing that person and playing him in our first 11 especially if it’s costing our team, we did it with Mikel, although he came good towards the end of his playing career with the team, we did it with Iheanacho, see how that worked out.
We have our current best 11 playing and thats pretty much the team that started the game tonight, Ighalo is invaluable, I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, and until we find someone else with anywhere near his stats and skill and heart then he will continue to be No1, it’s up to the likes of Onuachu to play themselves into contention, Osimhen, is either not ready or not up to the job, I sincerely hope it’s the former and dont even get me started on Onyekuru, based on what I’ve seen of him and what we saw again in this competition (the few times we saw him) I am surprised that he even made the final squad of 23, or to spell it out, he is not at the level required period!and I dont know if he will get there, I sincerely hope he does. Finally Musa is another gem for us now based on what/who we have and the same applies to him as applies to Ighalo, if the youngster want to take his place then they have to show up better than what were seeing, so far no one we’ve seen even comes close, however having said that, there are some serious new talents emerging in certain obscure european leagues oo, there is a guy playing in Turkey now (I believe) and he is amazing1 reminds me of Emenike at his best. Guys like Kalu and now Chukwueze are confirmed! Those two boys have staked a very strong claim. Please I can go on and on, but this is not my job and I am not getting paid for this.
I can’t shout!
Bro,please,let’s cut Ndidi some slack…He hasn’t missed any Leicester games except on suspension…I think we should ready a substitute replacement…He is obviously tired…no doubt about his quality…Leicester have had their own share of manegerial merry-go-rounds but Ndidi is always the first name on each other team sheet…I think it is more about fatigue than quality..Of course,he is young and far from the finished article…But He is QUALITY..
Indeed let’s cut the young man some slack.He has an amazing body if not he is due injury.We often forget his strenuous workload at club.That’s why I screamed that there is no able deputy to Ndidi in that squad and it’s not like we don’t have the players.
Brazil just won the Copa America,they went there with 3 nmba4’s: Allan,Fernandinho&Casemeiro. Look at that,difficult to know who is better from the three. Each of these players had a gruesome season like Ndidi and the coach invites all three that no one be unnecessarily overworked in the Copa,also the fact that the Copa is very physical(similar to the African version). That’s how Ighalo has been overworked into injury now.
In the Super Eagles,even from the Worldcup,it is clear that Ndidi has more licence to go forward than at his club. In fact in the World cup people were asking if Ndidi has now become a box-box midfielder, you often see him way up the pitch higher than a Mikel that ought to play in front of him. Now I don’t querry the coach for this,he has probably discovered something about this beautiful player that his club has not.
But to whom much is given much is expected. Coach sir,since you have given Ndidi such a licence,don’t you know that much would be expected of his athelitism? If he doesn’t have an able deputy,don’t you know the stress on his body will make his usually efficient tackles to wane? I watched my Ndidi causing fouls close to the box because,of course accumulated fatigue had hampered a quality in him,called TIMING.His head was correct in what it intended to do,but the body couldn’t work as fast as the head desired,so we had fouls that “cut person heart”.
Please, Ndidi is not the issue,he’s still a top cadre World Class player. This boy can easily play in Madrid or Barca without stress,he’s that good! I’m glad he has Rodgers now as coach,he and his club would be on fire,I assure you.
Mr. Rohr must manage this gem better please.
And about Osimhen and Onyekuru,it is obvious they didn’t stake a good claim for their position but not everyone is an impact sub…some people grow into games…We started seeing Osimhen quality,pace,agility and movement later in the game..Given time and confidence, He would come good…He is a young player and need to keep improving.Same with Onyekuru,he has shown his quality in his various clubsides. He would Come good with the Eagles…He has age on his side…You don’t bring people in for 14 mins and expect the person to be a world beater…Samuel Kalu is a more complete player to Samuel Chukwueze…He has the added advantage of both feet trickery…I think the coach was managing his health situation. .
Overall,Young S Eagles team..We would see more of them in the coming years
As the debate on whether Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr should stay or be sacked continues, a prominent former Nigeria international, Dr Felix Owolabi, MON has unequivocally added his voice to those calling for the German to be shown the way out.
In reaction to the question posed by sportsvillagesquare.com, on whether the tactician should continue to stay as Eagles coach, Owolabi wrote, “it is so sad that we lost to Algeria in the Semi Finals of the 2019 AFCON. There is no doubts in my observation that the players through their sheer-will and individual brilliance got to the semi-final stage.
“The tactical ineptitude of Gernot Rohr cost us the defeat. Remember we faced a similar scenario against Argentina in the last World Cup and we lost out in the dying minutes. For me the Algerian match has exposed the coach and it has given all of us the best platform to access the man in totality.
“We lacked team game. There was poor cohesion. The team lacked character. No game plan, no strategy, no organization, no play-maker and no-match-maker.” The former dashing winger didn’t mince words in condemning Rohr’s lack of organisation as he wrote, “the team didn’t have any football mentality and football discipline at all,” adding, “a good coach is retained when he succeeds when others fail. And same is sacked when he fails.”
Owolabi questioned NFF President’s decision to send Gernot Rohr to Germany for a refresher course when he is not a Nigerian. “Rohr is not a Nigerian citizen, meaning he is not our product and so can not be said to be sent on any refresher course.” Owolabi explains further, “he was employed on contract and can not be sent on any course on the tax payers money. I am hearing this submission for the first time. It is funny”.
These are the lists of the Afcon coaches that already been fired and coach Rohr will join the list soon.
The former Burkina Faso manager joined the likes of Clarence Seadorf ( Cameroon ), Ricardo Mannetti ( Namibia), Emmanuel Amuneke ( Tanzania ), Sébastien Desabre ( Uganda ) and Javier Aguirre ( Egypt ) who has lost their job after elimination from the tournament.
I love coach Rohr but we have to move on. However,
Mr. Amaju, coach Rohr and his fans, don’t start a war you can’t finish.
God bless Nigeria!!!
Amakapabo should be named the coach with immediate effect.
I’m not a coach nor a football expert. I would never claim to be one however I know the type of football that sweets me and I didnt see it from the super eagles in this entire tournament. Having said that, finishing in the top 3 of a continental competition is nothing to be sneezed at
All these Rhor drummers, with a less quality team Keshi won the AFCON in 2013.
With a great game against Ivory Coast with Drogba, Solomon Kalu, etc.
Why do we have to celebrate a bronze with very uniteligent football that Rhor has to offer?
What are yiu waiting for Mr. Rhor pack and go by fire by force.
45mins of Osimhen was better than 360mins of Ighalo
Your humble opinion,sorry but I don’t think you know anything about football,to come out here and saying what you just said.
Now Ighalo is injured for nothing. The young man wasn’t happy with his body,he knows that’s some weeks out on the sidelines, which he won’t like at this time and at his age.
But why won’t Ighalo get injured? He was simply overworked in this tournament. I understand Ighalo is the best fit for the coach’s philosophy on who a striker should be,but must you flog him till he’s dead? Ighalo(and even Musa) could have been substituted in the second half,of most of our matches.Ighalo’s game CLEARLY dipped in the second half our matches,but as philosophy goes,the only replacement for Ighalo in the coach’s mind was Onuachu and the first match gave the coach reasons to doubt this Ighalo’s deputy. So what he had is Ighalo going through “punishment”,finishing matches were he would have used some 2nd half rest. The injury thus showed up with,like one who was invited.
It’s a pity for Odion,I hope things change for better in this team sha.
Congrats to our SE,best is yet to come,by top scorer @ighalo get well soon