Listen to the article
Atlanta Olympic gold medalist, Dosu Joseph in this interview with Augustine Akhilomen of Completesports.com bares his mind on Super Eagles 2022 AFCON chances, Rohr’s strikers’ headache, and others…Excerpt
How will you describe the Super Eagles’ performance in the just concluded 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers?
It was good to see the Super Eagles qualify for the bi-annual tournament with an unbeaten record. I think the general performance of the team was splendid going by how they played against Benin, Sierra Leone, and Lesotho. It is a sign that the team has improved very well.
Do you think the Super Eagles are one of the favourites to lift the AFCON trophy based on their unbeaten record in the qualifying campaign?
Being unbeaten in the qualifying campaign doesn’t make the team favourite for any giving competition because the least team you expected may just play the spoiler at the main tournament. On paper, Nigeria looks like a team capable of winning the tournament but other teams won’t just come to make the numbers.
Will it be right to say Rohr has done a good job with the current crop of talented players at his disposal?
The truth is that Gernot Rohr has assembled a good team, in fact, a young team full of talents. I am impressed with the way he has handled the team and I believe the players are glad about his impact as well. His injection of young talents in the Super Eagles have made the team stronger in all ramification regardless of where they ply their football trade in Europe.
Before the final two qualifying matches against Benin and Lesotho, were you worried that the team may not qualify after some clubs in Europe decided not to release some of the Super Eagles players?
At one point I was feeling worried because it was at the crucial stages of the campaign where the team must pick a draw against Benin and then beat Lesotho in Lagos to seal qualification. That was the permutations. Besides, I felt more worried because the tendency of the team playing with the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) players to make up for the numbers was getting glaring. But I am glad that the team scaled through the hurdle.
Read Also: Pinnick: Super Eagles Needs Quality Preparations To Qualify For Qatar 2022
One major headache for the technical crew at the moment will be the selection of his strikers for the AFCON tournament and the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after the likes of Simy Nwankwo, Terem Moffi, Sadiq Umar, and Paul Onuachu are painting Europe with goals. Do you think it will be wise for Rohr to continue with the striker force of Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho?
Wow…that’s an interesting question considering the fact that Rohr can’t select all the strikers for any major tournament. It is a piece of good music to the ears of any coach to know that his strikers are painting Europe with goals. And at the same time, a big headache too because you have to decide which of the players best suits your style of play.
I am delighted that Simy, Moffi, Sadiq, Iheanacho, Onuachu, Osimhen are making Nigerians proud in Europe and I just hope they will continue this way for till 2022 World Cup qualifiers commence.
If you are to select three of the strikers for AFCON 2022, who will you select?
Basically, I think I will still bank on strikers that I have worked with from day one, and that will make me select Iheanacho, Osimhen, and Onuachu. I may also be forced to pick Simy due to his gangling stature that may provide an aerial presence for the team.
Finally, do you think Nigeria can win the 2022 AFCON tournament in Cameroon?
On paper, yes but it will be a tough campaign for the three-time AFCON champions. I expect a better outing for the Super Eagles in Cameroon.
21 Comments
Sensible talk this time around from Joe Dosu
When an ex international talks and reason through the prism of his own greed or financial benefit then they deserve insults….When they contribute objectively like this one then they deserve respect….This principle applies to everyone ex international or not…This is football and you are held responsible for your utterance weather you are ex international or not….WHO TALK ANY HOW GO SEE ANY HOW
@eldridgecleaver from the way i see things u are the main fool here u are here educating people not to insult but I keep doing what you asked people not to do,
Baba, na cruise…..
I will take a risk to drop a winger for Terrim Moffi.
Literally, Nacho is not a main striker, more reason I will want to have Moffi in the team.
We have the height already in Paul, and maybe Oshimen.
When it comes to tenacity, Oshimen and Moffi will do it well.
When it comes to fluidity, Nacho and Moffi fills this gap.
When it comes to pace Oshimen and Moffi is a killer.
If we need a penalty, Nacho and Paul can work wonders here.
So, in my opinion, I will go with
Moffi
Paul
Oshimen
Moffi
Updates on Michael Olise, please!
I hope he hasn’t made U-turn on his international pledge?
There should be no permanent shirt in the National team, Amunike showed it in 1994, if Westahof had relied on established stars at the finals in Tunisia Zambia would have won the cup. In 2000 Aghahowa gate crashed Super Eagles team full of not just established and popular stars but also had about three African Footballer of the Year winners and he saved us from the hands of some young and unknown boys from Senegal at the semi finals of that competition. I hope Rohr will give the new boys real playing times in the up coming friendlies and not play the regulars then give them 2 or 3 minutes and drop them. That will be a disservice to Super Eagles
My question is this If a player emerges from now until the AFCon that is performing better than any of the 3 are we not to give him a chance. Insane I am one of Merit and disagree with Dosu if a player burst on the seen that forces the coach to include him because of his good club form and he is performing better than Onuachu for E.g. then by all means he must definitely be included. this thing of closing to door to other players 9 months before a tournament kicks off is bull shit and a backward mentality because at the end of the day this is football.
God bless you for this your comment…infact I support this your contribution with one bag of rice….Merit and competition is the key to success….it’s a formula that never fails anywhere in the world…But I guess this is Nigeria we think we can eat our cake and have it
Must you always abuse and course @ cleaver. Has the situation of the country gone that bad that it’s affecting even our attitude and behavior online.
I repent of my sins @Christian Ministeries of Nigeria. Dr Banks, no vex nwanu. I no go do am again. All I can say is, if I upset you, don’t stress, God is not finished with me yet.
You are forgiven my brother, I do humbly withdraw my comment above bro, one love
I like strikers have an eagles’ eyes to score goals; so Osimhen,Onauchu,Sadiq Umar have this feature or trait; Iheanachu sometimes idles the goals and somtimes subdues to the pressure and control of the rival; I think SE srtikers could be as follows:- Osimhen,Onauchu,Sadiq are center forwards; Iheanachu,Moffi,Chukuwueze, Ahmed Musa are wingers. Dosu answered about can SE lift Afco Cup in Cameroon?;I have an answer about this matter;that if SE change thier pattern of playing from attackting playing to defensive playing which has many standardrs like:- pressing,sliding playing; proper recoveries, get riding of set-pieces and bad faults from defenders, tactical discipline which has austere and drastic work which appears on standing on one line , defender’s and midfielder’s obligation to be stabile and constant on thier lines that means they must not attackt or pass center line; if SE Cosching crew and players perform this theory they will accrue postive ruslts in any match if the rival with heavy calibre…
Oh boy this tin gi me headache o. I think you’re trying to say something insightful here but it’s very difficult to understand what it is you’re trying to say.
my people, Nigeria don’t have passports at the moment, not in Nigeria or International embassies, they said they don’t have pamphlets to issue any passports till probably July END. this may be the issue with oliseh, i think he doesn’t have Nigeria passport at the moment, I am not sure, but it could be the reason he is not listed for the cameroun friendly. this our country is always offsite in almost every national responsibilities.
@Hassan Tia why are you not a coach in one of the NPFL team,with your theory you should be winning the league every season regardless of the team you’re the coach of.
AS FOR ME, THE POTENTIAL OF THE STRIKERS IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME. AND AS A RESULT OF THIS, my eight and nine will be:
***8==MOFFI & LOOKMAN
***9== OSIMHEN & ONUACHU
Algeria tried to convince Olisa to change his mind and play for them instead but he told them that it’s only Nigeria for him. The problem is our government that prioritizes Fulanization of Nigeria instead of performing their functions of providing basic amenities for the country and it’s citizens. Like one of the gentlemen here mentioned, Olisa needs a Nigerian passport to be able to represent Nigeria but Nigerian government is still unable to provide him with one because the people that represent us simply do not understand the functions of government.
Yes, Algeria tried to and promised him a lot. But Olisa turned them down. He will play for Nigeria. Maybe against Mexico. The lad is very good. Rohr should try as much as he could to have a very strong squad and the sky would be his limit. He shouldn’t close the door yet on strikers. He should test players against Cameron and then use Mexico to finalize his squad. Mexico plays high level football and they are good.
Great points brother man. Olise will definitely play for Nigeria because he loves us. He will plug the gap in our attacking midfield position.
Algeria tried to convince Olisa to change his mind and play for them instead but he told them that it’s only Nigeria for him. The problem is our government that prioritizes Fulanization of Nigeria instead of performing their functions of providing basic amenities for the country and it’s citizens. Like one of the gentlemen here mentioned, Olisa has to have a Nigerian passport to be able to represent Nigeria but Nigerian government is still unable to provide him with one because the people that represent us simply do not understand the functions of government.