Gernot Rohr has played down the Super Eagles 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in Friday’s international friendly in Austria stating it is not important but how the team fared overall.
Rohr stated this on the Super Eagles Media after the game.
Despite bossing the game in the early stages, it was Cameroon who took the lead through Andre Anguissa.
It was Cameroon’s first win against the Eagles since the final of the AFCON 2000.
The Eagles will have the opportunity to make amends when both teams clash again on Tuesday.
“The most important thing is not the result because it was just a test match,” Rohr said. “It was interesting to see some new players because we had to manage the situation and we did well, I think we had 17 shots on the goal while Cameroon only had three, they had only one on target which was the goal and we had six in target.
Also Read: Super Eagles Player Ratings Vs Cameroon: Ndidi Shines As Iwobi, Onuachu, Iheanacho Struggle
“Like I said, the result is not the most important thing in a friendly, the most important thing is to learn, to see some interesting things, to test some new players and to see what we want to do in September for the World Cup qualifiers.
“Our domination was not good enough because we had to score in the beginning of the game but we didn’t and when you don’t score you get published.”
Rohr revealed that William Troost-Ekong and Jamilu Collins will not be in action for the second game due to injury.
“But I saw interesting things, we had good integration of some new players, three of them played for the first time. We lost two players to injury and it will be difficult for the second game because Troost-Ekong and Collins are out and now we have to manage the difficult situation. But it is an opportunity to play with three defenders and to change a little bit with the system and try something different that’s why we are happy to have the second game.”
He praised the performances of Terem Moffi, Abraham Marcus and also Peter Olayinka after they came on in the second half.
He added:”These test matches are made to give chance other players. Of course I will love to play with my best team, prepare them for the World Cup qualifiers in the same conditions but it was not possible because too many players could not come so it was an opportunity to see Moffi, he did well, Olayinka did well on the right side and we saw Marcus who was also good and Valentine who came in for Troost-Ekong in the end.
“We will see in the next game if they can be in our 23-man list, now there will be competition and it’s good to give them the chance and all the time we are happy to have young players.”
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
That is an expert opinion, let the other one begin.
_ Cameroon Fans Will Celebrate _
It should be that time to go gung-ho in condemnation of coach Gernot Rohr after Super Eagles’ lacklustre performance against the Indomitable Lions last night but that will totally be unfair.
Nigeria lost 1:0 to Cameroon yesterday in a friendly that would have sent raptures to the opposition fans. I hate to think what they will be saying about us on their social media.
Super Chickens, Tasty Fried Chickens, or headlines like: Cameroonian Lions Roast Nigerian Chickens. These rivalries are fierce, the games are more than friendlies, each victory matters. Which is why Ghana will rather die on the pitch than lose to Nigeria under any circumstances.
But at least we have another chance to take our pound of Cameroonian flesh in the reverse fixture on Tuesday.
With the opportunity to test new players, coach Rohr reverted to type by naming a predictable line up yesterday. And I don’t blame the German Gaffer, he surely wanted a positive result in the match.
Unfortunately for Rohr, too many of his trusted generals had an off day. Iwobi, Iheanacho, Etebo, Onuachu, Simon are just among players who struggled to stamp their authority on the match.
With that many of his players off-the-pace, Nigeria were always going to find it tough. The Cameroonians scored their goal and then sat back to soak pressure. Nigeria did pile on the pressure but “” quality at the final third was sorely lacking “”.
Balls were being ballooned into the stands; Simon missed a sitter inside the 18 yard box; Onuachu was heading straight at the goalkeeper; Iwobi was running into a cul-de-sac; Onuachu was doing leg overs only to get himself confused as to whether to shoot or cross; Iheanacho was struggling to make headway; Iwuala’s crosses lacked the requisite quality.
These were just some highlights of our forward play yesterday which predictably produced bad fruits.
The Cameroonians were resolute at the back and their assembly line of goalkeepers never fails to unveil class!
And their goal had an element of Nigeria vs Argentina World Cup and Nigeria vs Algeria Afcon. The long ball from deep reminded me of the ball to Messi while Ekong’s poor clearance reminded me of Awaziem’s poor clearance before the foul for Mahrez’ goal.
Lesson: we should learn to deal better with that sort of long balls and our defenders should learn to clear away from danger! In a friendly, perhaps the substitutions could have been made earlier.
Also, Algeria and now Cameroon have taken their revenge against Rohr’s Eagles. I hope this sort of trend will not continue.
In all, I didn’t get the morale boosting victory I wanted. The Cameroonian fans will be in much jollification now.
Hopefully, it will be our turn next Tuesday!
My take on this match, it is very obvious that SE has what it takes to beat this Cameron team if we parade our full squad with what I saw yesterday. The only shot from Cameroonians was it. We miss how many clear chances one from Onuachu, another from Moses, plus other safes from goal keeper. Rohr will not score goal for them o, all the same we are capable of beating this Cameron team anyday, anytime with complete team. Iheanacho pairing Osimeh would have had a huge impact compared to Iheanacho pairing Onuachu and it would have had another impact for Onuachu to come in as a substitute. Then, if it were to be that our two wings were functional there would have been a lot of trouble for Cameroon buh it was only one wing that was effective yesterday.
Good talk coachee, let’s move on to Tuesdays match joor… E pain me as we lose but no lele, na friendly and more so, we will see more new boys on Tuesday… I believe d new boiz can pull a surprise win over Cameroon even though the odds currently seem to favor our arch rivals… Nice one guys
this man want to force me to talk and won’t still talk.
When it’s time nigerian eye will open.
Even, a child that gained admission to study engineering same day that this man was employed as Super Eagle coach in private university would have graduated by now.
For five years he can’t raise a strong national team with all the talents we have in Nigeria.
Can’t we try a Nigerian coach like Amunike ?
He has tried as a coach, but for observing him over the past five years as Super Eagles coach, I don’t think this man can win any cup for Nigeria.
Don’t blame the coach too much .he tried his best.
This man always had something to say…seem his in the ruling party in Nigeria…sir even the moffi self get as e be oo. Wonder how some players make it abroad Self
Is obvious that the super eagles can’t win a match against the top guns in Africa with all our talent we are still begging for draw..No linkup play, GR doesn’t have anything to offer the super eagles again, previous friendlies..Algeria 1_0 Nigeria..tunisia 1-1 Nigeria..Cameroon 1_0 nigeria…and somebody is saying we are going somewhere,this man cannot can’t utilize the abundant of talent we have right now..am slowly loosing interest in this team
You don’t talk like that, there are new players to discover everyday he has to do his job by still searching for the best. No permanent position for so very players, as a coach you have to create room for challenges for your players. He is trying as a coach despite the fact that NFF are not paying them, what else do you expect from him
My take on this match, it is very obvious that SE has what it takes to beat this Cameron team if we parade our full squad with what I saw yesterday. The only shot from Cameroonians was it. We miss how many clear chances one from Onuachu, another from Moses, plus other saves from goal keeper. Rohr will not score goal for them o, all the same we are capable of beating this Cameron team anyday, anytime with complete team. Iheanacho pairing Osimeh would have had a huge impact compared to Iheanacho pairing Onuachu and it would have had another impact for Onuachu to come in as a substitute for Iheanacho. Then, if it were to be that our two wings were functional there would have been a lot of trouble for Cameroon buh it was only one wing that was effective yesterday.
Coach is less technical, less creative that is why our shot on target was less than anticipated. Nigeria can not afford a Renard type of coach, we even owe the coach. There is more to the teams less production. Players are not even so committed when they are owed several bonuses.
You get what you paid for.
13 int’l friendly matches; 1 win, 6 draws and 6 defeats. Rohr ass-leakers, what’s going on here?
Bizarre record!
Bhuari even saying we can withstand the European league, such crazy political propaganda….. I mean thats a crazy brainwash that the people of Nigeria have been going through in other aspect of dealings.
Oga follow give us starts for competitive matches na…..
Is it only friendlies that the PE teacher coached Us???
Give us starts for qualifies et all bikonu…
Oga @Paul pls follow give us starts for competitive matches na…..
Is it only friendlies that the PE teacher coached Us???
Give us starts for qualifies et all bikonu…
Agreed! the loss is not important.But, it is important to let you know that you broke another record.
Under your leadership, SE lost to Cameroon in regulation time for the first time in 32 years.
Under your Kokokoro eyes, SE lost a 4 goal lead for the first time.
Under your technical capacity SE failed to record a win in a year for the first time..
It is obvious that the law of diminishing returns is beginning to set-in. All the teams that lost to you in your first term as SE coach have performed better in your second term (Algeria, Tunisia, Cameroon..).
You need to change your style, players selection, playing pattern, substitution and over reliance on some unserious players. I don’t see you winning pangolo with SE.
If the problem is unpaid salaries, this is the best time to voice out, get all that is due to you before you become history.
To do list :
1. Get a new GK coach (Alloy Agu is an ethnic bigot who sees nothing good in othe GK from other part of the country, he is not even among the top 5 SE past GK).
2. Request for a part time technical assistant with winning mentality (Mike Emenalo)
3. Give new players at least 30 minutes to prove their worth.
4. Stop reserving slots for lazy players, get Lookman, Oliseh and Ejaria Now!!
5. Get your outstanding salary Now ! nff is not trustworthy.
@Larry… Thank you. Rohr with that rigid 4-2-3-1 will never win even palm kernel. It’s too predictable and what I am always baffled about is whether he does not know there are playing systems that can stifle his attack completely in that preferred system of his… You will see that come Tuesday, because of a need to win at all cost, and not allow Cameroon do a double over us, he will field regulars and not even make any change until that game will lapse… Na who still be stranger to Rohr go the build castles with am untop sand-sand!
Larry big ups!
@Larry:
1. Who will they get that will endure not being paid for 22 months?
2. If they are owing Rohr 7 months salary, how will they be able to pay Emenalo? Rohr is a team manager not a coach. All he needs is a good tactical assistant to bounce off. Where was Yobo yesterday? Missing from camp
3. Give new players at least 30 mins. Valid
4. Olise Lookman and Ejaria. Until they are available do we not play. We were missing Kalu, Chukwueze, Ejuke, Osimhen, Aribo and 5 other first team regulars. And still had 3 clear chances to win. The issue was a non clinical finishing not “laziness”
5. See item 1. This is the biggest issue and threat to the Super Eagles
Best comment of the day so far….
Thumbs up man….
Your are spot on….
What new players was Rohr talking about? All the players that played in the first 80 minutes were older players. I am beginning to feel this man is a big fraud. No desire to win anything!
I still hold the opinion that Gernot Rohr is the wrong tactician for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in five years. At the Nations Cup alone, Clemens Westerhof gave us a Silver medal first at Algeria’90, a Bronze medal at Senegal’92, then a Gold medal at Tunisia ’94 and World Cup ticket to USA ’94, all in five years.
To the extent, we made it to number four in FIFA Rankings and was voted among the most entertaining football nations in the world, all in 1994.
I feel Nigeria should look elsewhere for a better tactician. Rohr hasn’t surpassed late Shuaib Amodu of blessed memory records till date. Yet, Amodu and his crew were crucified by us.
I weep for our football.Genot Rohr had failed since but most of us failed to accept.The foundation of Nigeria football is grassroot and homebased utilization.Had Rohr started building with home based players for the past 5 yrs we would have pass this stage.Instead he believes in foreign bred.Some persons will come and say he qualified us to afcon remaining 2 matches and i laughed.Genot rohr jas nothing to offer again.I doubt if NFF can give our ex internationals free hands like the way genot rohr was handled.Nothing for us my guys
Rohr should not be saying results of some friendly matches are not important.
Nigeria did not play bad against Cameroon but not winning their last 7 friendlies is something to worry about.
@Ringmybell, so why the complain if it took westerhof three nations cup before he could eventually win it. Rohr has only taken us to one nations cup, I don’t think any nation can sack a coach bcos he failed to win friendly match while he’s doing well in competitive matches. The guys that played are part of the theme for a while buh the team didn’t comprise of half of our first 11. We create better chances compared to cameroons with a team that is not up to half of our regulars. We are also asking Rohr to use new boys and we are still expecting him to win at all cost, the truth is the match can go either way. Until we have like 90-95% of our first eleven before I can believe this Cameroon team is better. Which is very obvious they are not better, the match just went there ways. Only one attempt at goal is not enough to be shouting cameroons name like they have done unimaginable