Legendary Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu has urged Super Eagles players to learn from their mistakes against Sierra Leone, in Friday’s AFCON qualifier as they prepare for the return leg in Freetown on Tuesday, Completesports.com reports.
Despite trailing 4-0 in the first half, the Leone Stars fought back to draw the game.
A brace from Alex Iwobi and goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen put the Eagles in a commanding lead before the visitors started the comeback.
Also Read: “We ‘ll Work To Put Things Right’- Iwobi Assures After Draw Vs Sierra Leone
And commenting on the disappointing result, Kanu advised the players to now focus on the reverse fixture and make amends.
“Well done boys not the result we wanted 4-4 but that’s football we learn and move on,” Kanu wrote on his verified Twitter handle.
“We get ready for the second match and put all right . Wish you all the best.”
The group’s other game will see Lesotho take on Benin Republic.
The Eagles still lead the group on seven points after recording two wins and a draw while Sierra Leone are third on two points.
By James Agberebi
Photo by Ganiyu Yusuf
19 Comments
After what happened yesterday, next time Philip Shaibu, Pinnick and Sunday Dare try to join the Super Eagles in training, the boys will beat them up like babies…….lol
They trained with Super Eagles in order to motivate the team. Unfortunately, our coaches weren’t motivated at all to win the match yesterday. Rohr could have wrapped up the game in the first-half. He lacks the charisma to change the dynamics of games. Similar thing happened against Algeria, even after the match, the Algerian coach gave a poor remark about his qualities. Against Argentina, he wouldn’t have lost that game. Obviously, the German cannot take us far in football like the likes of Bonfere Jo and co did. The hallmark of a quality coach is to withstand pressure when it comes, showcase his tactics and finish an opponent.
Rohr can’t take Nigeria far better than other foreign coaches did.
Rohr must go. Nigeria have players that can beat Sierra Leone national team. If you look at the position of thier clubs in the various leagues in Europe you will discover that osimihen, chukwueze, iwobi,iheanacho,Sanusi are currently playing for formidable teams. The problem is that we have a coach that is inept and incompetent.
I was an ardent supporter of Rohr, but in Naija parlance, ‘water don pass garri.’ The guy has brought us this far, but he clearly lacks the acumen to place us in the top soccer ranks.
I do hope he himself will agree to that and ease himself off stage. With focused determination and aggressive sponsorship drive, we could go for a world-class coach. Or even look inwards. It’s time for our officials who came flaunting their beer stomachs to do their real work.
Leave Rohr alone my friend
Even yobo will be better than this rohr now. The earlier we send him away the better for us. If we have to keep him it should be in the position of an administrator not a tactician.
Yes, he must go. We have players. Give a tactically sound coach this team and you will see wonders. Rohr is just an average coach who cannot cage an opponent.
Tactical fouls commited by the SL made the difference. If Balogun had remained on the field of play the wouldnt have equalized. My thoughts.
I think for further progress to be made with this team, Rohr mans management and honest selection process which has brought him thus far should be augmented with the tactical mastreo of another coach. Is it possible for another coach who is tactical sound be employed while Rohr remain in charge of scouting and selection?
I have watched all our comments in recent times and I have decided to keep my calm. We are good at passing blames when people do badly but praise them when they do well. Let us always be constructive going forward. We come here, bring this, he is doing well, change this, change that, invite this, do not invite that. Coaching is not an easy task. For me, Rohr may not have done well as expected, but our comments should always be positive and constructive. Ordinarily, everyone would have thought we would bury the game. The same Iwobi who scored two classy goals cost us one of the goals. Will the coach come in and help him. No. Therefore, the coach should not take the blame always. The players also messed up. The keeper was not at his best but can improve. His goal-saving ability needs improvement. God willing, we will win the next leg. Rohr should also learn to use people in their rightful position. Ahmed Musa should perhaps not start the game any longer. Age seems to be telling on him. The starting eleven should be retained while Akpoguma should nd not start at all. Aina should take his place. I suggest the following line up for our next game
Akepyi, Aina, Ekong, Balogun and Zaidu, Iwobi, Etebo, Aribo, Chukuweze, Dennis and Ihenacho
Nice one @ Samson and God bless.
Some people don’t have sense at all. Why blaming Robr as if to say he was the one that told the players to drop their 4 goals lead. After all he was the coach when they scored four goals before the unforseen happened. Some people were talking about substitute aren’t you see that Balogun was injured same with oshimen hence the need for their substitution. The fact that he did not replace those guys with your favorite players made him a bad coach and some of u re claiming to be a good coach. They said he played Akpoguma has right back what is your problem with that?Mourinho a world class coach is currently playing Dier a midfielder as a center back so what is the fuss. Some low IQ are saying Yobo, Amunike etc will be a better coach, that was the same way u were questioning is choice of Akpeyi as number goalkeeper but now a lots of you are saying Okoye is too young for the position now praising Akpeyi that is how it will down on u shud we eventually get rid of this man as our coach. Look at comment from KANU learn from it that is how ex players should talk not the one that will be hitting up the polity. God bless
It’s better to keep quiet if you have nothing to say. No one complained about that young goalkeeper. By the way, most Nigerians are over Akpeyi. Rohr often used players out of their natural positions and that is not with Akpoguna only. Unless you read your comments from a different page, no one here clamored for inclusion of Yobo and Amuneke. Stop causing confusions with your sentiments. When Nigerians are winning, who do you praise? Rohr. When market value of Nigerian players, who do you praise? Rohr. When things are going well, you praise Rohr. No one can fault Rohr when things are not too good? You are the one that need sense sir. The players are at fault as well. They all share the blames.
Guys playing etebo, aribo, and Iwobi in midfield for ninety minutes against a rugged African team wouldn’t give us the results we desire. I’m reserving my comments till next week.
Atleast 3 changes should be made to the team for the next game.
1. Osimhen is injured and out so another player will take his place, preferably iheanacho.
2. Either Awaziem or Aina should come in for Akpoguma
3. I think Musa should be benched for a more younger player. Alot of players are available. Will Rohr play them ahead of Musa?
4. Leon and Ekong are the best defensive pair we have in CB they should continue. But they need someone to shield them. I have always believed that awaziem will be a good defensive midfielder but it has never been tried. Rohr prefers using another central defender or creative midfielder in that position.
Anyways lets see how it goes
In Nigeria, we’re all coaches…
We all know more than the coach….
Invite this and that…
When things fall apart the coach is crucify…
It’s our way shar….
Ekong is one of the worst CD to ever play for SE. I hope the coach gets to review the match and watch his performance in terms of ball distribution, marking and positioning. Balogun has always been the one covering his lapses. Balogun/Akpoguma partnership is the best for now. Akpo is a very good CD but yhe coach in his bid to avoid benching Ekong, who he made the team deputy captain when itsvery clear that he has no leadership skills.
Akpeyi,
Aina Akpo Balo Zaidu
Awaziem/Ajayi Shehu/Etebo/
Iwobi./Ariball
Chuks. Chidera
Dennis
It is u that should keep quiet. Look at KANU comment did u see anywhere he blame the coach? Why are u all blaming him? Supposing he started Akpeyi or any other goalkeeper yesterday and result was like this you will still blame him that he is too conservative same way some of you are saying now that combination of Iwobi,Aribo and Etebo is too weak for Africa team. Remember Aribo and Etebo wasn’t in our last match today they were there how do they fare? You and I know. The problem is most of you always claimed to know more than what you know. Why not let face the truth so that we can learn, the whole team made a mistake as the captain rightly said in his apology by switching off after taking a comfortable lead rather than apportion the blame on the coach alone just cos u dont like him. Besides, its not today that a team succumbed its lead in football. Liverpool came back from how many goals in champions league to win, does it mean the opposition coach is not good.? Forget the fact that it is seria Leon football is a funny game. God bless
@Tayo, Mr. Man, appreciate the mentality of the Sierra Leonars. They came with a much bigger mentality. Assuming it was nigeria trailing them by 4 goals, do you think we can drew the game? The players slept off but the coach has a role to encourage and protect the lead. At the end of the day, Rohr should answer for it. He is the head and therefore has to accept the blame.
I never blamed Okoye for the 4 goals. He’s largely inexperienced but I will still prefer him to Akpeyi in what was seemed a low profile game.