Former Nigerian forward, Femi Opabunmi has urged the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr to focus more on the team’s midfield if Nigeria must make any meaningful impact at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
He made this known in a chat with ThisNigeria, where he said that Nigeria’s chances of lifting the AFCON trophy is bright due to the array of players in Rohr’s disposal.
“The Super Eagles are favourites to win the Nations Cup in Cameroon. The team boast of quality players that can dominate any opposition that comes their way. “However, my fear for the team is that they lack team play and this could be their undoing in Cameroon,” he said.
“My advice to Gernot Rohr and his coaching crew is that they should work on the team’s midfield and ensure that the transmission of play from the defence to the midfield and from the midfielders to the attackers are well cohesive to get the best out of the team,” added the former Grasshopper of Switzerland star.
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The three-time African champions are drawn in Group D where they will face the likes of Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau for a place in round 16.
Recall that Opabunmi finished the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago with five goals to take the Silver Shoe as the second highest goalscorer and the Bronze Ball as the third best player of the tournament.
9 Comments
“My advice to Gernot Rohr and his coaching crew is that they should work on the team’s midfield and ensure that the transmission of play from the defence to the midfield and from the midfielders to the attackers are well cohesive to get the best out of the team,”
Absolutely correct. This is what am saying. God bless you Opabunmi for telling the gaffer what to do.
The main problem of that team is midfielders. Super Eagles needed a creative midfielder.
The list is out today and Ighalo made the list but Bassey, Nwakali and Dessers were not included on the list.
Now, I want to see how Oga Rohr team will play without having a creative midfielder.
Going forward, world cup qualifiers are under way and Afcon is around the corner, if it is possible to play without having a play maker in the team, we shall see then.
Ighalo and Akpeyi, welcome back to the next level. Fingers crossed. God bless Nigeria!!!
Truth is that Aribo sort of players in that role at Rangers but the brainy coach converts him to a DMF in the SE.
Exactly
Aribo plays the creative role in Rangers but the way Rohr is playing him as a DM Is not cool at all.
The time I saw Aribo actually playing his main position was during the return leg against CAR for he worked the two goals that made the team win the match . Joe is trained by Steven Gerrard who happens to be one of the very best midfielders in the world.
I don’t understand Rohr and why he’s limiting Joe’s creativity .
Can the list still be changed? Your guess! God luck to Nigerians as the crew work on the mid field. Up Nigeria!!!
100% correct. That midfield is weak and has been so for some time. MFs with energy and determination, and who can link up play are needed. Rohr’s set up is also unbalanced with gaps between the lines. We need a no 10 who is happy in that role, Ihenacho was great last season as the slightly withdrawn striker. Supported by 3-4 MFs. 1 no 10, 1 defensive (no 4 or 6) and 1 box to box. Winger can play withdrawn role like Moses did so successfully he was the Super Eagles most effective player, or upfront, like Amuneke.
In football, you don’t need a creative midfielder if the team can pass the ball well.
Who was the creative midfielder when Barcelona was dominating the world of football?. They succeeded because they keep possession for long.
So, if can’t get a creative midfielder, he should work on the team possession play.
Up Super Eagles.
Really. Barcelona had several creative players who passed well, and pressed effectively. A
creative player does not have to be a great dribbler. Bruno of Man Utd is a creative player but is not a great passer. He doesn’t keep the team flowing. But he creates many chances or assists to be more technical. On the other hand, de Bryne and even Foden of Man City are creative players who augment team work. Nigeria needs a creative player who can keep the team tickling over effectively.
Just a point. Barcelona had Messi, probably the greatest creative player ever!!!
In football without creating chances you can’t score. The Barcelona of Pep Guardiola had Iniesta,Xavi, and Busqet great midfielders who were the anchor of that time and can easily pick a pass and create chances and also score despite their tiki taka kind of football. Midfielders are needed in Rorh team.
But Rohr is so hair-brained to decipher the main problems of the Team.