The last few weeks may be described as one of Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr’s worst nightmares considering how the team lost 1-0 to the Central Africa Republic (CAR) in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Teslim Balogun Stadium and how the ever passionate Lagos fans booed his team shortly after they conceded the solitary goal late in the game.
It was a moment both Rohr and the players could hardly give explanation to due to the fact that the team controlled the game but found it difficult to break down the defensive wall of CAR.
The defeat was a tough pill to swallow for the German tactician, who on paper would have expected his team to rain the goals against their visitors and pick the maximum points to further strengthen Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the final knockout stages of the qualifiers before the last game.
As expected, Rohr came under heavy criticism from some ex-internationals in the country as they claimed he was not good to handle the Super Eagles. Some also called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to sack him before the situation gets worst than it is.
In fairness, Rohr deserves respect regardless of what happened against CAR. It could have happened to any team no matter the array of talents at a coach’s disposal.
Like they say in football, you win some and you lose some, a notion every football team in the world often encounter. Rohr was not an exemption considering the fact that four-time world champions Germany were beaten at home by North Macedonia on March 21, 2021 in a 2022 World Cup qualifiers at home.
It was a timely wake up call for the Germans after that defeat as they went five games unbeaten to qualify as the first team in the world for Qatar, beating North Macedonia 4-0 just recently.
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Same way, Rohr picked up his pieces, encouraged and motivated the players to redeem their images by defeating CAR in Douala, Cameroon. No doubt the Super Eagles players responded very well by winning the reverse fixture 2-0.
With Liberia next on the menu for the Super Eagles in November, a game the team must win to all but seal qualification to the final knockout stages, the German tactician is already mapping out strategies on how the team will fly against their West African neighbours.
By and large, Rohr has risen above all the stumbling blocks on his way and there are high hopes that he could just be the man to restore the lost glory days of the Super Eagles.
By Augustine Akhilomen
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COMMENTS
Nigeria colors of GreenWhiteGreen are so inviting and exciting and wouldn’t be in a wrong place to say I love Nigeria. With Iwobi manning his place, Ndidi doing the mid field and Etebo doing the leg work, I would rather Senegal is called to replace Liberia. God bless our beloved country, Nigeria.
I share your views, my brother. Let’s be thankful to the divine for what we currently have. The fortunes of the SE are seeing an upswing with Rohr.
Besides being our only country, we have the players who can give us the day. Osimhen is there, TroostBalogun too and also remember Ejuke the mesmeriser and Tyrone. God bless us, bless Nigeria.
This is a paid commentary. It does not represent the minds of many Nigerians who don’t have access to money to pay for their minds to be heard.
Like Solsjaer, Rhor has nothing to offer to NFF and SE. No tactics, no confidence in players, no assurances, no vision for Nigerian national football.
What has not being paid his salaries got to do with delivering on job? Walk away or stay on and do your job well even if there is no pay. Is he sleeping on the street? Is he not eating before going to bed? Is he more than Nigerians who don’t have the luxuries provided or given him but hustle everyday and make ends meet?
Stop promoting slave mentality, self gain, and inferiority complex to someone who just for his colour or favour we deliberately misrepresent facts to adulate and do so at our peril.
The many comments I see under this piece depict to me that there are SE stale spectators and fans who are not assssive spectators and fans of the SE. For the former, all is good when SE win and all is bad when they loose. For the latter, all is not good when the fundamentals for a good team are lacking even if SE wins.
Sefgun Odegbamin our dear objective commentator on Nigerian footbal and sports is gnored with his useful insights. Let’s listen to him and progress.
Dear editor, kindly take down this commentary, we have had enough of stdming in public view.
Another surprise package waiting eagles in Monrovia. They better wake up.don t say I told u
Another we underrated them.
i think the match will be play in accra,because liberia stadium not up to standered since there last home match was play there also.
Seriously Rohr and Nigeria/Nigerians as a whole is blessed. With the kind of players we currently possess, there is no better time/era to dominate African football than now.
Monkey what kind of name is this? Are you really a monkey? You even think like a very unreasonable person. Try to change your name to what your parents named you. Except say them really name you Monkey.
Coachie…., even if we need to go there with Bendel Insurance FC, there is nothing to worry about….. Liberia no reach, just go there, give them a basket full and come to Eko for the welcoming ceremony…. UP UP Naija.
So dey send u to fool Nigeria abi.even Dem kanu time dey chop am for Liberia. Go check record .not to now talk of now wen ordinary Madagascar car sierra Leone dey wayaa eagles.
Okay Mr.Augustine. Well done job,, no need to add more.. Hope he rises above his contract conditions and win the next ANC. The next ANC is an opportunity for Roar to show the world that he can win something in his trophyless career.
In recent days, I have read similar praises from Belmadi’s boy worshippers trying to distract our focus from the lack of playing pattern, wrong formation and selection as the bane of current SE.
Some have even turned to comparing SE with other top African teams, when it is obvious that this team is the best SE has ever produced.Based on the available players to select from the current SE team is the most valuable ever.
Westerhof and Keshi didn’t have these opportunities but they gave us our biggest gifts till date. They brought the best out of their teams because they know how to make lemonade from lemons.
This guy has been with this team for 5 years and he still finds it difficult to instill a winning mentality in his team.
He needs a lesson from Westerhof.
Keshi had to win the ANC before he was allowed to lead the team to the WC. He had to equal our WC record (second round) before he was allowed to continue.
The same conditions apply to Roar, he should stop complaining and get the job done or get shipped out.
Roar’s record:
1. The first SE coach to lead SE without a win in a year.
2. The first SE coach to loose to Cameroon in regulation time in 32yrs.
3. The first SE coach to loose a 4 goal lead.
4. The first SE coach to loose an official match in Lagos in 40 years..
I hope these shameful records end here..
Thank God, Westerhoff won nations cup, but I don’t think Westerhoff left by himself, am sure he was sacked, outside of Westerhoff winning nations cup for Nigeria after receiving the best support any coach in Nigeria has ever received, what did he win elsewhere. Stop castigating a man that is still meeting his target till he failed to achieve the goal set for him by his employers. this man made me start watching football again after many years of Nigeria indigenous coaches failing to even qualify Nigeria to a major tournament not to talk of winning it.
Players that would have been playing for Nigeria if not for corruption were denied playing for Nigeria even when they were invited, players like Danjuma, Dele Ali would have been playing for Nigeria. Even if he doesn’t win the nations cup , he has tried for Nigeria, now am even wishing he leaves and let’s see who the incompetent administrators will employ, the under 17, under 20, that used to be doing well has been failing, yet they are still giving the Jobs to the same coaches that failed. Mind what yo wish for.
Don’t mind him, there are some guinea pig in the forum.
When westerhoff went to 94 afcon. Nigeria had the best team in Africa the best striker best midfield but not the same. For upcoming afcon Senegal with current africa footballsller of the year Sadio mane r favorite. Followed by Algeria Tunisia Cameroun Nigeria Ivory Coast Ghana and egypt
Now you lots are getting to agree with my coach. He’s a good coach haters.
@Larry are you for real, did Super Eagles not loose the Nations Cup finals in Lagos to Cameroon in the year 2000?
We lost that match in penalty shootout but @larry said we haven’t lost to them in regulation time I.e in 90minutes, haven’t said that, pls mr Larry endeavor to as well list his achievement if any. Thanks you
@Collins, the Nigerian colors you had mentioned, ok, assuming the colors were to be substituted for an unseen one, which would you have preferred? You so much believe in country, my problem with this rohr is his fear of winning the game next month.
kini aṣiṣe fun ọ Chukwuma, irọ ni o. Karachi boy pa pa. You want to change our colours to where? E no go better for you and your people planning it. Ah, Iya Risi say Chief food is ready come chop and now I say ok make I discuss the Super Eagles for news then I read your statement. This is not good o, the newspaper must stop you from coming here o. Everybody say Rohr must win for us and you say another thing. Jesu, where Sura dey to help me discuss with you as mate writing. ok, Am wait for Sura, don’t go any where o. God will touch the mind of our children to win libra.
Rubbish
Oni kure omo jaijati ni e. Born by mistake, you abusive me, ya fada. Make Sura come back for ikorodu, you go see. Nonsense.
I never see Chief vex like this before. Please sir, don’t mind him, he doesn’t know you are old enough to be his father. Many of them these days don’t have respect for their fathers. Let’s not lose focus on out team.
Anonymous or whatever you call yourself be respectful and never forget this is a public space.
Rohr deserves to be paid the backlog of his salaries first. Cheating him gives Nigeria a gangster image.
All I can say over the five years of Oga is thank and we appreciate you a lot Mr. GernotRohr.
Beyond this point, we should count ourselves lucky under the current gaffer.
We have bn lucky though but we can’t continue like this if we have to win something.
There’s definitely a big different between we don’t have players but we are getting results and we have players but we don’t play as a team but we managed to get the results.
We escape from CAR trapped and there’s many more to come.
My people, I will advise and encourage you all to be prayerful.
We had so many abundant talents before now but Super Eagles under Oga Rohr failed to win something spectacular.
No disrespect to Oga Rohr and his followers but it is not about we have this player and we have that player.
The main problem of the current Super Eagles is, the team needed a coach that can read the game and put is own strategy to win games for Nigeria. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
They don bring that substance for you to smoke again, and you will never reject it even though you know it’s not good for your mental health
Hi friends, just stumbled on this vids and they just speak volume the gap in organization and planning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXTn1Wjz8ss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi8yHbIkQKA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywi88x6EPkg
I can’t see how SE can qualify for the world cup. That loss against CAR has exposed the team. It is all about wrong attitudes from the coaches and Players. Rohr treats the team like it has already accomplished a lot but the reality, they have not. This is the time they should be burning with hunger and desire. But they are so laid back
I think one of the reasons we lost to car in the first game was because the coach used a formation that was missing some key players and the ones available couldn’t properly execute that style of play thats why in the rematch he changed his formation to suit the players he had on ground.
Just my opinion.
This is to Rohr, the Super Eagles coach.
Please, there is a missing link in the Super Eagles Midfield. We have Kelechi Nwakali, kindly invite him. He can play the no. 10 role very well.
Also, please stop Moses Simon from wasting our corner kicks. Let another player take our corner kicks.