Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr says his side will keep the momentum going after their Impressive start to the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, reports Completesports.com.
The West Africans sit at the top of Group C after winning their opening two games of the qualifiers against the Lone Stars of Liberia and Blue Sharks of Cape Verde.
Read Also: Rohr Hails ‘Difficult’ Win Against Cape Verde
Despite their impressive start, Rohr insists the Super Eagles must keep winning to ensure they secure a place in Qatar.
“We are happy to win this game, it is not easy to come back, the goal we conceded was unfortunate. We need to continue winning and play well,” he declared.
The Super Eagles will host Central African Republic in their next game on October 5 at the Teslim Balogun , Lagos.
15 Comments
There’s really something Rohr is getting right when it comes to these competitive away fixtures — even though the wins (or draws) might not be too “convincing” to the eyes, but it should be something any fan should be proud of.
I believe he’s on the right path with his “Second Eleven” recruitment
Testlim Balogun stadium again!this a sad song to the ears very sad indeed.
Since the return leg will be in Cameroon, why not play the match in Uyo that is closer?
They don’t forecast this things.
These things affects the country all round.
Fingers are crossed
I commend all SE for their away victory over cape Verde. Truth be told, some players yesterday may not get near SE camp soon, Bonke and Ahmed Musa were just there to complete numbers. Uzoho is the best goal keeper we have now, Awaziem, Collins, Kingsley, Ejike and Osihmen, were the bright sparks. For the few minutes Onyekuru and Moffi payed, was a delight to watch. I will commend Rohr to invite Azubuike Okechukwu to the midfielder fold. Kingsley Michael really impressed.
Musa will be back for sure. But the Bonke is still very crude. Azubuike should have been the one to come in not Bonke. He’s grown through the ranks and not new to the national set up. He’s strong and a fierce battler.
There are attacking midfielders, there are central midfielders and there are orthodox defensive midfielders. Almost all our midfielders fall into the central midfielders category, with Iwobi and Aribo tending towards a bit of attacking midfieders/wingers. But that boy Bonke looks very very much the only one tending towards a real traditional defensive midfielder that has been glaringly lacking in this team, no surprise Rohr has been quick to point him out, which shows again that Rohr truly n truly knows what he is doing thus helping my confidence in him. I am a big fan of Azubuike another central midfielder and Nwobodo more of an attacking midfielder. While I support Nwobodo to get a look in, Azubuike I watch regularly for sivasspor yeah; he is not the same Azu we used to know, probably been slowed down by injury and we have got numerous central midfieders at the moments, Ndidi inclusives. Truth is, i see Bonke haven won a place in this team already and also going on to achieve bigger things personally because such orthodox defensive midfielders have suddenly become rear breed. He reminds me of MAKELELE OR VICTOR WAYAMA. You guys will come back singing his praise with few more matches under his belt.
@glory… thank you. Some people dont know what Bonke did yesterday. The guy was doing quiet dirty job and people want him to play fancy… there are games you will need a destroyer… yesterday was one such games. He did it cleanly without even getting carded… it was his work that allowed Kingsley play with finesse… but sure, he has room to improve.
@Jimmyball so let me say you now believe that Gernot Rohr is a tactical coach that implements tactics to win a game because it is quite strange to hear you, omo9ja and your likes saying he doesn’t have a tactics, thank God for the deliverance upon your life Sha!
Thanks @Jimmyball. I am really surprise at such naive commments directed at Bonke. It just shows most us here only see football from one side. Our team as good as it is, has been lacking that balance in the midfield, reason we struggle to maintain pressing game as well as struggle to maintain lead. All of these has been as a result of the absence of that ultra defensive midfielder whose job is to read opponents build up play and destroy it and also scream the back 4. These type of player are the bone of a solid team but hardly ever noticed, simply because of the nature of their job. The ENGLAND Team presently has become so so solid; but the secret behind their solid display is THAT PLAYER KALVIN PHILIP, who happens to be their own orthodox defensive player. It didnt take Souhthgate any deep thinking to confine a player like Henderson to bench when he Southgate discovered Kalvin Philip. Kalvin has brought really good balance to the England team and hopefully with a little more work on Bonke, we will be seeing such robust Victor Wayama type defensive midfielder in our SE.
dont mind some people here, they really dont know how defencive midfielder work dirty for the team
Not much of a ‘ fancy ‘ player, Bonke did his duty subtly. He looks settled for the ruggedity and physical style of African football.
Did he win me over? The jury is still out. We will see.
Yesterday, he did his job. And we won.
Not forgetting we got Onyeka plying that same position.
That said, I have to doff my hat for Kingsley Michael and Ejuke. Have always respected Ejuke from afar, so glad he played his way to Nigerian hearts. He did take his chance.
Michael’s slick finesse is almost similar to Aribo though the latter is much more attack minded .
Just glad we got some extra hands that can get the job done.
Collins did surprise me yesterday, he really had an impressive game.Hopefully,it is not an one-off.
That said, I am excited we have so much driven promise at out disposal, it is really a good time to be a Super Eagles fan.
OTHER NEWS FROM OUR AFCON 2021 OPPONENTS
I hope Rohr is following up with our group opponents; Egypt played a 1-1 with Gabon at Francville even with their starman Mo Salah on the field after an unconvincing 1-0 win over out of form Angola. Libya who has maximum points from 2 matches is therefore leading the GRP F table while Egypt is 2nd.
The GRP U is interesting which is having 2 of our AFCON opponents, Guinea Bissau (GNB) & Sudan. While GNB is leading with 4 points having won away against guess who Sud at Omdurman and drawing with neighbour, Guinea in the 1st Match. Sud on the other hand is the last losing their 2 matches against Morocco and GNB. Note Morocco could not play their 2nd match with Guinea owing to insecurity in Guinea no thanks to the coup and military take over of their govt. So it’s assumed that Morocco will soon take up it’s rightful place. Experience shows nothing is given in football.
From all this, it appears on paper that the AFCON GRP may be a foregone conclusion as we will be meeting an Egypt that is short of confidence given they are having a new coach which rebuilding might not have gained grounds by January. Sudan too appears dead and buried while the only contender we may have is GNB that is only if they bear the Atlas Lions to the only group ticket to the final rounds of WCQ. They will be exuding confidence should that be the case.
In the final analysis, we should be planning for the 2nd round even if Rohr always manage our expectations.
GRP I for GNB & SUD
Bonke is a real destroyer in the middle of the park. I like his tenacity and fiery duels in tackles. He’s more like an Onyeka, but maybe a bit more rugged and crude. He reads the oppositions play and disrupts it. We haven’t had such DM in the SuperEagles since the days of a certain Emeka Ezeugo. Not flamboyant but will help keep the opponent at bay. However, I doff my hat to Kingsley Micheal.
They were both playing in midfield together for the first time in a very crucial WorldCup qualifier and they did held their own for 90 minutes without collecting any card. That is quite commendable and the fact they were not replaced at any time in the game shows their importance for the game plan. I hear people say we don’t manage the game well I just laugh because I have no idea how else a game should be managed on a sorry ass pitch and yet we came back with all 3 points.
Awaziem was fantastic in defense, same as Collins and Ejuke was magnificent. Those 3 have surely played themselves into the plans of the gaffer going to AFCON. Bonke and Micheal now give us more options in midfield. Micheal is very comfortable with the ball at his feet, makes quick forward passes and draws fowls to relieve pressure. If he continues to get more game time with Bologna he will surely be a mainstay in this SuperEagles. After all he played with Osimhen, Chukwueze and Nwakali at age grade level even winning an U17 WorldCup for Nigeria.
All in all we grind out a very important result against a very physically stubborn Cape Verde side yesterday and congratulations to the boys and the coaching staff for a job well done. There’s still need for more improvement in subsequent games and the jury is out on certain players. The competition for places in the SuperEagles will be getting tougher from now on. Invitation now will be based on form and match fitness.