Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr is yet again in the eyes of the storm following recent listless performances in the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers and there is a general consensus that team need immediate surgical operation, writes OLUWAMAYOMIKUN OREKOYA.
Despite a series of lacklustre displays and chaotic performances during the campaign, the Super Eagles have qualified for Africa’s 2022 World Cup play-offs.
In their last two qualifiers at home played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, the three-time African champions struggled against supposedly smaller teams.
The team suffered its first home defeat in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in 40 years when the Wild Beasts of Central African Republic came to Lagos to shock over 5000 fans that were expecting a convincing win. The team followed it up with another uninspiring 2-0 against Liberia in Morocco, where two penalties were needed to win, before Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde.
With the draw, the Super Eagles topped Group C with 13 points, two points against Cape Verde, to qualify for the knockout round.
Though the draw was enough for the Super Eagles to secure their progress through to the next round of the qualifiers, Gernot Rohr has been criticised for the way his side have been playing.
Nigeria played well in the first half against Cape Verde but failed to make the most of their chances. In the second half, they huffed and puffed.
“The road to Qatar 2022 has been very interesting,” Rohr told NationSport. “We’ve had some quite difficult situations along the line and not only about the coronavirus pandemic ; traveling and even late positive(COVID-19) results while some of our players cannot participate in the matches.
“In the second match away to Cape Verde, we did not have a full team because some players especially those based in Britain, could not make it due to travel restrictions to COVID-19 red alert zone. But that was where we made our road to Qatar 2020 clear because we won (2-1) even on a special synthetic pitch.
“It was a very important match but we had to change many of our first team players in only three days between the games ; so we did very well. “
The general consensus is that the Super Eagles under the former Bayern Munich defender has not been impressive despite recording a total of 28 wins; 14 draws and 12 losses.
Yet the German would stoutly defended his record arguing that recent poor results have other germane factors.
“We seemed to be better playing away than at home,” admitted Rohr .“ I think that is a result of playing on good pitches like when we played away to Cameroon and recently when we played away in Morocco (against Liberia); and it’s easier to win unlike when we played in a city like Lagos.
“Most often, the opponents are playing defensive tactics when they come to Lagos and they try to cut the space; it’s therefore not easy for our team to be able to create this space .
“We have not lost any away game in qualifying matches since I’m here in Nigeria more than five years ago, we only lost twice at home (against South Africa and Central African Republic) and had one draw (against Cape Verde) .”
But with strings of unimpressive performances lately, keen football enthusiasts are calling for a radical change in the national team set up.
For Abbey Yusuf, a mechanical engineer, the Super Eagles need a new coach to bring in fresh ideas as he feels the team’s progress has been stagnant over the years under Rohr.
“I am a strong supporter of Gernot Rohr even as average as I think most of our players are, a fresh breath of air is needed to get them to at least hit some high gear but the question remains which good coach will take the job just months to the AFCON.”
But Femi Ajala believed Amaju Pinnick-led NFF should take the blame for the national team’s poor performances in the field because they have stubbornly refused to sack Rohr or at least review his terms of appointment after the 2018 World Cup.
He said: “The biggest mistake Amaju (Pinnick) and the rest of the NFF did was giving Rohr another contract after the dismal outing at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“He should have been sacked immediately after the last World Cup. A coach bereft on the basics of match management should not be coaching any serious team. Less than ten minutes to go, and man couldn’t even make subs to kill time. I gave up on the team since then under Rohr.”
“You can tell that Gernot Rohr has made zero input as a coach to the team,” Isa Bio said. “We have come this far because of the talents in the team. There was absolutely no pattern to the play of the team yesterday (Tuesday).”
“The whole set up was mediocre, the coach, the team especially the central backs. It is high time we get new defenders to give the “Oyinbo Wall” a run for their money.
“Victor Osimhen was the only shining light in this team. He was practically everywhere and doing the work of two strikers while the other one was playing big man all over the place.”
“I don’t think this team can win the AFCON with Rohr in charge. The NFF should sack Rohr now. This team has the talents but are getting out coached all the time. We cannot beat any elite African side right now,” Kayode Shittu stated.
“Players are not the problem; the team has the depth to match any team in Africa. The coach and the technical crew are the problem.”
While many believe the former Bayern Munich defender should be sacked, there are others that believe he has not done badly and needs more support to take the team forward.
Adewale Nifemi said :”It is sad to see how Nigerians criticise Rohr when teams like Senegal and Morocco who have been at their best for the past 4-5 years now have still not won the AFCON.
“What the team needs now is to put more effort on the pitch, a draw was not bad. We have qualified for the next round, the coach and the team need our support and motivation much more right now.”
Incidentally, Rohr would be the first to admit that there are more works to be done for the Super Eagles to command the respect of the fans as well as getting good results on the pitch as well.
“We have always tried to play better all the time but it’s not easy because all the other teams are also progressing,” the 68-year-old Rohr said, even as he agreed that the Africa Qualifying playoff ties in March are as important as the tournament proper.
The first FIFA World Cup in the Far East will be held in the oil-rich Qatar between 21 November and 18 December 2022 with 32 teams competing in the Mundial across eight venues in five host cities.
The draw against Cape Verde secured Nigeria’s place in the CAF 2022 World Cup qualifiers playoff rounds with the other nine group winners as the Super Eagles will take on one of the group winners in a two-legged knockout.
“ We know that all the teams (in the final round of the qualifiers ) are going to be difficult to beat,” Rohr further told NationSport. “Each time will prepare and we know that African football is progressing everywhere .
“Of course, it’s going to be in March and a long time for us to prepare especially through the AFCON in Cameroon .
“We have to respect all the teams because they finished first from their groups to qualify for the final round ; so they are all the best of the group and it means the 10 teams are the best in Africa now and it means we are going to have a tough play off in March next year .
“ Being in the first five actually gives us a little advantage with the draw and that means we won’t meet any of the other four seeded top teams ,” Rohr noted.
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