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Tag: Gernot Rohr

  • Rohr hopeful Ezenwa will be fit after knee injury

    Nigeria’s senior national team’s chief coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that Katsina United FC’ goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa has sustained slight knee injury to his but is optimistic that he will make the final 23-man squad to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Egypt.

    Disclosing this to NationSport in an interview in Asaba Thursday, Rohr said: ”At the moment there are no injuries, Ezenwa got a knock on his knees on Thursday in training, I hope he is okay.

    This afternoon (Thursday) again we will train. Zimbabwe is one of the two friendlies before AFCON. So, we have to do two things, prepare the team to find harmony with the return of Mikel Obi. We have to bring him in and deal with the complexities.

    Read Also: Captain: Rohr insists on Mikel

    ” If you know one goalkeeper better than the ones we have in camp, please tell us. We are searching all over the world, we cannot find any. We have one in Dusseldorf, Germany. He is interesting, we are watching him. As at today, I do not know who is No 1, Uzoho was No 1 during the World Cup, I took a big risk, but he did well. After the Mundial, he has had difficulty at his club. He went on loan to Cyprus. Administrative issues prevented him from playing regularly, so I sent a goalkeeper trainer to drill him for two weeks as we had before the World Cup.

    ”Uzoho made a big mistake during the game against Seychelles and his confidence took a big hit, but his performance in the U-23 team has helped. Daniel is an experienced keeper, playing in a good league in South Africa and Ezenwa is doing very well in the local league. I think Ezenwa’s faithful attitude is helping the team. The solidarity among the various national teams is a major plus for the Super Eagles, there is no African country with this type of solidarity and this will come in handy during the AFCON.

  • Rohr insists on Mikel as Super Eagles captain

    Super Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr has praised Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel after the midfielder’s early arrival at the national team’s get-together in Asaba.

    The German said that Mikel had demonstrated commitment to contribute to the team’s success at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

    The number 10 had not played for the Super Eagles since he went the distance in the 1-2 loss to Argentina on June 26, 2018, and there were fears that he had called time on his international career.

    ”Mikel has at all times been a professional and the fact that he arrived here early means that he is very committed to do well and to lead us,” Rohr said.

    Read Also: Super Eagles strikers give Rohr sleepless night

    ”We expect 25 players here but some of them cannot come in today because they had games– like Ighalo came yesterday from China — Alex Iwobi is also being expected.

    ”So, the team will be complete in two days but already 18 players have arrived here in Asaba. Training will start immediately on Tuesday to get our players ready.”

    The Super Eagles will be having two training sessions on Monday, with the morning and evening workout starting 1000 hours and 1645 hours respectively.

  • Fear grips Rohr over Ighalo’s fitness

    Odion Ighalo’s failure to make the much anticipated return from injury has left Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Gernot Rohr scratching his head and wondering if his top striker would be fit for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with just 18 days to kick off.

    What appeared to be a positive news about Ighalo resuming full training last Tuesday was cut short when the striker failed to make the Shanghai Shehua squad that were held to a goalless draw at home by Chongqing Lifan in a Chinese Super League game played last Saturday.

    It is now twenty four days that the former Watford striker last featured in a competitive game for Shanghai Shenhua, having suffered a hamstring injury in the 12th minute of his side’s 1-1 draw at Tianjin Teda on May 10.

    Ighalo resumed training fully for the first time with the rest of his teammates on Tuesday after making what was described as a remarkably quick return from the hamstring injury. In his absence, his team got beaten 3-1 by Shandong Luneng on May 17 and also got defeated 1-0 by Dalian Yifang on May 26.

    Read Also: Super Eagles strikers give Rohr sleepless night

    Prior to his spell on the sidelines, the Nigerian who was manager Quique Sánchez Flores’ first choice striker had scored 7 goals in nine games for the Chinese side who are now in relegation zone.

    Nigeria began its first phase of preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with a training camp which opened in Asaba, Delta State on Monday and Ighalo has been named in the provisional 25-man list released by Rohr.

  • AFCON 2019: Row among fans over Rohr’s Super Eagles team list

    Some soccer fans and journalists have expressed divergent opinions on Super Eagles’ 25-man provisional list for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) just released by Coach Gernot Rohr.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that preparation of the senior national team toward AFCON was hot-up when Rohr released the 25-man provisional list on Tuesday for camping in Asaba.

    The composition of players that made the list came as no surprise as it includes the team’s regulars, save some players which many think should not make the list.

    Some are, however, quick to query the inclusion of Eagles captain Mikel Obi who had yet to play for the team after their exit at the group stage of the  2018 World Cup.

    Others also wondered why the inclusion of “out-of-form” Leicester City Striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, in the team.

    The Super Eagles will begin their quest for the fourth glory when the biennial football hostilities takes centre stage in Egypt starting from June 21 to July 19.

    The former Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos State, Fred Edoreh, in his opinion, justified the inclusion of both players, saying that the coach should know better.

    “I do not think it is out of order to recall Obi to the team, any team with a blend of youthfulness and experience will surely do well at any competition.

    “Inviting Mikel is good because I think his experience is also needed in the team, going by his contributions during the World Cup.

    “For Kelechi Iheanacho, his invitation is a 50-50 chance because people see him as a good player who contributes to the team. For the coach, he may probably believe that he will pick up again.

    “Sometimes the decision to field a player rest on the perception of the coach and more than that, it is good to give people chance. I also believe the coach wants to be successful as well,’’ he said.

    A veteran sports journalist with TVC, Solo Ajuziogu, said that both players might have outlived their relevance in the team, wandering what positives the coach wants to derive from their inclusion.

    Read Also: Guinea’s Keita to miss AFCON 2019

    “It seems that the coach does not have an idea of what he wants to do or he feels that the team can be a rehabilitation centre for non-performing players.

    “Of what importance is the invitation of Mikel into the team? Throughout the entire qualification stage of AFCON, Mikel did not kick a ball or contribute anything toward the qualification.

    “Maybe Rohr have a humorous sense of justice to have invited Mikel, although he claimed to have discussed his return to the team.

    “The fact remains that we have several players who can play Mikel’s role now. We have Oghenekaro Etebo, Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi and others, besides why not give others chance to prove themselves,’’ he said.

    The Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Olympic Committee, Phemmy Adetula, pointed out that the inclusion might be justifiable, owing to his experience and role in the team.

    “When talking about competition like AFCON, we need experience because since the exit of Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo, it is Mikel that has been shouldering the responsibility of leadership in the team.

    “We cannot forget in a hurry his contributions during the Olympics, although many did not like his relocation to China, but he is now back in England; I think we still need him.

    “For Iheanacho, it is neither here nor there because since he got to Manchester City team, he thought he has arrived which is not the case, to me, he is a lazy player.

    “If the coach and technical crew can work on his psyche, maybe he can improve because many Nigerians think he has nothing to contribute to the team,’’ he said.

    A soccer fan, Opeyemi Adedeji, said that though the coach knew what to do, the inclusion of Mikel and Iheanacho was a bad precedence to the team.

    “The coach might have his reasons, but inviting Mikel is something we cannot fully accept because he truly deserted the team during the qualification stage preferring to face his club.

    “Mikel’s allegiance to the team is questionable because as a team captain, he should have known better by supporting the team with his presence but he likes to choose when to play.

    “For Iheanacho, for the coach to know that it is controversial, he should try and feel the impulse of Nigerians and he will know that his inclusion was done in bad faith.

    “Why should a coach invite a bench warmer to a national team? Iheanacho’s last game at Manchester City speaks a lot of his loss of form, we don’t need him instead we should invite others,’’ he said.

    A grassroots football player, Akeem Oladejo, said that Iheanacho’s form had dropped, hence he does not have any relevance in the team.

    “Iheanacho in Super Eagles is not what we need now. He has lost his form, so he does not have anything to contribute again. The young man is sluggish and sometimes misses glaring chances.

    “I think the coach needs to drop him because I don’t see him making the final list with his present form,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the team list includes: Goalkeepers, Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina Unietd), Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa).

    Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy), Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey), Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton and Hove Albion, England).

    Others are Keneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Semi Ajayi (Rotherdam United, England).

    Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Middlesbrough FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Beer Sheva, Israel).

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Odion Ighalo (Shangai Shenshua, China); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey).

    Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain).

    Nigeria is in Group B alongside, Guinea, Burundi and Madagascar.

    NAN

  • 2019 AFCON: Rohr lists Mikel, 23 others

    Super Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr  on Tuesday listed midfielder Mikel John Obi, Ahmed Musa and 23 others in a 25-man squad to prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Egypt.

    A statement issued by the Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire, said that six other players were  put on standby.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obi, who captained the team at the FIFA World Cup finals in Russia last summer, had not been with the group since Nigeria’s elimination from the finals after a 1-2 defeat by Argentina in Saint Petersburg.

    However, a recent meeting with Coach Rohr in the United Kingdom sealed his return to the three –time African champions, with the possibility of adding to his 85 international caps.

    Rohr has largely kept faith with the Trojans who earned a ticket to the AFCON finals with a match to spare.

    ”Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defenders Leon Balogun and William Ekong, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi and forwards Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon are also on the roll-call.

    ”He has put on standby six players, among them defenders Ikouwem Utin and Valentine Ozornwafor who have also been named in Nigeria’s final 21 for the FIFA U20 World Cup starting in Poland next week.

    Read Also: AFCON 2019: It won’t be easy for us, says Rohr, Musa

    ”The Franco-German tactician explained that he has included the two players knowing the FIFA U20 World Cup will end on June 15, six days before the first match will be played at the AFCON.

    ”2018 FIFA World Cup defender Bryan Idowu is also on standby, alongside Portugal –based Mikel Agu and Egypt –based Junior Ajayi, and home –based goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai

    All invited players and officials are to report at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Asaba, on Sunday, 2ndJune, ahead of the friendly with the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Stephen Keshi Stadium on Saturday, 8th June,” the NFF official said.

    He added that the team will depart for Egypt on Sunday, June 9, aboard a chartered aircraft, for the final training camp in the city of Ismailia and tackle Africa’s number one –ranked team, Senegal in their final pre-AFCON friendly on Sunday, June 16.

    NAN reports that Nigeria has been drawn in Group B with Burundi, Guinea and Madagascar in the tournament holding from June 21 to July 19

    Full list of players
    Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa)

    Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England)

    Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Middlesbrough FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar FC, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China); Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain)

    Six On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba FC); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Ikouwem Utin (Enyimba FC); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Setubal, Portugal); Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt); Valentine Ozornwafor (Enyimba FC)

    NAN

  • Rohr applauds Aiteo, others as Super Eagles bid for AFCON

    Ahead of the forthcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in Egypt, Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has yet underlined the impact of the team’s army of sponsors reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr recently underlined the kind of symbiotic relationship that should subsist between football and its army of sponsors.

    With an interview roundly conducted, the photographer then requested for extra snapshots within the natural ambiance of the hotel edifice but the Franco-German coach would only agree to this special demand on one condition saying ‘I have to identify with our sponsor’; the 65-year-old coach then pulled on the branded Aiteo baseball cap and the cameraman just clicked away amidst banters.

    Such for instance has been the impactful romance between the ‘global-focussed’ Nigerian energy company and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under the watch of its chairman and CEO, Benedict Peters so much so that stakeholders were exultant about the excellent relationship, even as Rohr underlines the support of sponsors of the Super Eagles towards a successful campaign at the forthcoming AFCON in Egypt.

    “We have excellent partnerships with these companies (sponsors),” Rohr told The Nation.

    “The Aiteo Group is very close to us and I met nice people from Peak in the ‘Breakfast with Rohr’; and Simba gave me a wonderful motorcycle.

    “TVS is a very sympathetic sponsor and they (sponsors) see that positive image of our young team is good for developing business.”

    Indeed, the Aiteo Group than any other company has in recent time has committed so much to Nigerian football lately and they are one of the reasons the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) now has a modicum of financial independence.

    In 2017, the Aiteo Group reportedly offered a US$8.2 million package of sponsorship the NFF to cater for funding the salaries of coaches amongst others. The company has since taken over the sponsorship of both the glamorous Challenge Cup otherwise known as the Aiteo Federation Cup as well as Nigeria Women Premier League.

    Incidentally, the Aiteo CEO Benedict Peters remains a conservative figure and could for a fact, be said to shun publicity like a plague. For all   of his investment in the oil & gas and agriculture subsectors , Peter who turned 52  last December, hardly get interviewed face-to-face  but there is no doubt that he’s enjoying the camaraderie with  his new found love in the world of football as espoused in  his personal blog.

    “Can you think of anything which galvanises different people — regardless of race, religion or language — more than football?” he asked rhetorically in one of his posts. “More than anything, football crosses cultures and unites.

    “Like a shared pursuit of a pan-African economic powerhouse, football should be held up as one of the new pillars of a pan-African future. If economic bridges can be built in trade; then cultural bridges can be built in sports.

    “They are the two strongest pillars of African unity that every single person can get behind, and will let every single person get ahead. Ask any young African if they are a football fan and they will surely say ‘yes’.

    “ But ask them which team they support and the answer is more likely to be Manchester United, Barcelona or Real Madrid, than Rivers Angels, Accra Hearts of Oak or Canon Yaoundé.”

    Apart from  the largesse to  the NFF and its competitions, the Aiteo Group are currently the proud sponsor of the annual CAF Football Awards since 2018 after the exit of Nigeria Telecom outfit, Globacom

    Offered Peters: “Aiteo’s new sponsorship of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards got me thinking: through the unity of our people we have created a shared identity, and nowhere is that shared identity more apparent, more celebrated and more unifying than in football.”

    Meanwhile, the Super Eagles’ TMO (Team Media Officer) Toyin Ibitoye was equally forthcoming on the impact the Aiteo Group towards the development of Nigerian football as well as the glide of the Super Eagles.

    “The Aiteo Group’s involvement in Nigerian football has been all positive and no negatives,” the experienced broadcast journalist told The Nation. “It used to be common place in our football for our national team coaches to be owed for several months. Whether we agree to it or not, owing coaches backlog of salaries and allowances impacts on their morale and motivation to succeed.

    “But with the Aiteo Group on board, our coaches now have only one job to do….perform and lead the team to victory and they are no longer bothered about their salaries because it is no longer the practice to owe those wages.”

    Ibitoye continued: “Apart from solving the salary problem, Aiteo Group has also made it a habit to motivate the players of the Super Eagles before crucial games. It is enough motivation in itself to play for Nigeria but when you are also offered mouth-watering incentives to do it by Aiteo…you are having ‘sweeteners’ in an already nutritious meal.

    “Every member of the Super Eagles- coaches, players and the officials love to see officials of Aiteo in our camp before games. They have become very crucial part of our big and very happy family.”

     

     

  • AFCON 2019: No time to experiment with new players – Rohr

    Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr says two months to the Nations Cup in Egypt is too short a time to experiment with new players.

    Rohr who has dismissed insinuations in some quarters that he is under pressure to win a laurel with the team he inherited from former international Sunday Oliseh in 2016, maintained that the devil you know is better than the Angel you know nothing about.

    Some analysts had opined that though the Eagles did well in qualifying for the Nations cup without the usual migraine before qualification, the team needs to be given a close look with a view to effecting some changes especially in the goalkeeping area considered a bit shaky.

    But in a swift reaction Rohr told whoever cares to listen that he has decided on the trio of Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

    “We have a little challenge because our young goalkeeper Uzoho has not really played at his club this season,” Rohr told BBC Sport.

    “Uzoho made one mistake in the last qualifier [against Seychelles] but we gave him a chance with the youth under-23 and it was good for his confidence.

    “Daniel Akpeyi is playing now for a big team in South Africa and doing very well. Our third goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa too is good so we can work harder with them.

    “We have a good spirit as a team since the World Cup, so there’s no time to bring in new players,” he submitted

    Luckily Eagles who got what has been described as soft draw will face two debutants of the Nations cup Burundi and Madagascar with only Guinea expected to pose a bit of a challenge having been to the Nations cup 11 times and posting their best performance in 1976 in Ethiopia where they ended up as runners up to eventual winners Morocco.

    The Syli Nationale, have also made it to the quarterfinals four times, the latest being at the 2015 edition in Equatorial Guinea.

    Incidentally Eagles were absent in the last two editions and will need to show on the pitch that indeed they are back.  All the 24 teams that will battle for honours in Egypt have till June 10th to submit their final 23-man squad.

  • Egypt 2019: Will Rohr treat in-laws Madagascar with kid gloves?

     

    Super Eagles will on the 30th June at the Alexandria Stadium take on the Barea of Madagascar in the last group match of the Nations cup in Egypt.

    The Eagles were drawn against debutants Burundi and Madagascar as well as Guinea in Group B.

    While the Eagles flag off their campaign on the 22nd of June against Burundi, they will face Guinea in the second match on the 26th before rounding off the group hostilities with Madagascar.

    Will Coach Gernot Rohr launch full attack on Madagascar or will he  choose to be soft on them not only because they are debutants but also because they are his in-laws?.

    The German tactician, who has been handling the Eagles since 2016 following the exit of former international Sunday Oliseh, is married to a Madagascan who reportedly is in the hospitality industry but avoids publicity.

    The Rohrs, own a hotel in the French Island with estimated population 25million people. Rohr’s wife does not fancy the idea of travelling with his husband on tournaments but is said to monitor his progress while praying for his success all the same.

  • AFCON 2019: Ex- International, Adepoju optimistic of Super Eagles chances

    Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju has expressed optimism on the Super Eagles doing very well in the forth coming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt in June.

    The ex-international disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, while reacting to the AFCON draws which took place Friday night in Cairo.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles are drawn in Group B with Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi, a group analysts have described as relatively easy.

    Adepoju, however, stressed that the Super Eagles would need to prepare well and play as a team to go far in the competition.

    READ ALSO: AFCON 2019: It won’t be easy for us, says Rohr, Musa

    “Yes on paper we have a relatively easy group, but the boys will have to step up their game and play as a team to go far in tournament,

    “I am optimistic we can do well at tournament if we put our acts together, ” he said.

    The former Real Sociedad of Spain midfielder advised Coach Gernot Rohr to start preparations for the tournament early and ensure only fit and committed players were selected.

    Adepoju who was part of the AFCON wining Super Eagles team in 1994 in Tunisia also called on Nigerians to support the team.

    NAN reports that the 32nd edition of AFCON with its expanded 24-team format will take place in Egypt from June 21 to July 19.

  • AFCON 2019: It won’t be easy for us, says Rohr, Musa

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

     

    The Super Eagles will not have an easy ride to the knock-out rounds of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, going by the draws conducted in Cairo Egypt, on Friday night.

    This is according to coach, Gernot Rohr and skipper, Ahmed Musa.

    The Super Eagles, making a first appearance at the AFCON for the first time since winning it in 2013, have been drawn in Group B alongside Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi.

    Rohr, responding to questions in Cairo, immediately after the draws, said that what is most important right now is for his players to finish the season in their various clubs healthy, in order to prepare adequately for the Nations Cup.

    Read Also: [UPDATED] AFCON 2019: Nigeria draw Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi

    “It is not an easy group because Guinea is a good and young team, Madagascar was the first to qualify for AFCON and Burundi eliminated Gabon en-route to the Nations Cup. So it is not going to be as easy as everyone thinks.

    My players will just have to finish well and healthy in their various clubs and then prepare for our friendly matches against Ghana, at home in Nigeria and against Senegal before the start of the tournament in Egypt

    Captain Ahmed Musa promised that the players will be ready well ahead of the competition.

    “We will prepare well for the Nations Cup. With hard work, we will qualify from this group. I wish my colleagues the best of luck in their various clubs, as they round off the season, and prepare for the AFCON.

    Asked if there was any team he wanted to avoid before the draws, Musa said “I am a football player and I am ready for any country. I am not afraid of anyone.”

    For former Super Eagles player and the 1997 African footballer of the year, Victor Ikpeba, the Nigerian group is decent enough; the players only need to be business-minded, going into the competition.

    “We have a decent group, but we should not look down on any team.  If the Super Eagles players will go to Egypt with a business-mindset to get the job done, we will qualify from the group with ease.

    The Super Eagles will begin her quest for AFCON glory on 22nd June against Burundi at the Alexandria Stadium, Egypt. They will next face Guinea on 26th June, before rounding off the group matches against Madagascar on 30th June.