The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone came from 4-0 down to surprisingly hold the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a 4-4 in Friday’s Group L 2021 AFCON qualifier in Benin City, Completesports.com reports.
The Eagles look to be cruising in the first half thanks to a brace from Alex Iwobi and goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen before the visitors started the fightback.
Following the draw the Eagles still top the group on seven points while Sierra Leone have two points.
Both teams will meet again on Tuesday in Freetown for the reverse fixture.
The Eagles got off to a very good start in the 5th minute as Iwobi pounced on a loose ball to score from the edge of the box.
In the 21st minute Sierra Leone almost drew level through Kamara who had all the time in the world but volleyed over from inside the box following a cross from Buya Turay.
A minute after Kamara’s miss the Eagles doubled their lead on 22 minutes thanks to Osimhen who finished at the far post off a low cross from Zaidu Sanusi.
Iwobi grabbed his second goal of the game to make it 3-0 in the 28th minute after curling into the top corner inside the box.
The Eagles continued to pile the pressure and were once again rewarded in the 31st minute this time through Chukwueze who received a flick from Osimhen, went on a solo run before putting past the Sierra Leone keeper.
With two minutes left in the first half Sierra Leone pulled a goal back which came off the boot of Quee Kamara after an Eagles player lost possession in a dangerous area.
Osimhen almost got his second goal early in the second half after getting to the end of Ahmed Musa’s free-kick But his header came off the bar.
On the hour mark the Eagles made a double change as Semi Ajayi replaced Leon Balogun while Kelechi Iheanacho came in for Musa.
In the 72nd minute Sierra Leone got their second goal to make it 4-2 after a cross by Kevin Wright was met with a great header by Al-Hadji Kamara.
The Eagles were forced to another change as Osimhen went off injured and was replaced by Chidera Ejuke.
The Leone Stars scored again to make it 4-3 off Mustapha Bundu’s stunning goal.
And in the 86th minute Kamara got his second to make it 4-4.
By Adeboye Amosu (photo: Ganiyu Yusuf), in Benin City
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64 Comments
Very embarrassing and depressing.
This is a disastrous outing, what went wrong? How can we through away a four goal lead. This is terrible.
Firstly i wished Oshimen quick recovery,but Nigeria have no team this present team are the wost team in Nigeria history
NTA could not air a match played in Benin city here in Nigeria when they knew fans will not be allowed to watch in the stadium due to COVID-19 rules . Shame on everything in Nigeria controlled by Government.
As for the outcome it is a result of poor technicality and indiscipline.
This team would be the best team ever to come out of Nigeria.
Lets move on, and stop blame game,
The game I watched 2 weeks ago. I told u . This would be another madagascar. No problem. The return leg is where the game is . By then thing would ve taken shape. Eagles will beat them in Freetown.
Sack Gernot Rorh and save our national team
Small advice to Coach Rohr:
If you listen only to your critics, you tend to think our are the worst when you are not.
Similarly, if you listen only to your fans you tend to think our are the best when you are not.
But when you listen to BOTH your fans and critics, you tend to get a balanced view of your strength and weaknesses.
I guess you have been listening only to your fans.
I wish you the best as you determine to return to winning ways.
When you look at the way the match ENT by , it shows that the team couldn’t maintain its composure after scoring 4 goals in the first half. They should have continued to add more pressure and more goals to the end of the entire match .
Rohr’s tactical approach was so faulty. How can he put a central defender into a right full back . Infact , he’s been causing so many tactical blunders even during the friendly matches as well.
He’s got amazing players but doesn’t have a tactical clue on how to make them extremely solid .
It’s up to the NFF to decide their outcome. Afterall they’re the one who hired him.
What does a refurbish staduim gat to do with the draw.
Was it the staduim that said that sierra leone should equalize.
Blame the coach and the players.
Coach rorh is not a good manager all he needed to do was to park the bus in second half which he failed today.it happened at the world cup when we needed a draw but argentina still webr ahead to score nigeria
Rohr doesn’t have any tactical approach sir..
He just puts players on the pitch and hope for the best
Rohr tried his best… Lolzzzz
That’s what u get when u bring politics into soccer.
How on earth must u carry this game to A NEWLY REFURBISHED BENIN STADIUM?
WHAT HAPPEN TO THE ONE IN UYO?
Or even the one in ASABA?
WHY DIDN’T CAMEROUN CAME FROM 4GOALS DOWN TO DRAW US IN UYO?
When on earth did u see a sport minister & the board chairman (PINNICK) quickly remembering their boot, dazzling even more than the players during training session just to cause distraction.
Musa no good, Musa no good… Immediately that young man left the pitch, the attack died & never to ressurrected, midfield collaps like london bridge.
SOMEBODY SAYS IT’S A CONSPIRACY… WHO CARES?
IS IT ROHR THAT WOULD LOOSE?
THE PLAYERS ARE THE ONES EMBARRASSING THEMSELVES.
A SIERA LEONE OF NOBODY COMING FROM 4 GOOD GAOLS DOWN TO DRAW 4-4 AGAINST THE SELVE-ACCLAIMED GIANT OF AFRICA.
WONDERS SHALL NEVER END IN BENIN.
EVEN IF NIGERIA QUALIFIES WITH 2 GAMES TO SPARE WHICH IS STILL POSSIBLE, IT MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL BCOS WE’RE DIVIDED ALREADY SO NO GOOD THING CAN COME OUT.
Get the match back to uyo
I complained about the pitch even when we were 3-0. Generally, the surface was not really even and the grass not well watered, evidenced by the clouds of dust that pumped up when the ball bounced on certain areas of the pitch.Not holding forte for the Eagles for the loss (how I feel anyway) but it certainly affected our pace and quick transition from the middle to the final third at times.Eswatini or Swaziland will someday beat us on one of these our glorified sub-standard turfs. Then our eyes go clear
In my opinion, the Uyo turf is still the best in the country and very well maintained. We should just continue there.
We gave away cheap goals and our boys used up a lot of energy in the high-pressing of the Leone stars. After 70 minutes, their concentration and fitness levels dropped and the midfielders could not give the defence proper covering even when we had enough bodies in our own half. And many will still wonder why Ahmed musa is important in the team? Apart from his work-rate in tracking back, he also passes instructions on the pitch as the leader, maintaining tactical structure and discipline as planned pre-match. “Iwobi just clear your ball” chukwueze you too. Playing out from the back sometimes may not always be the best especially when you are being pressed in your own half in numbers.
I still feel we will beat Sierra Leone away as far as we reduce the number of unforced errors from our end. Up Super Eagles!!!!
We need to move the eagles back to uyo
I personally blamed our coach, he doesn’t know what he is doing, from the beginning of second half, you saw that your team is totally outclassed, why don’t you make a defensive changes and manage the rest of the game, GR must be sacked. This is unbelievable
Rohr has to go. He does not have what it takes to coach the Nigerian team. The NFF should get someone who understands the team a lot better.
#sackrohr and safe our beloved football from the hands of this German tactician it clearly obvious that this man has no plan for our football, how can this team under this coach, win afcon or even make it to world cup semis, that impossible. Its high time the NFF brace up and look for a good coach that is ready to make the Nigerian people proud, the earlier the better, for the sake of our football. #sackrohrnow.
God bless you my brother.
You just spoke my mind.
@Hiso, yes. He doesn’t know the team. If he fails to win in Freetown, the NFF should pay him off and hire someone much better. He has brought unconventional results for us. He should be fired if he does not win next week.
Gernot rohr……secretary dey type your sack letter now……LMAO. The same people you were trying to please are already sitting on your matter in their hotel now now as we dey talk…..LMAO
Firstly, I think Rohr with this result have given his haters chance to slay him more. He really goofed with the selection of Akpoguma and his substitution in the course of the match. Secondly, this is an eye opener to people who always want one player or the other to start or be invited apart from the one choosing by the coach for example I think everyone can see Okoye, Sanusi and even Ejuke performance today? If Rohr had not play them and the result was like this its going to be another story today. Why I always support that the coach choices sud be supported is because whatever the outcome he is going to be responsible for his actions. Though it was not a result expected but I will employ Nigerians and well meaning fans to forgive the coach and the entire team to move on and get behind the team and hoping for better result in subsequent matches but if the FA think otherwise they can pull the plug on the coach but the truth is,its never going to be the best idea at this moment trust me. God bless Nigeria.
We should not blame pitch at all. After leading by four goals. How can you let that slip away like that. I think Rohr tactics is beggining to expire. The lone star now have great confident of beating Nigeria at home.
Should we fail to qualify well Rohr your Job is at stake hoo.
Please everyone please let’s not crucify the coach nor the players it’s one of those things in football. The second leg at Freetown will be a different ball game altogether. I watched the match from beginning to the end in the first half I was thinking it will be a whitewash but alas things change. You can watch any sport under the earth no matter where it’s being played, don’t wait on nta or supersport or dstv, simply go to usagoals.net and enjoy any sport
Please everyone please let’s not crucify the coach nor the players it’s one of those things in football. The second leg at Freetown will be a different ball game altogether. I watched the match from beginning to the end in the first half I was thinking it will be a whitewash but alas things change. You can watch any sport under the earth no matter where it’s being played, don’t wait on nta or supersport or dstv, simply go to usagoals.net and enjoy any sport. usagoals.net, you must have a strong network and also enable block ads because of the many ads. Thanks
Well… We no get coach. Never felt Rohr deserves to coach the Super Eagles…
Remember, this guy gleefully lost to Madagascar.
I never believed that I’d see the day a country in Africa, that I’d have to Google up to correctly spell their name will ever draw us in a match.
This man called Gernot Rohr cannot take our football to where we want, he was just watching same way we were watching, no tactical input, he can’t read game, he didn’t see that Etebo was not preventing d defense which is d primary duty of 4, living d defense line very porous.
chai Nigeria ntooorrr
I heard some people say Nigeria does not have a team because we were forced to a draw at home against little rated Sierra Leone. Well like we have always known, names don’t play football and it’s more than 11 aside. What was clear to me and which I have observed in the friendlies is that Nigeria shot herself in the foot with the action of the coach Rohr through his choice and selection of players. I maintained that in the aftermath of the AFCON Nigeria discovered wing backs who gave us third place in the persons of Ola Aina and Awaziem Chidozie, both players showed great physical presence which matched the strength and challenge of African players. These were not only solid in defending but also adventurous in joining the attack creating assist for goals. However, the discovery of sensational wingbacks in Ebuehi and Sanusi and the alternative both threw up got Nigeria and Rohr to discard the former- Aina and Awaziem who have grown in confidence and adapted to African opposition.
Also I think the SE lost the game to the physically imposing midfield of Sierra Leaone against our light weight Aribo, Iwobi and Etebo as the game wore on in the second half. The personnel deployed tired out and lost steam and energy required to sustain the midfield and the team. Also the absence of midfield ace, Ndidi, I’m the team cost the team so dearly as Rohr failed to deploy the West Brom defensive stalwart who held sway in the midfield against Tunisia and Algeria. Mikel Agu who would filled the vacuum in the absence of substantive Ndidi, a natural DM himself was not deemed good enough by Rohr.
This is where Akpeyi’s experience would have counted. We Nigerians are difficult to please!He could have used Akpeyi for the remaining qualifying games, then prepare any of Uzoho, Okoye or Osigwe for the afcon tournament.
@Gbenga, don’t even go there bro. Put the blame on coach Rohr not Okoye.
Akpeyi can’t do anything in that situation and he should remains on the bench. I respect him, I love him as a person but in terms of good goalkeeper, he doesn’t deserve to be there.
I won’t blame Okoye for conceding 4 goal in a single match. Instead, let’s analyze the way the goals went into his net and the tactics of the coach.
I am expecting Oga Rohr fans to do the excuses again. I am still expecting more and more of the excuses.
They should remember these, do we have another country apart from Nigeria? If Yes, do we have other national team other than Super Eagles? If the answer is no then, Oga Rohr followers should be facing the truth from now on period. God bless Nigeria!!!
We conceded 3goals from the RB,Akpoguma is a CB not a RB. Whats aina doing on the bench?? When balogun got injured, why not move the almighty akpoguma to the middle to pair ekong then bring on Aina…Rohr na mumu coach: ONUACHU again again!!! Whats wrong with Rohr sef..osihmen got injured very simple bring in ejuke to replace musa then kelechi move to osihmens position..como sense rohr no get…and that Okoye is not a goalkeeper, how many goals this guy don concede this season alone..Uzoho remains our numver 1…in as much as I will blame the players on their complacency, Rohr lacks tactical ability of modern day football and I think its time we let him go after our next game in Freetown..
Let me analyze this match if you don’t understand what went wrong.
I saw this coming and I warned Nigerians but we didn’t listen.
1. We don’t have good coaches in charge of this current team.
2. Most of our players are new to African football
3. Wrong tactics and sub
4. NFF politics game
5. Favoritism of Oga Rohr and the tribalism of Mr. Amaju Pinnick plus his own selfish interests won’t letting this team grow.
I’m not surprised about the outcome of the match.
The solution to this problem is NFF. They should be real. They should do the right at the right time.
We need the services of Amunike, Aguavon and Yobo to be the new managers of the Super Eagles period.
Algeria coach have warned NFF immediately after we were beaten in Egypt by the Algerian team but NFF ignored his advice.
However, Enyeama and Ikeme services are needed in this team to help the young goalies to grow their skills in the Super Eagles team.
We can see clearly now that foreign based players can not do it all. We still have good local players but how to manage them to fit into to the Super Eagles is the main problem of our current coaches.
We should ask Oga Rohr these questions. Why Azeez and Nwakali were not included?
Why Aina or Ebuehi wasn’t moved to the right back position and moved Akpoguma to his natural position?
Mr. Gernot Rohr have tried and he can not do more than his own capacity.
Why are we complaining now? It us too late my people. Way too late.
Another thing is, the death of the innocent Nigerian youth that passed away at the EADSARS protest in the country shouldn’t have gone away just like that.
Their spirit won’t be happy seeing Super Eagles playing today. Plus the level of hunger in the land is way too much. Nothing is working very well in the country at the moment.
We need to pray for our country. Nigeria need prayer.
Our leaders need to changed their bad habits.
Do the better things to make Nigerians happy then, our sports and economy can be flourishing from now on.
However, “What an elderly man seen in this life shaking his head, if this new generation of nowadays sees half of it, they will respect elders”. That quote is for Oga Rohr followers and most especially “Dr.Drey”.
Dr. Drey, you need to apologize to everyone of us on this platform because of your attitude then you have to stay humble from now on.
You can see in today’s match that you don’t know it all. We need to learn from each other.
Fellow Nigerians, let’s come together to make Nigeria better. I’m not happy the way our players and coaches played the friendlies and the game against Leone star.
Once again I don’t hate Oga Rohr but saying the truth is my daily bread. Ire o.
God bless Nigeria!!!
… from Omo9ja: “Dr. Drey you need to apologize to everyone of us on this forum because of your attitude and from now you need to stay humble”. This just made my day… I WILL ADD Dr. Drey and his Brigade of guards should stay humble. From 4-0 to 4-4 what a show of shame… An outdated coach that Wont be offered job anywhere in Europe anymore even division 3. Rohr has never in his coaching life known how to manage a game till favourable conclusion. Rohr cannot even win Caf Champions league… Hire Amuneke and Manu Garba. They have never paid any indegenous coach more than 5milliion Naira (11000 Euros) yet got an expired PHE teacher on 50000 Euros… Why una no thumbs down my comments again after little minnows Sierra Leone don humble una. All the foreign pros we have in Europe across the Mediterranean… How did they measure up today against a largely home-based Sierra Leonian team? African football no be European ajebutter football… See how they bumped Balogun and Osimhen? Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba once confessed that the nature and physicality of African football makes the Nations Cup very hard to win… Referees won’t protect you like they do in Europe! When people talk from practical experience those with internet-surfing-football news reading and commentary will think it’s same thing as play station! I don’t even see us beating this Sierra Leonian team away… People who called our bluff today.
Hahahahaha….have you finished ranting….??? Pls who is topping the table in our qualifying group….??
@JimmyBall, they have no choice. They put the interest of Oga Rohr first instead of the interest of our country. Who does that?
I spent my time searching for fantastic players and goalies in the end, look at what Oga Rohr did to us.
His fans were making excuses upon excuses bla bla bla last month. They said because our key players wasn’t available.
What went wrong in today’s match?
We had all our best players available for the match but the Technicality deficiencies of Mr. GR affected the whole team Shikena.
I am still maintaining my point here. Dr.Drey have to be humble. Yes, that Drey has no place to hide this time around. I am expecting you to come out and say I’m sorry to all of us on this forum period.
From now on Dr.Drey, I want to see new you.
NFF and Oga Rohr fans are the ones pushing the gaffer to the level we are today. Now, they are hidden their faces.
Hmmm. I could remember all the names Oga Rohr fans called me.
1. Internet coach
2. Mr. Scouter
3. Amugbo (Marijuana smoker)
4. Mr. Pinnick
5. Looser
And so on.
As a real fan of our beloved super Eagles team, I’m not happy about the results of the Super Eagles so far.
However, what we are looking for in Sokoto, is in our shokoto.
Meaning, searching no where, we have capable ex players to handle this team better than Oga GR.
Can NFF treat them well like Oga Rohr? I doubt it. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
@Larry…
What an irony….
Was the national team save under the so called quardiolas…. Was the team not sinking everyday until the team get to 16th in african and 70th in the world?
Who’s deceiving who?
At least they plotted the graph and it works perfectly well….
But who’s loosing?
Fire Rohr today, another african country is waiting to employ him…
But your quardiolas are still roaming about in the glass house looking for job….
The team was doing pretty well until a “wrong block” that knows nothing next to coaching work was packaged and forced on us.
At first they said he’s going to complement Rohr but up till now no such thing is happening instead he stays in the touch line and issue commands bcos he’s a naive and doesn’t know the work of assistant.
The politics that is played on todays 4-4 draw will surely be reveal mark my words….
I would remind this forum when its unfold….
At least none of ur african quadiolas can boast of what Rohr has both as player and coach; a bitter truth…
@UBFE cover your body with Sack cloth and your face with ashes… Sierra Leone has naked your ego and false beliefs on coach Rohr today… Shrill-chirping cricket!
I’m a fan of Insurance of Benin Fc, Enyimba Fc of Aba, Arsenal Fc of England, AC Milan Fc of Italy, Real Madrid Fc of Spain, Ajax Fc of Netherlands, Zamalek Fc of Egypt, Super Falcons of Nigeria and SUPER EAGLES of Nigeria.
Can you imagine my feelings these past Days??!!
IT’S WELL !!!
*** Life Goes On !!!***
In Western culture, Friday the 13th is always a feared date. I don’t believe in superstition, but today’s disaster has me feeling like I just saw a horror movie.
On Friday the 13th, 2020, we all witnessed THE MIRACLE OF BENIN.
S/L came back from 4 goals down, to level up with Nigeria at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium. It is etched forever in our football history.
We should be thankful sef. S/L looked like they were going to snatch victory in the concluding minutes, and they would have deserved it!
The next match determines if Rohr stays or not. Most of us agree now that there is something seriously wrong with Rohr’s decision making. Even for people like me who have stood by him all this while, his decision making today looked absolutely abysmal. Inexcusable!
Rohr supporters supported him in the past because of his results. And there were some fantastic results. Beating Cameroon 4-0 in Uyo. Beating the strongest African team of this decade, Algeria, 3-1 in Uyo. Drawing 1-1 with Brazil. Beating Poland and Lewandowski 1 nil in Poland. They were fantastic results! Perhaps, those results were flukes? Perhaps the credit for those results should go more to the players than the gaffer?
Breeze don blow, and fowl backside has been fully exposed.
If someone who appeared to be passing university math exams fails a primary school math exam, then it casts significant doubt on his math knowledge.
We had no business, no business whatsoever, throwing away a 4 goal lead today. Under any circumstances. Even the Super Falcons would not have drawn this game if they had a 4 goal lead. The situation MUST be rectified in the return leg. Only a comfortable win will suffice. If the team performs really well, that for me saves Rohr’s job.
Anything less than an outright, convincing victory should result in Rohr’s departure.
Can we humbly go back to uyo?
@UBFE, can you compare Rohr with Bonfere Jo? Guys in the NFF don’t know what they are doing. Rohr has coached this team for more than four years, yet the team is still struggling. Bonfere won Afro-Asian Cup, Atlanta’96 which Nigeria played a wonderful brand of football beaten the South American heavyweights Brazil, Argentina and Latin American Champions Mexico. Under Jo Bonfere, South Africa never defeated us talkless of Madagascar. We also got to the final of AFCON in 2000. The NFF should know Rohr can’t win any major tournament for us. He is not really a coach with a big heart.
When your eyes go clear ooh, dey no dey tell e person, dey no dey tell e person…….. sang by timaya and co.
Pride always go before a fall, where is landlord of CS ?
I hope you haven’t lost your voice, please come we need some explanations on what happened this evening.
But u were as dumb as an ass when we were leading by 4 goals early in the first half. You just a sorry ass fellow. Just waiting and praying for your fellow man to slip so that you can rant upandan like a disgruntled dog. Shit happens in life, every shit that happens in life teaches us lessons and I have no doubt that they have learnt their lessons and would bounce back stronger in our next game. So, relax and watch the movie. Remember, actor no dey die for film.
I don’t know when I will recover from the shock of relinquishing a 4 goal lead to sierelone. I still need someone to wake me up from my dream
Rohr haters are happy but remember it was a draw not loss so stop the crying there is still second leg I’m Freetown. Sebi u want okoye, ejuke they were there couldn’t do anything
Hahahahaha….@ tayo nor mind them. Abeg epp me ask them who still dey top table and by how many points…Lolz. In the good old days if SE draw for home na like no 3 we go drop to for the table.
Na Rohr I just blame….I blame him sqaurely for all the unpleasant experiences he is now going through. This match should teach him a lesson just like the match we lost to SA in Uyo did. You wan please everybody make them say you be nice guy…….nonsense…..make d man grow BALLS and start wielding the axe as regards the management of that team otherwise na me go sign in sack letter….Lolz
When you play a smaller team in Africa on a pitch like the one in Benin, you play to their hands as the conditions suit them better than a Super Eagles team with 6 foreign born players starting. We made this same mistake in 2005 when the NFA took a crucial world cup qualifier against Angola to a poor pitch in Kano.
By now, Pinnick should know what a good pitch is! The Super Eagles must play their home matches in Uyo. It has a pitch comparable to what most of our players are used to.
Picnic wanted to play politics with the team. How much did he collect from the edo state govt to allow the game to be played there? What has happened to the uyo stadium? U can’t be shifting playing grounds like a beer palour table and expect the team to perform to capacity. Enough of this nonsense by picnic. Uyo is our home ground and should no be changed.
I was even shock to know that he was playing tribal politics on where the match is to be played… Uyo remain the super eagles home and Rohr as been complaining, wishing to play in uyo.. But pinnick is a tribalistic bigot
THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE. NOW THE BOYS HAVE TO SIT UP. ONE THING I NOTICED IS THAT SINCE YOBO JOINED THE TECHNICAL CREW, RESULTS HAVE STARTED GOING DOWN. I THINK HE IS A DISTRACTION OR ADDS NOTHING TO THE TEAM. TV PUNDIT NO BE COACH EXPERIENCE. ROHR HAS TO STOP POLITICAL PLACEMENT OF PLAYERS TO AVOID THIS DISGRACE. SUPER EAGLES NEEDS EITHER AMUNIKE OR NDUBUISI EGBO OR A COACH THAT KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING WITH MODERN FOOTBALL WITH PURE LOVE FOR NIGERIA TO ASSIST ROHR IMMEDIATELY. NOT ALL THIS RETIREMENT EUROPEAN COACHES LIKE ROHR THAT END UP IN AFRICA OR ASIA.ROHR HAS LOST TOUCH WITH MODERN FOOTBALL AND CANNOT LEAD NIGERIA TO A WONDERFUL WORLDCUP. REMEMBER NO FOREIGN COACH HAS EVER WON WORLD CUP IN THE LAST 50YRS. ROHR WILL NOT WIN IT FOR US BUT AMUNIKE, EGBO, OLISEH, FINIDI OR ANY SOUND NIGERIAN COACH WILL ONE DAY WIN IT FOR US AND NEVER A FOREIGN COACH.I SEE MORE DISASTER AHEAD.
@Chuks Haifa… Hahaha. The grammar and epistle writing @Dr.Drey has crawled to bed early tonight. Even he has been left helpless and can’t find his dictionary and keyboard to write novel for Gernot Rohr on this one today. A defensive coach that hardly can get his defence right in games… Give us Manu Garba/Emmanuel Amuneke and hand goalkeeper trainer to Karl Ikeme. When you tell them African football no be European football they will insult you here… This whole forum is waiting for an apology from @Dr.Drey and he should also apologize to his brigade-of-guards for misleading them on long and useless epistles here too… @Ayphlillydegreat… WHERE HAVE YOU GONE TO HIDE? Hahaha… Probably on drip after heart-attack!
. Hahahaha. Sierra Leone just told all those across-the-mediterranean-super-pros (@Dr.Drey’s favorite quote when insulting Junior Oluwafemi Ajayi of Al-Ahly) that in Africa you bring your grit and power, not European-Ajebutter-football… Watch those guys go insanely physical on us come tuesday… now they know that playing Ukraine is a different ball-game to playing an African side… Get players who are not only technical but physical like Peter Olayinka and Junior Oluwafemi Ajayi. When I mentioned some days ago that we cannot even beat our chest that in an elimination game (knockout) against the likes of Cameroun, Morocco, Senegal and Zambia that we will carry the day based on recent non-convincing displays from the current Super Eagles bunch, the big bully @Dr.Drey came for me hard mocking my insights and opinions… I have been watching football since Mexico 1986 and have followed international football well enough and even played to a good level myself to know that the reality on the field of play is more than going historyville to pull statistics from the internet and bully people with different views on social online football forum… Some people will learn the lesson of humility now for life… Give us Amuneke/Manu if they will agree to work together… You can split Rohrs 50k Euros salary into two halves of 25k and conveniently pay those two… Let’s see if there will be any case of taking bribes from players as most Nigerian Football Aficionado think and fear!
Guys, I know I go get some stick for saying this, but for this forum na only few people like Omo9ja, Goal, Chima, Jimmyball and a few others criticize GR openly, many had their reservations but didn’t say anything. If the team had won today, all this call for GR sack would have been a mute point. If we are truly honest, nobody who saw the 1st half wouldn’t praise GR after 4 goals up? If the game had ended 4:0 most of us here would be saying “what a master tactician”, “what a game plan”. If Akpoguma had played well at right back we would be talking how versatile he is. Everyone here was rejoicing after each goal. Jimmyball my broda you too deep down were rejoicing after each goal we scored and the manner the goals were scored. Na different tori we for dey talk had the game ended 4:0. We for dey na the replica of 9ja vs cameroon worldcup qualifier.
All the people calling for GR sack are emotional and pained at the moment but deep down you all know firing GR at junction will be counter productive, so I implore you all to exercise some patience as the next game is too close to have a new coach take over the team, except una want mek we miss out on AFCON and possibly wirldcup.
I think going forward, the coach needs to work on the fitness of the team. Olayinka, Maja, etc even Ndidi wouldn’t have prevented the outcome of today’s match. Shit like this happens sometimes in soccer. I am upset as well but we nor lose ooo and are still too of the group. We are still on the road to qualifying with games in hand. GR tho needs to improve tactically and deploy people in dia right positions instead playing guys out of position. Note am not making any excuses for the shambling 2nd half but again, replacing GR in my view will be counter productive. Just my opinion
@Proudly 9ja… I am sure you have heard the saying: “you can’t give what you don’t have”. Football and coaching at every game is a 90 minutes business and not even 89 minutes. How often have we seen and witness lightening striking Gernot Rohr’s team at the spot? Brazil, Ukraine, Tunisia (recently), Uganda, Zimbabwe, and now Sierra Leone? The question you could help us on behalf of Rohr to answer is… Which coach plays players deliberately out of position and hope to the get the best from them? Have we seen that our super foreign borns struggle against physical and fast African side? Have we seen that injury is part of the game of football and you cannot rely on a single super striker (Osimhen)? Why sentiments in picking team? What is justification for starting Musa, Akpoguma… Aribo and Iwobi needs to start building muscles in gym to be physically ready… Taribo West said this, Etebo also is a poor man’s Nigel De Jong… he needs step up his biz, can you agree with me now that yesterday’s game was not above Junior Ajayi or Peter Olayinka? Keep a date to watch Junior Ajayi for Al-Ahly vs Zamalek on 28.11.2020 and then pass jugdement on him if he deserves to be in the mix, for Peter Olayinka he has nothing to prove to anyone anymore. Can you also agree with me that Iheanacho is slow though technical and that’s why Vardy will always sit him on the bench? Lastly can you also agree with me that our midfielders still do not know how to dictate play as is natural with Kelechi Nwakali? Midfielders are born not built… If Sierra Leone has a player like Kelechi Nwakali will he not be first on their team sheet… a Country with a professional plying in Iceland league even… one of those that scored. Honestly I have seen the best of Iheanacho and senior football has shown though good he can never rise above the level of Russia 2018 WC where he flopped, at best the young man with a single foot is just average nothing spectacular other than he can hit a freekick to some extent… Can we now try to test Shehu, Azubuike (when finally fit) and Nwakali in midfield also? Is it not time? Peter Olayinka and Junior Oluwafemi has to take the place of Onuachu and Ahmed Musa going forward in that team… Ahmed Musa is nothing less than 36years old now in reality… he is an old man that has served well and needs to take a bow to focus on club career by finding a club first. If Mikel Obi agrees to come out of retirement, even Victor Moses too… We should welcome them will full open arms… Lastly, let Rohr prosecute the rest of the qualifiers and if we get through as I hope, we will… Please NFF should hire an Amuneke/Manu Combo to work together and not necessarily one above another that can cause rancour of superiority amongst the two and hire Karl Ikeme as goalkeeper trainer… Yobo can be left as assistant to help defenders and general team training. I said Manu/Amuneke because they both have worked together before at U-17 and have succeeded… with good football, the best of its kind by Nigerian standards… Lastly, make Uyo our home venue till NFF/Sports Ministry/Nigeria Government begin to feel some sense of shame to completely give both Lagos and Abuja National stadium a classic face-lift complete with regrassing if possible… we have the money for the last action. I rest my case… One love! Please Rohr should not lead us to another Afcon… I REITERATE!
Jimmyball while I agree with most of what you have said, u too agree that now is not the right time to fire the coach. If you check my previous thread I agreed with what Omo9ja said regarding Amuneke and Carl Ikeme or Enyeama assisting the coach. The truth is that which locally based player would u have invited? The league no dey function presently na. I never see Ajayi play for a long time so I can attest to his qualities but i agree that Olayinka should be given a trial but i don’t think his presence would have changed the outcome of today’s match. He isn’t a DM afterall. Also like I stated earlier playing guys out of position should be a thing of the past going forward. As u said Etebo is a poor man’s Nigel De Jong but compared to whats available he is the best of the lot. Nwakali can’t play the DM position can he? He can compete with Aribo but would u have played Nwakali ahead of Aribo that plays regularly for Rangers compared to Nwakali that goes a few minutes here and there. Azubuike is relevant but he is injured like u rightly pointed out. I agree Onuachu has no bizness in the team. Musa also needs to go sort himself out b4 coming back to the team.
U make a good point as regards to Uyo but every part of the country needs to be able to see the SE play na, it shouldn’t be uyo alone. All footballing nation play soccer games in various cities in dia countries to allow fans the opportunity to see dia team na. What you should be saying is that state govt should ensure the stadia meets FIFA standard and the grass should be maintained. IT WAS THESAME STADIUM THAT SL ALSO PLAYED OOO. There is no guarantee that tge game wouldn’t have still ended 4:4 in uyo or Abuja or lagos. soccer as u know is a funny game. Anybody u bring in now will have to start rebuilding all over again and 3 years will be lost in the process. Anyway na NFF call. I agree as well he needs to know how to manage games better. In his list of callups, you can only fault maybe 3-5 to be honest. Not sure any local coach will do better than GR at this point if given the job to manage SE but I could be wrong as keshi did it but u know nobody gave him even a prayer. U talk of Mikel and Moses, but when are the young players like Ajayi or olayinka gonna get their chance. Just my take
@Proudly 9ja… A very sound and mature response from you. No one should Sack a coach at the middle of a qualifier. He should see out the qualifiers but be replaced before tournament proper starts with Manu/Amuneke… I mentioned Olayinka and Junior Ajayi to specifically replace Onuachu and Musa going forward… even though I believe Onuachu’s 12 minutes could have added little or no serious effect… Specifically Onuachu is still young and has his own qualities but he seems to be seriously unpopular with wide section of fans even though I like him… there was a cross that he could not get unto in time… a good striker is suppose to time his runs in the box with that of winger aiming to cross and be intelligent enough to just keep his line short of offside… Mikel and Moses should be reintroduced to lead us to Afcon 2021 and WC 2022 and bow out after that time… With both of those guys our play will be more commanding… Mikel is still better than Aribo who to me should build up his physique and add more defensive touch and tackling also to his game… though he is quality. If Mikel agrees to come back then we don’t need Shehu or Semi Ajayi in any makeshift midfield situation… We could still allow Shehu, Mikel, etebo, Ndidi, Iwobi, Aribo as our midfield generals and allow Frank Onyeka, Nwakali to fully grow and reach their potential for which I feel in two years they should be ready… I WOULD also test Azubuike whenever he is back fit from injury… not all invited players have to be in the matchday squad and double headers give you good room to rotate the squad when you have players at similar technical and physical level… Let’s stop inviting every defender we have once we are calling up player, strictly four centre backs and five full backs are ok each time… I believe an invitation of between 23 and 25 at any time is just perfect… We should always have six(6) midfiders at any time and six forwards/wingers. For tournament proper we can have 3-8-6-6 that’s 23 and for qualifiers we can always have 3-9-6-7 which makes 25. The additional two (2) to the 23 in qualifiers should be those wildcard players you are trying to watch closely in trainings and training match situations to see if they prove themselves worthy of displacing suspect individuals in the traditional 23… inviting 10 defenders is surplus to need and limits spaces in midfield or attack for players who are not yet fully part of the anointed 23 but have earned enough ratings from clubside performances to challenge for squad place… If NFF can accommodate 24, then accommodating one more to mKe 25 should not empty their purse… Henceforth players not invited should stop jamboree of coming to camp and getting into the training mix like Ezenwa did… But honestly I rate Ezenwa above Okoye… Okoye to me is clearly one for the future. Osigwe, Uzoho and Alampasu should be our keepers for now… No one has really given Dele Alampasu any real chance. Akpeyi is good but his advanced age means he can only be in the team only for the short term…
Whether na @Jimmyball abi na @Jimmytennis; i don’t want to know…
Ehnn….
Bia…
How much did OLAYINKA & AJAYI give u for all this advertisement that u would not allow us hear something with this ur average, “mediocre league” players?
That’s how u were crying for EJUKE, OKOYE….. against sierra leone they did nothing special & u quickly started blaming those young lads….
You’ve started again shebi?
@UBFE… Rohr failed now you have turned to blame Yobo… Chirping bird! Your across-the-mediterranean-stars players were harassed and embarrassed by largely homebased Sierra Leone yesterday… You and @Dr.Drey suppose escort una PHE teacher go back to Berlin. Hahaha… No. More excuses… My team is young, we are still building and all the other gbogbotigbo excuses…
Well said and I understand your rational of 23 in actual tournaments and 25 for qualifiers. That is 2 players per position i.e 3goalies, 2RBs, 2LBs, 4CBs, 2DMs, 2CMs 2AMs, 2RWs, 2LWs and 2 attackers making 23 players. For the goal keeping department, Ezenwa and Alampasu are not regular, u could argue that okoye is not a regular either, so its its based solely on goalies in net regularly for club then it has to be Yakubu, Uzoho and Osigwe. For the 2RBs, then its Aina and Ebuehi LBs is Sanusi and Collins, for CB its still up in the air but Balogun-Awaziem-Omeruo-Ekong (especially against African opposition, Akpoguma can be used but in CB only). DM is still Ndidi-Etebo (here there aren’t that much option, Azubuike can be tried but height no too dey him side, Mikel i think should be allowed to be but he plays here for clubside, he will be over run in africa in my opinion), CM is Aribo (we are thinking here as we don’t have guys playing regularly in this position, who would u use here). LW is Samu-Ejuke (still have my reservation on Ejuke tho, he dribbles to the gallery but thats who we have at the momemt), RW is Kalu-Simon (Olayinka could be tried as he plays regularly), Attack is still Osimen-Dennis (until Iheanacho sorts his club fortunes out he needs to sit some down). Reme.ber my list was based on guys playing regular football for clubs and based on that the coach invited virtually all the guys needed with the exception of maybe 3 players. I would like your take on who needs not be invited and who they should replace. Don’t include anyone who hasn’t switched completely and eligible to play for 9ja tho.
My number one thing with GR tho is using the right people in their right positions. Managing games as well, knowing when to make substitutions and most importantly making substitutions that won’t make the team lose their original shape but even make them a stronger unit. Here I think is where the coach needs the most help. NFF go se dem no get moni to hire Carl Ikeme and Enyeama, dem go say dem no get moni to hire Amuneke and Garba or Egbo (like some were saying), they are still owing players and coaches, dia greed will not let them do the right think. To be honest based on the people u mentioned and also on requirement I will only bring in Olayinka and Mikel (bcos we are thin in central midfield and leadership). Victor Moses barely tracks back when he plays for 9ja, so the LB or RB if he plays on the wings will be doubled up on all the time. If we should use him I think he and Iwobi are the 2 options for the Attacking midfield role based on dat where will u put Ajayi? Am really interested in your take tho
So all this while they were sect of pple that were praying for SE to fall so they can come out in numbers & mock them, imagine the kind of pple i’m sharing this local biome with.
Well, all things happens for good atleast now we know the real SE fans.
The Yobo they packaged & forced on us to help compliment Rohr knows nothing next to coaching & we all keep quiet & play aloof.
INFACT THE TEAM WAS DOING PRETTY WELL UNTIL THEY FORCED THAT INNOCENT YOUNG MAN ON US THE SWEET WATER TURNS BITTER. THIS ALONE SPEAKS VOLUME.
When Rohr keeps inviting AKPEYI they were crying for a rookie @OKOYE… Rohr throws their preferred choice into fray & he conceeds 4 they still come out to blame the innocent lad.
England has a home for all home matches (WEMBLY). When last did they loose in this stadium?
In our own case politics/tribalism has made us to tour the whole country in every home match.
What happen to UYO stadium?
This goes to Rohr….
Nigeria needs pple like PMB to lead them.
Make ur decision & stand on it.
Pick those u feel can suit well into ur style.
Don’t allow any group of persons to interfer in ur 1st XI.
ROHR Rule In Power (R.R.I.P)
MY ADVISE
Am happy with the result bcos, it will open our eyes as a supporter of this darling team and provide a common ground of understanding to the way we would be seeing things going forward. We all love this nation from the bottom of our heart and we deserve nothing but victory in every outing irrespective of the opposition but our elders say you will reap what you sow. Truth be told, all is not well with our nation and nothing is working at the moment.
There are few question we really need to ask ourselves.
1) Is this coach good enough for team and do we have any hope in him to win any major tournament or trophy soon?
2) who is our goal keeper trainer and what has he done in the last 4 years with this team.
Whatever our answers are let’s keep it with ourselves bcos the people at the top of the FA are specialized in failure and they eat from corruption. No good coaches with credible credentials and sincerity of purpose would take Nigeria coaching job.
We should not allow this result to break us down bcos the players would be paid, the coaches would be paid and they have nothing to loose.
God bless Nigeria.
Hahahahahahaha
hahahaha
haha…..
chai!
Some pple on this forum would never stop to amaze me.
So playing Akpoguma as RB instead of CB means Rohr is incompetent right?
If this is ur own DEFINITION of “INCOMPETENT” then ur parent’s school fees was a waste.
That means FERGUSON was incompetent for using M.Carrick as CB instead of his DM.
I remember some matches he us RAFAEL as WF instead of RB.
How about ANTONIO VALENCIA?
QUARDIOLA knows nothing about football for using FERNANDINHO as CB instead of DM.
Why should ALABA be used as CB when naturally he’s a LB/DM.
Same goes to KIMICH, a natural DM being deployed as RB until the departure of THIAGO.
How about our V.MOSES that ANTONIO CONTE converted from attacking role to a WB role, same goes to A.YOUNG under OLE.
When u don’t have what to say just keep quiet….
When he converted AWAZIEM from CB/DM to RB at afcon everybody were hapy…. He did same with SHEHU ABDULAHI there was no complain now that the man is using AKPOGUMA as RB instead of CB he quickly becomes incompetent….
This’s not funny anymore, watch ur mouth….