Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, fielded a lot of questions from journalists during his online pre-match news conference ahead of today’s (Friday) international friendly match between Nigeria and Algeria at the Worthersee Stadium, Klagenfurt.
Rohr: I want to see good football. I want to see the same spirit we had long time before in last games. I want to see also new faces, like you know we have eight new players invited in the list of 26.
As much as these games are for the future, you are going to be without your top scorer for the qualifiers, Osimhen. Will his absence in any way affect your approach to the games?
Also Read: Eagles: Spotlight On The Foursome Vying For Safe Hands Role Vs Algeria, Tunisia
You mentioned Paul Onuachu who is a tall striker and is good in the air. Will you be playing to his strength by instructing wingers to get the crosses in for him?
The team doesn’t have to adapt the game to one player, Onuachu. He has to adapt on the qualities. When we have the ball, we try to play short passes, with wingers playing quickly and switching from one side to the other and he has to integrate with his qualities and adapt.
We will not change our game only for him and make long kicks in the air, no. But of course, such can happen during the course of the game when our wingers might have to use long balls and crosses because he is good in the air. But largely, we want to play the ball on the ground and he has to adapt his game to the team.
Tobias Lawal was not originally invited but he is currently in the camp training with the team. What’s your impression about him? And do want to use this game to avenge the semi-final loss to Algeria at the last AFCON?
This is a friendly, a preparation game and definitely not a revenge game. When you test new players and you have a new midfield – unfortunately, it is not only Osimhen we are missing, but three of our best midfielders, so we have to see if we have players who can replace them very well, and still play good football.
Are you looking to invite goalkeeper Sebastian Osigwe who is also doing fine in FC Lugano.
We are following him. He played in Austria last season and has now moved to Switzerland. He might get his chance next time.
What’s your assessment of the national team. It’s about four years down the line, will you say you’re still rebuilding the squad or have you really found the style you want the Super Eagles to play?
We’ve found our style, everybody could see it in our last games. But it’s about 11 months since we last played and it’s not easy after such a long time to find the rhythm and combinations immediately, especially with new players coming in. We are missing five starting players – Etebo, Aribo, Ndidi, Uzoho and Osimhen -we are missing half of the team.
That is an opportunity to see the new boys and to try to find again our style of football which is about quick passes, few touches, movement, going on the wings, going straight to the goal and to close together between the defence and the strikers to be a block. And I hope we can find that rhythm, but we’ve had just five training sessions but three days is not enough to prepare against the African champions.
What’s your impression of the new players in camp during the training sessions?
You will be playing against Algeria for the fourth time. The Algerians have evolved from the team you trashed 3-1 in 2016 to the one that could not beat the Super Eagles in Constantine in 2017. Two years later, they beat us in the semi-finals of the AFCON and are now African champions. Do you in anyway envy their progression from 2016 till date and are you hoping the same story can be said about your team between now and 2022?
We know this Algerian team. They are unbeaten now in 18 games and we will like to stop them. We know it will not be easy. They’ve made a lot of progress since we beat them in Uyo. It’s not the same team, but they still have some of those players. Now they are number-one in Africa and they will be a very big test for us. The second game we played 1-1 draw with them in Constantine, but we lost it , fortunately, we had already qualified for the World Cup by then.
We look at what they are doing at the club. We have to do the list very early – five weeks before – to cater for the visa issues and other protocols especially because of the covid-19. At this moment, most of the leagues are not playing, so we based our list on what was happening previously. But after we did the list, some leagues started.
Some Nigerians feel you have preference for Nigerian players born in Europe. Is that true and will that not take away some aggression and physicality from the team?
We never watch the place where they are born. When we make our list, we only look at the quality of the players. It doesn’t matter where they were born, it matters only how well they can play. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take any player from Nigerian [league] now because they didn’t play since March already, so it was not possible for them to come in.
There is concern about the defensive midfield. What is your plan to have a solid midfield in the absence of Wilfred Ndidi and others?
The absence of our three defensive midfielders, we miss Ndidi and Aribo who are two of the best players in the last games, and also Etebo now. We have invited Onyeka from Midtyjlland, you will discover him in the game. We have invited also Samson Tijani who is on loan at Hartberg, a very good player, 18 years and doing very well in the training sessions. Then we have Mikel Agu coming back, playing all the games with Vitoria de Guimarães, he deserves to come back. We have also the possibility to play one of our central defenders, Awaziem or Ajayi in the number 6 position.
Why have you invited Tijani at this stage. What are his chances of playing knowing he was a young player previously with the Nigerian U-17 team?
We invited Tijani because he has transferred to a good club. Red Bull Salzburg has one of the best scouting team in the world. We observed him at the World Cup and he did well.
You’re known to be very conservative. Are we going to see all the invited players play in the two friendly games? Secondly, which do you prefer between the old and and the new jerseys?
The jerseys are very nice. I saw it for the first time, there are two new ones. I know that the former one was a big success. There was one of the two colours a lot of people believe that it brings us bad fortune at the time. So this one is a new style, but for me I’m not looking too much at the jersey, that’s for the fans.
Now we have only two games and it will not be easy to play 26 players – or make two different teams, which is not in our spirit because we have to find quickly the rhythm because we’ve not played for a long time.
Having worked with the three previous goalkeepers and have seen the new ones now in camp, who do you consider is your number one goalkeeper?
We know who will start the game, but I can’t disclose that now. That will be just before the game after I’ve spoken with them. We decide between three goalkeepers because the fourth cannot play. It could be Maduka for his little experience he already has with us against Brazil, but not playing so much at the club. it could be Yakubu because he’s playing all the time at the club, but he never played with us; or it could be Alampasu who plays I think half of the games with his club even in the European competition but they are out already.
Has anything really changed mentally or physically for the players during training because of the coronavirus pandemic which is still around? Also what did you do to keep in touch with your players during the pandemic?
So many things changed because in this period, lots of things have happened. First, there was lockdown for everybody. We were in touch with our players by phone, through video to try to train at home – fortunately, technology helped us very much.
How much of these games are you taking into the qualifiers. If the players chosen to replace regulars like Ndidi, Etebo and Aribo do well, are you going to have selection problems?
I hope so. If I have selection problems, it means that everybody is fit and that’s what I want. I will want to have Ndidi, but unfortunately, he will not be ready by November. I think Aribo will be ready and that is some good news. I spoke with Etebo and we might possibly have him in November.
Super Eagles will resume AFCON qualifiers against Benin, Sierra Leone, Lesotho. Is the team not missing out not having friendlies outside North African opponents, Algeria and Tunisia?
It’s a regret. We want to play team.from West Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, but I heard they couldn’t come and we had to play against Algeria. It’s not my wish, it was not the wish of the staff to play twice against these two similar teams from North Africa. And we know these people, sometimes they could be aggressive, sometimes it can’t be positive aggressiveness. In our qualifiers, we don’t have any North African teams, so it’s not a good preparations for us. But it’s already good to play again, we are happy to be together and to see some new faces and especially to see again our old faces and then we have to do a good work to prepare. I hope Sierra Leone will be a different opposition, but we have to be ready.
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“We never watch the place where (the players) are born. When we make our list, we only look at the quality of the players. It doesn’t matter where they were born, it matters only how well they can play. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take any player from Nigerian [league] now because they didn’t play since March already, so it was not possible for them to come in.
“…The discussion in Nigeria that I prefer players born in Europe is not good at all.”
Nigerians, please don’t discourage and crucify this man. He is transparent, hardworking and clearly committed to his job. Value what you have before it’s gone and you start to regret. Rohr for now until we get a supremely capable indigenous coach or consortium of coaches sometime in the future.
#ENOUGH SAID!
Ewoo…Oga Kel….you took the words off my mouth. I didnt see you comment before posting mine. I thought it was only me that saw that part of the interview. Its such a shame that it has taken an OYINBO to tell us what should be our watchword in player selections.
Now I see why and how the local coaches always turn down these foreign born players whenever they want to represent the youth teams….yet just a few years later all the fake U17s and U20s would have retired and the ones the local coaches said were not strong enough will be playing at the highest level in europe. A typical case is that of John Obuh dropping Semi Ajayi and Sebastine Osigwe from the U20 sqaud to the 2013 U20 WC after emerging as our best players at the toulon tournament. Please where are the goalkeepers and defenders he took to that tournament today…and where is Semi and Sebastian today…???
We are our own worst enemies in Nigeria….. ethno-religious xenophobic sentiments has killed us.
Hehehehe. Don’t mind them @Dr.Drey. I didn’t know that quote was a highlight for you too. I wonder whether a Nigerian becomes less a citizen because of where he was born. As you rightly pointed out below, this mentality is what has kept Nigeria underdeveloped for ages while Europe continues to grow in leaps and bounds because it’s always merit, merit, merit first for them.
From political selections to business appointments, job interviews to football teams camping/scouting, the average Nigerian in charge will always first check your ethnic background or where you were born (something no one has control over or decided) before even listening to or seeing what you have to offer. He is ready to enthrone mediocrity to the detriment of the larger society – as long as the selected person is “our own.”
For the foreseeable future or till all our local coaches have a change of mentality and go and take a course in Human resources management, I dont want to see any local coach near this next gen Super Eagles. If at all a local coach will manage the team, it has to be one who has stayed long in saner climes to understand the role of meritocracy in the success of every endeavor and a good track record of managing people. Victor Ikpeba knows what he was saying when he said they cant manage this present SE. They will scatter everything we have built so far.
“…We never watch the place where they are born. When we make our list, we only look at the quality of the players. It doesn’t matter where they were born, it matters only how well they can play….”
Oga Rohr, pls dont mind those racist xenophobes. They are typical Nigerians. A typical Nigerian will rather first care to know where you are from before even knowing your name. Ethnicity and Mediocrity has overridden their mentality, that’s why the country is worse than it was at independence. Every selection, political, administrative or professional in the country is based on who your are or who you know rather than on what you have to offer…they never care about MERIT.
I wish I can cast that your statement on a billboard and on every rock in every town in the damn country.
All we want are quality players. Whether you are born in Nigeria or abroad, it does not matter. If I may ask, who amongst home-based players can match these guys? Enough of this segregation.
Stupid set of people! They will still be the one castigating nedum, owomoyela, Sidney, agbonlahor, saka, tomori and Abraham for not choosing Nigerian ahead of their respective adopted countries.
This is the major reason while other countries are progressing we are retrogressing in all ramifications.
Hear the kind of shit their protesting for when avalanche of issues are there to talk about?
Which kind of message are we sending to the whole world ahead of our impending approacch a nationality switch?
May God Almighty punish those who never want the progress of this country… So sad reading this piece mehn!
Me personally identify with you, Kels, drey, and others who have voiced the shambolic way some people are talking about these great NIGERIAN PATRIOTS though born outside 9ja. All the people saying trash about these guys, how many are as patriotic as these guys who would leave almost everything they know to come and represent 9ja and not only put smiles on our faces but also help in marketing the brand 9ja and SE. I personally fault the journalist that asked that question because its uncalled for in my opinion. Just imagine if some of these guys read some of the lubbish (like someone likes saying) being spewed here, personally I would be insulted. It is for the money that they get as match bonuses which are peanuts. They risk their lives and limps to represent us, we should be lucky they elected to play for us knowing they are from a different climate where things are done properly not by mago mago. Many of these so called oyibo like Ekong are helping develop the country, helping orphans etc, how many orphanages has people in this forum been to, to distribute even water? Guys let’s appreciate these PATRIOTS and stop deceiving ourselves that homebased players can replace these guys based on form and quality. Journalists should help in opening the eyes and mentality of Nigerians rather than ask questions that are capable of showing discord in the team. Your race, sex, age sexual orientation, religion, language should NEVER by a yardstick in measuring one’s capability. Most forumite here reside outside Nigeria, and u all know in most places of work, companies provide accessibility for disabled people sef as these guys make contributions to the company and the country at large. In Nigeria, some disabled people who deep within them know they can contribute to society but are treated as non human, and we expect the country to progress. Our mentality has to change if we are to MAKE NAIJA GREAT AGAIN. Thanks and God bless everyone.
Team list
Okoye
Ebuehi
Sanusi
Balogun
Ekong
Ajayi
Chukwueze
Onyeka
Iwobi
Kalu
Onuachu
The journalist who conducted the interview did a poor job by giving Rohr the impression that majority of Nigerians are not happy with him for going after Europe born players. That impression is really erroneous. It is just a handful of Nigerians that are not happy over that. Majority of Nigerians like me are fully in support of Rohr. For me, even if a player is from Brazil (Father, Brazil, Mother, Brazil) and wants to join the Super Eagles, no problem….. as long as he is very good. Somebody like Diego Coasta is from Brazil but plays for Spain. It is high time we stopped this segregation.
Kel,I felt the interviewer shouldn’t ve asked such question it’s barbaric.we Nigerians appreciate whT rohr is doing.he is absolutely transperent and I see no reason y home based players should be drafted in to the super eagles when the league is shambolic and corrupt they can’t even qualify for group stages of the African tournament they should be invited please……they should rather allow them play under age continental competition not super eagles .
It’s a nice, balanced starting line up today, according to owngoal info:
GK – Maduka Okoye
RWB – Tyronne Ebuehi
LWB – Sanusi Zaidu
CB – Leon Balogun
CB – Wlliams Troost Ekong
DMF – Semi Ajayi
AMF – Frank Onyeka
AMF – Alex Iwobi
RFW – Samuel Chukuweze
LWF – Samuel Kalu
CF – Paul Onuachu
I agree with you. Its a very balance line up and very flexible too…a 4-2-3-1 that can morph into a 4-3-3 or a 3-5-2. Luckily, they are all systems the SE are used to and can play effectively.
If we can get that our makeshift midfield to work and counter the effect of the likes of Guediora, Bennaccer, Fegouli in that Algerian midfield, then barring other unfortunate circumstances, our victory is assured.
We really really have a biiiig problem in this country. Is it a matter of what you u can offer or all the hell about where u are coming from? That’s the hell we’ve found ourselves in. The idiot that calls himself the president of this country has towed this same line which is the main root causes of the problems we are having in this country. Mediocrity at its peak. He has appointed people in positions of authority based on entnic group or tribe instead of merit and we can see the result for ourselves. Everything is upside down in the coutry. Things are done the wrong way in every sector hence the terrible results we are seeing. Reason why Nigeria was good some years after independence was bcs the structure and system put in place by the British was still in place until we allowed tribalism and nepotism to take charge and ever since then we’ve been in a complete mess. We cry of insecurity everyday in this country, thousands of lives are lost as a result and yet nothing is done about it all bcs the security chiefs come from the same region and nobody of course can question or check the excesses of any of the arms of the security apparatus. This same mediocrity is playing out in our sporting sphere. They pushed yobo who is a rookie in coaching to dethrone rohr all bcs the latter is white. Some fools who call themselves ex internationals blatantly supported the idea with some even saying they’d even sink with a rookie than sail with a professional. That’s the extent the damage has gone. What a pity. And you wonder, are these people aware of the consequences of their evil acts? If there is any home based player who can perform better or snatch a shirt from the already invited players in the team, pls, o forward their names for practical assessment but the truth is there is none. Absolutely none!!! Many of them were invited but couldn’t measure up the with the high standards already in place in the team. It all happened before our eyes. Our league is rotten and dead and the powers that be do not want to fo anything about it. What a shame!
Thumbs thumbs thumbs up my brother man@ Oakfield. Infact I m gonna say in Bini” wa kpobor ne”. The truth is, there is what is called the NIGERIAN MENTALITY. IT IS A SELF DESTRUCT MENTALITY, THAT IS SELF PLEASING, IT DESTROYS EVERYTHING GOOD IF ONLY THAT WILL BENEFIT HIM OR HERSELF. IS IT NOT LAUGHABLE AND SICK, TO THINK THAT A FOREIGNER ( ROHR), UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS TO ACCEPT OUR FOREIGN BORN PLAYERS AS PART OF US BETTER THAN SO CALLED “PATRIOTIC NIGERIANS”?. IMAGINE ONE IDIOT WILL COME TELL ME, HE IS MORE QUALIFIED NIGERIAN THAN MY KIDS BECAUSE MY KIDS ARE FOREIGN. MAY AMADIOHA BLINDFOLD SUCH IDIOT FOREVER.
Amen to that prayer.
Anybody that wants to stand in the way of our children in representing their nation under any circumstances will go 6ft under the ground before that time. They are seen as foreigners in Europe and then when they come to Nigeria, they are called half-caste, foreign-borns etc…..Nonsense.
Amen to that @ Glory. Adding to what you just said, the Presidential spokesman: Garbage Shehu said that Pastor Adabayor is unpatriotic by calling for the restructuring of the country. These is the kind of backward mentality our leaders have. You cant expect anything better.They’ve forgotten that nigeria is running on an outdated software that is long overdue to be updated. Its a pity, A very big pity. Mr odegbami and his group should bury his/their head in shame bcs they have sold their dignity and respect for a penny. Shame on him! U can imagine what would’ve happened if the super eagles was handled by a Nigerian . You’d see alot of rusted home based players that have not tasted action since match in the team. Thank God for rohr, we can only enjoy the ride while it lasts bcs in a very short while, (when rohr would be gone as the super eagles is not his father’s property,) we shall return to the years of super chickens and ducks. Years of calculator biz and heart attacks. Years of people losing interests and faith in the affairs of the senior narional team. Don’t say I’m a prophet.
When a white man does it we start complaining, now we’re the ones segregating our own blood.
Somebody like OKIKI LAWAL(GK) is a northerner if i’m not mistaken;
BALOGUN, AINA, AJAYI, AKPOGUMA(BENIN) are from the WEST.
The likes of OKOYE, EBUEHI are from the EAST.
Only EKONG TROOST is from SOUTH.
Why are we discriminating ourselves?
Last year SOUTH AFRICANs were discriminating & killing foreigners & we started calling them names, if i may ask aren’t we heading the same direction?
SAKA, ABRAHAM, TOMORI, ALI, ROSS are pure nigerians but ENGLAND rushed to have these lads play for them bcos of the quality they’ve seen in them.
Does it mean england don’t have boys in the street of LONDON, MANCHESTER, LIVERPOOL, LECEISTER etc that are playing in CHAMPIONSHIP, LEAGUE 1 & 2, NON LEAGUE who are dreaming of playing for the 3LIONS?
WHY SHOULD THEY IGNOR THOSE ONES & CHASE OUR BLACK LADS to play for them?
We’re talking about quality not quantity.
Benin is not west, Benin is part of the south-south. We are our own province if Nigeria reverts to its old provincial system. We are neither west nor east just like the other south south states. We do not belong to oduduwa or biafra.
We currently produce more players than many other states, because we are not tribalistic.
Jamilu collins is from Benin (his father grew up in old Bendel but moved to the North later on)
Akpoguma’s father grewup in Benin. Till this day, the grandpa still in Benin
Ebuehi is Benin. His father is from Esan land in Edo state.
Osimhen is grewup in Lagos, but he is Edo from his parents.
Ndidi is from Delta State, grew up in Benin before he left to Belgium
Mikel Agu grewup in Benin despite being from Enugu
Ahmed Musa’s mom is from Etsako in Edo state
Iwobi’s mom is from Delta state, old Bendel
You have to give it to Edo, we produce sportsmen for Nigeria but unlike our Biafra and Oduduwa neighbours, we keep quiet about it because it doesn’t show superiority by any means just an individual’s will to succeed.
You will think you’ve made a good comment now o…. You just spewed rubbish… We are Nigerians! Period!
Lol @mitchu…. Me jus dy wonder o
Onuachu na baller. I think he will score tonight