Gernot Rohr hopes he will be lucky in his third attempt by guiding the Super Eagles to Africa Cup of Nations title-succwss in Egypt this summer after two futile attempts with different teams in the past, Completesports.com reports.
Rohr once handled the Mena of Niger and Panthers of Gabon at the AFCON finals, but didn’t make much impact with the two teams.
The German guided the Super Eagles through a tricky qualifying campaign which saw the side recovering from their matchday-one 2-0 home loss to South Africa to qualify from Group E with a game in hand.
The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the last two editions of the tournament after claiming a third title in their last appearance in 2013, in South Africa.
“I have been to the Nations Cup twice, I hope this one I can win it. This one will be more difficult to win because we have 24 teams. You have to play seven games to emerge champions, and more so, all the big countries are there,” Rohr stated in an interview on the Super Eagles Youtube channel.
“We qualified with a game to play. We have to prepare well which is very important.
“We have a young team with good spirits. We are feeling good, we are happy to be there. We want to do well. We have to prepare well. We played three games since we qualified against Uganda, Seychelles, Egypt.”
The former Bordeaux gaffer also emphasises the need for the Super Eagles to prepare well for the tournament in order to make a positive impact.
“Preparations must be good. We have the experience coming from the World Cup. We need to bring in people to help us like in the goalkeeping department. There is a lot of work to be done.
“One of them (a goalkeeper) is not playing much. We want to send somebody there to work with him like we did before the World Cup.
“We also have some injured players that we want to work with. Players like Tyronne (Ebuehi) and Aina (Ola). I want to send an assistant there to work with them.
“We want everyone to be in best physical shape. I will give my demand to the NFF and write my report.”
Rohr also reveals his plan for the team ahead of the tournament which starys in June.
“We want to start training in Nigeria. Maybe for a week and then play a friendly game,” he added.
“It is not good to stay in one place, in a hot climate. We need to stay in a fresh climate, maybe for like a month where we can train, run, walk and do other things.
“I will have to check with the doctors to decide the best place for us to start our preparation.”
By Adeboye Amosu
Got what it Takes?
Predict and Win Millions Now
23 Comments
Great one coach
Wish the team all the best
I love that you clearly stated that Tyrone Ebuehi is still in your plans. That boy is a gold field waiting to be mined. Same for Aina who has improved tremendously with that smart loan move to Torino.
It’s also nice you acknowledge our frailties in the goalkeeping department. Treat that area as an emergency. If possible, bring in a new person (coach or goalie) who proves he can offer more.
The final 23 is going to be super competitive. Hard to predict. There’ll be major casualties, most likely starting with Kelechi, and maybe Mikel.
I support he should look into the goalkeeping area we need to beef it up but if we want to go with what we have cos of time uzoho definitely is not our safest hand. If Ebuehi is injury free we will need his services as shehu has not convinced of late. I think we will have a good show in Egypt even as I doubt if we will win the cup.
Good idea coach, ride on. In Jesus name, we shall conquer.
We have the materials to be champions if we prepare well. Goalkeeping department still problem as the coach mention.
Good one Coach Rohr. We are praying for your success.
I’m happy to hear this coach. Even if you don’t win it, that is not the end of the world but what is really matters is good football.
Just believe in yourself that you can why not. As a fan of the Super Eagles team, I want the best for my team and I appreciate your efforts.
Before, you said semifinal but now you said you wanted to win that means you are listening to us and reading our comments. Nobody hates you sir.
Starting from coach Onigbinde, Keshi, Siasia, they started well and when they started doing something else, I told them the truth but some people here calling that hate?
Learn from France coach. My team is young should have bn an excuses this time around. I wish you the best coach.
I will be the one person to say job well done sir if you make us proud in Egypt. Even, if you don’t win it try to be among the best that is most the important thing. God bless Nigeria!!!
If he doesn’t win it and play fantastic football,I bet you still not be satisfied you shall definitely come on here fuming and calling for his sack
Let’s hope you will learn from your preparation.
All the preparation before the world cup, you learnt nothing.
Uzoho can go to under 20 2C if he is qualified and under 23 too , to sharpen up.
Ezenwa and two others should gp for AFCO 2019.
Learn from France coach. My team is young shouldn’t be an excuse this time around. I wish you the best coach. God bless Nigeria!!!
Our team may be “young”, but the jersey they are playing for has a reputation that must be maintained. A reputation that has been earned thanks to past strong performances. So, even if our line up comprises of eleven Aki and Pawpaw, it is still NIGERIA that is playing. If we are defeated, history will not say a young Nigeria was defeated. Let’s go for the cup guys! No matter what happens, as long as the team puts its best foot forward, the real (not fake or fair weather) fans will be happy.
now i can breath. even though u dont reach semi final, we will know that u have the zeal to win it but things dont go as u want. be uptimistic believe in urself, believe in ur boys. now i know u re ready.
Sometimes when I listened to Rohr, I laugh because he likes talking but lacks the doing. Winning nations cup is not a joke, it requires commitment, focus and discipline.
Rohr was appointed as Nigeria team coach August, 2016 and since that time he has not been able to settle goal keeping and defence issue. Former coach Oliseh did not stayed up to 1yr before getting Carl Ikeme (no thanks to sickness) who was a perfect replacement for Vincent Enyeama.
So far Rohr has not seen one NPFL player who can rivals abroad based.
If truly you want to win by now you must have secured 7 to 12 players from local league who can give the foreign based a good fight for every position. They are hungry and willing to give everything for the nation and the Coach against your pro that have made their name, who cares more about pre season, injuries and even questions your training methodology. Ask Clement Westerhof, Check history of Late Stephen Keshi. These coaches believed in the system and it worked for them but for you, we shall see how far your Mikel Agu, Francis Uzoho e.t.c can carry you.
As for me you can do whatever you like but I need you to know that the Coach that will replace you is known already and if you fail again at Afcon there will be no second chance. Just allow Tanzania to defeat your team then you will know you are a Gonner.
God bless Nigeria.
@AK, I try, as a matter of principle, not to respond to certain posts (I have totally stopped responding to Omo9ja because it is clear fto see that he is confused; more so, he shifts his goal post because one minute all he wants is the Afcon trophy, next minute he is only concerned about beautiful football).
Truth is, I am not a huge fan of Rohr. But, his record for Nigeria speaks for itself.
You said winning the cup of nations requires focus commitment and discipline. 1) qualifying for the Cup of nations with 1 game to spare,2) a Nigerian (who didn’t play all the qualifying matches) emerging as the highest goal scorer in qualifiers, 3) being seeded in pot 1 at the expense of other teams like Ghana who have attended recent Afcon: if all of these do not focus, commitment and discipline, please kindly reply to my post and show me what – to you – constitute commitment etc.
You talk about the goalkeeping department. For me, apart from Akpeyi (whom I just like for no logical reason), Uzoho and Ezenwa are not exactly my cup of tea.
Having said that, it my opinion that at this point in time, Uzoho, Ezenwas and Akpeyi are 3 of the most experienced, vast and skillful and versatile goalkeepers that we can boast of.
Go back and check the PEDIGREE of all 3 (junior world cup experience, senior world cup experience, club football experience at high levels etc) and then give me names of other Nigerian goalkeepers that have kept against Argentina, Egypt, Croatia, Cameroon, Zambia etc; combined with winning gold, silver or bronze in age grade tournaments or Olympics.
Please, supply me with names of goalkeepers whose CV can match any of Uzoho, Ezenwa or Akpeyi and I will listen to you.
These 3, because of their obvious weaknesses, are often underrated by some fans who don’t know how to research to come to a balanced conclusion.
You referenced Keshi and I can’t stop laughing. CSN contributors like Aypillythegreat know how much love, adoration and respect I have for the Late Great Keshi.
However, is it not the same Keshi who has been vilified by many fans of bribery and corruption; the same coach whose team selection for the 2014 world cup continues to baffle and annoy some fans even till this day!
The same coach who took goalkeeper Chidozie Agbim to tournaments even when many believe he was one of the worst goalkeepers around!
Some fans hated him for relying too much on home-based players at the expense of players like Ike Uche, Obafemi Martins etc!
What are you talking about?
Keshi was love and hated by fans in equal measure. Many felt no pity for him when he was sacked!
I love and adore Keshi; I respect what Rohr is doing. I am not a huge fan of the German but I don’t have to be his fan to appreciate that he is doing a fabulous job.
The record speaks for itself.
Some of us are holding one grudge or the other against Rohr. Nothing he does will ever satisfy such people.
If you are among such people, just come out and say it rather than come out with points and arguments that have no basis !
@AK, you have spoken well bro. 90% of Nigerians do not like to hear the truth. We have to be honest this time around.
See, I have been advising coach Rohr before the world cup but some of us here doesn’t like it.
They said I hate the coach too much but I can’t love the coach over my Country and I have decided to watch good football in Egypt instead of putting my mind there that my Country will win it. If they win in Egypt, I’m going to be very happy but if they failed to win it, that is not the end of the world.
Even, if we can’t win the tournament with coach Rohr at least, he should play good football for us to enjoy. That is my point here. I have tried my best for Nigeria but so sad that Nigerians refuse to appreciate and celebrate me. No hard feelings, I’m doing this for my Country. God bless Nigeria!!!
Deo, my man don’t take this personal. Super Eagles is every Nigerian property.
I know you very well and you know so well too. When we are talking about football, I deserves some class and you deserves some respect too. You said I’m confused but deep down inside you, you knew that coach Rohr doesn’t have what it takes to deliver in Egypt except miracle happens.
You said here few days ago that Coach Rohr should be fired if he doesn’t do well in Egypt but now you are saying the coach is the best manager for the job. So, you can see now that you are contradicting yourself?
I knew it the coach have nothing to offer the team after the world cup and I have said it almost every day on this forum but this time around, all I am really care about is good football. I’m tired of complaining every day. I don’t hate coach Rohr but I appreciate his efforts.
You don’t have to make a comment here if you don’t have anything to say.
You knew that bro “AK” have spoken really well and you are indirectly kicking against the gentleman. So no freedom of speech on this forum anymore?
You know I’m the only person who can talk to you. As I promised, I will fight no one or using abusive words against anyone on this platform.
However, I said before now that Nigeria wasn’t among the favorites to win this year Afcon and you people were really angry with me with that statement but in the end, the coach himself said it openly that Super Eagles wasn’t among the favorites and you guys were shocked that I have seen it even before the coach himself.
I don’t talk any how. Indeed as “AK” said, “Former coach Oliseh did not stayed up to 1yr before getting Carl Ikeme” and we are heading to Afcon without good and well established goalkeepers and you are kicking against him? You fall my hands Deo.
Check the record of Akpeyi and Ighalo since their first day in the national team till today and tell me if both of them good enough to play for the Super Eagles. That tells me that coach Rohr is playing politics with our national team.
Ex player Mobi Oparaku have spoken and we have heard what he said about the team and if you guys believed that everyone that says the truth about coach Rohr is a hater or enemy of progress, it means you don’t like your Country. Deo my friend, it shall be well with you and everyone of us. It is time to unite because United we stand, divided we fall. Up Super Eagles, Up 9ja. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
My dear Omo9ja, What I said some days ago is that if Rohr and his boys fail to qualify from a group that has Madagascar and Burundi (knowing fully well that 3 teams can potentially qualify), then there should be a recommendation that Rohr should be sacked and the whole team disbanded.
Recommendation, I said; not to just sack him – they are 2 different things.
I still stand by that statement.
You misunderstood me: I am not taking anything personal. I just find it difficult engaging with you and I also find it difficult placing your points of view. And I am not the only one.
I try not to disrespect anyone on this forum so if you construe my contributions to be disrespectful of you and your views, I humbly apologize.
Still, your contributions baffle not only me but many readers on this forum.
All in all, you love your national team and want nothing but the best for them – top marks to you for that.
However, the way you go about articulating your points and the claims in those points often come across as preposterous (sorry!)
“Ex player Mobi Oparaku have spoken and we have heard what he said about the team”
I just knew Mobi oparaku would become your next in-god after that interview. Anyone who speaks to your bias is always correct.
The likes of Mutiu Adepoju, Sam Sodje, Papillo, Patrick Pascal and many other seasoned internationals here have spoken in glowing terms about Rohr and the SE and their chances at the AFCON, but you will never reference them…It is only Mobi Oparaku that has the final say. Ighalo is not a super eagles material but his goals per game ration currently is greater than that of Julius Aghahowa and Samson siasia, almost equaling that of dan amokachi and edging closer to that of Rashidi yekini every game…but he’s not a super eagles material….I dont know whether you want us to manufacture players from the factory to play for us…we have asked you severally to name your agege and ajegule players that are better than the 30 we have been using so far and you cant even respond to that.
If Rohr doesnt perform well in AFCON, he is a bad coach….if he wins it….”Its a miracle”. See how hatred makes people think…????
What more can I say about you…borrowing a leaf from @deo….the less said the better.
list the team that has what he takes to Win the tournament @ boss Omo9ja
that is actually not a bad question, Jaye
bro omo9ja “coach Rohr doesn’t have what it takes to win the trophy in Egypt except miracle Happen”.
Mobi Oparaku’s comment about the super eagles is just his personal opinion.Being an ex international does not make you a soothsayer.Bigger and acclaimed footballers respected worldwide have said things which never happened so for you to be an ex footballer/international does not mean your comments are always spot on that is why people who never kicked football can make even better coaches it’s just all about the knowledge of the game.
Having said that,Gernot Rohr is moving in the right direction it’s hard to understand why some group thinks otherwise despite the progress he has made with the team.
We were rated 13th in 2016 when he was appointed and now 3rd in Africa statistics don’t lie.Mobi Oparaku is wrong.We haven’t got a goalkeeper crisis but a minor goalkeeping problem which can be sorted within the next couple of months.
Uzoho after serving his suspensions will be back to his club as the first choice the league is still on and i believe he shall come good with few games plus the secondment of an expatriate coach from the NFF i think with this kind of preparations he should be alright.Ezenwa did well against Egypt and Akpeyi has moved on to a better club so our situation is not in a crisis level but with hard work we shall be fine in that department before the nation cup kicks off.