AFCON
GERNOT ROHR OPENS UP ON WHAT WENT WRONG IN NIGERIA’S WORLD CUP TIE WITH ARGENTINA
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Gernot Rohr, coach of the Nigeria Super Eagles has explained what went wrong with the team that was just four minutes away from not just obtaining first ever point against Argentina at the World Cup, but also picking a Round of 16 ticket when both teams met at the Russia 2018 World Cup in June.
Most observers had blamed the coach of not knowing what to do as the clock ticked down in the explosive encounter at St Petersburg.
Answering questions from journalists in a hangout packaged by HotSports Media for Friesland Campina, makers of Peak Milk, the official milk of the Super Eagles, the German-born tactician explained that what went wrong that day was a collective responsibility.
He explained that he was aware that Nigeria needed just a draw to get to the next stage and was preparing to make tactical changes to change the complexion of the match, but part of his technical crew objected.
“You know with modern gadgets, we can communicate with even those not on the bench. I wanted to pull out Ahmed Musa for Alex Iwobi after 75 minutes because he was obviously tired, but two or three other crewmembers on the upper terrace advised against that, saying Musa’s presence was causing panics in the Argentine defence.
“By that time, we had made only one halftime substitution when Odion Ighalo came in for Kelechi Iheanachor in the attack.
The players got carried away, instead of defending, they wanted to beat the Argentines for the first time in the World Cup.”
The coach explained that the lesson had been learnt and that explained why the Super Eagles opted for defensive strategy in the latter part of last Saturday’s match with South Africa in Johannesburg.
According to Libya’s news outlets, there are palpable fears in the Libya national team which faces successive crises and trying to avoid early elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
The team which faces the Super Eagles this week has been plagued with players’ absences occasioned by injuries and boycotts.
The coach recently appointed has revealed the names of players refusing to represent the national team.
In a press conference held on Saturday, Coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri remarked that the absence of several players were due to real injuries.
In that class are Ahmed Al-Tarbi, a defender of Ahli Tripoli; Mohammed Al-Tabbal of Al-Nasr club and Ali Youssef who also suffered the injury while playing with Tunisia’s Club Africaine.
If the Libyan national team sticks to plans, the players are expected to have arrived in Nigeria ahead of their Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying duel in Uyo.
With most players drawn from the domestic league, the national team had daily training sessions in Tripoli under coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri and his assistants Akram Al-Hammami and Abu Bakr Al-Hark.
However, according to media sources in Libya, the team faces injury worries even though the absence of Victor Osimhen in the Nigerian squad is being celebrated.
Even though it did not mention the injured Libyan players, Libya Al-Ahrar Channel reports that replacements were found in Al-Tahadi FC defender, Mohammed Khalil and Al-Nasr midfielder, Abdullah Abdul Rahim as well as Al-Akhdar winger, Faraj Ghaidhan. They take the places of the absent regular players.
Franck Mawuena who recently renewed his contract with Remo Stars has received a call-up to the Togolese squad for this week’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. He had previously featured in the Belgian League.
He was part of the Remo Stars squad that finished second in the Nigeria Premier league last season. He scored six goals.
Togo will be away to Algeria on Thursday before hosting the reversed fixture on 14 October.
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