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Tag: Gernot Rohr

  • Super Eagles coach Rohr sends list of players to NFF

    Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has revealed that he has submitted the list of players he intends to use for October 13 international friendly match against Brazil in Singapore to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    Nigeria will play against Brazil in an international friendly in Singapore on October 13.

    Looking forward to a tough game against the record World Cup winners, Rohr told completesports.com that he was not toying with game hence he has decided to play with the best available players in Singapore.

    “I am glad that we have all the Super Eagles regulars back in training and playing for their respective clubs, so I have to play my best players against Brazil. It’s a good test game and we shall give it our best shot ahead of our AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho,” stated.

    “Brazil have invited their best players to tackle us and we cannot afford to toy with our list of players. I have submitted the list of players I think will give a good game to the South Americans. NFF should release them list soon.”

    Rohr revealed that the Nigerian federation was working hard to get an African opposition to shape up the Super Eagles after the Brazil game ahead of the qualifiers.

    Among players expected to be in Rohr’s list for the game against Brazil are Francis Uzoho and Joe Aribo, as well as skipper Ahmed Musa, Wilfred Ndidi and Kenneth Omeruo, who missed the friendly game against Ukraine will return.

    Shehu Abdullahi, William Troost-Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Leon Balogun, Chidozie Awaziem, Alex Iwobi. Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon and Samuel Kalu are also expected in the squad for the Brazil friendly.

     

  • Super Eagles coach Rohr loses mum

    Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, has lost his 97-year-old mother, Elizabeth Rohr.

    According to the Nigeria Football Federation, which broke the news on its verified Twitter handle, Elizabeth just died.

    The NFF commiserated with the German national over his loss.

    NFF wrote, “We commiserate with @NGSuperEagles Head coach, Mr Gernot Rohr who just lost his mother Madam Elisabeth Rohr. She was 97. May her soul rest in peace.

  • Bordeaux striker earns Super Eagles call-up

    Bordeaux striker earns Super Eagles call-up

    Bordeaux have confirmed Nigeria’s call-up for Josh Maja for their friendly game against Ukraine on September 10.

    Born in London to Nigerian parents, the 20-year-old is eligible to play for the Super Eagles and the England national team.

    Last month, Gernot Rohr revealed he reached out to Maja during his visit to France in order persuade him to pledge his allegiance to the West Africans.

    Maja will now link up with his club teammate Samuel Kalu along with 23 other invited players for the warm-up game in Dnipro.

    “Nigerian coach Gernot Rohr calls on Josh Maja to face Ukraine on 10 September in a friendly,” read a statement on the club website.

    “The young striker (20) will join his team-mate in attack in Bordeaux, Samuel Kalu. This is his first call in the national team.

    “Born in London of Nigerian parents, Josh is eligible for both selections (Nigeria or England).”

    The highly-rated attacker has scored once in four league games for the Girondins this season.

  • NFF can sack me if they want, says Rohr

    Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has admitted that his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), allows either party to terminate it.
    Speaking with SportingLife, Rohr said he will take a few weeks to consider his future, after winning bronze at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
    The German also addressed some of the criticisms he has faced during his time in charge of the national team.
    “I said that I would give my answer after the tournament but the tournament has not ended yet.
    “It still remains the final game to be played. I will need a little rest and think about it deeply with my staff, family and friends.
    “In our contract, it is very correct and fair play contract. It states that the NFF can stop it if they want and I can also end it if I want.
    Perhaps I will, I don’t know yet. I will think about it and in a few weeks, I will give an answer.
    “I heard in some social media that they said I am too relaxed and that I am always smiling when I am on the bench.
    “They are wondering why a coach is so relaxed under pressure. I don’t know.
    “You know I have experience and I have witnessed a lot of situations. I think it is not good for the players to have a coach that is under pressure who shows his stress while speaking to the players. The players will be stressed also.
    “We are a relaxed team and also fighters. We never give up. We can concede two goals in a few minutes to halftime and we can say we have the courage to muster a comeback. I think I have the right philosophy and if you stay humble it makes our young players not to become proud.
    “Everything is going so quickly. Right now John Obi Mikel is going to the end of his career with the Super Eagles. He had a very good attitude and he accepted to be on the bench and to be replaced even when he starts a game. It is a good example for our young players to stay humble all the time because football career does not take long.
    They must not forget how they started as players,” he said.
    Rohr was appointed in 2016 and has one year left on his current deal.

  • Nigeria vs Tunisia: Super Eagles goalkeeper, Akpeyi confirms being dropped by Rohr

    Super Eagles goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi has insisted that Gernot Rohr’s decision to start Francis Uzoho in Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations third-place playoff against Tunisia has nothing to do with his performance against Algeria.
    Akpeyi has kept the goalpost in five of the six games in Egypt, keeping two clean sheets and conceding five goals.
    “It is a coincidence that Francis Uzoho is going to be starting when my performance is under scrutiny again just like it was when we played against Argentina in a friendly game like two years ago.
    “I remember that two days before that friendly game with Argentina in Krasnodar, Russia, the coach had called me and informed me that he would like to use Uzoho also in that game. He said I would be starting the game while he would replace me in the second half.
    “I know that Nigerians will start saying that this is another mistake from me and that the same goalkeeper is replacing me.
    “Even though I made a mistake which resulted into one of Argentines’ goals, my substitution in the second half was based on what the coach had told me with before the game that I would only take the first half but it was twisted to mean that it was because of the goals I conceded,” Akpeyi told Goal.

  • AFCON: Onyekuru, Osimhen could play against Algeria, says Rohr

    AFCON: Onyekuru, Osimhen could play against Algeria, says Rohr

    Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr confirmed he will be parading a full strength squad in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Algeria, but it remains to be seen whether Victor Osimhen and Henry Onyekuru will play a role.
    The duo and Francis Uzoho are the only Super Eagles players yet to play in the tournament despite Rohr’s rotation strategy.
    However against Algeria in Cairo, Osimhen and Onyekuru could be thrown into the fray with Uzoho expected to warm the bench throughout the championship.
    “We had two changes before the game against South Africa, the winning team against Cameroon has been changed and it is possible that we will change the team again because all the players are ready to go,” said Rohr during Saturday’s pre-match conference.
    “We have nine strikers in the team, played seven but we cannot play all of them at the same time. The young are also here to learn.
    “Out of 23 players, 20 players have played already which is a lot and I hope we can see the other two [Osimhen & Onyekuru].
    “It is difficult for the third goalkeeper coming in. The moment has come to bring the best team against Algeria.”
    Nigeria will play their 14th semi-final in AFCON, more than any other team.
    However, they have qualified for the final only once in their last five games at this stage – against Mali on 6 February 2013 in a comprehensive 4-1 triumph.
    Goal

  • 2019 AFCON: Madagascar was our joker, says Rohr

    Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has suggested the team’s loss to Madagascar could be a blessing in disguise and the major reason they are still in the race for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title.
    The Eagles were beaten 2-0 by the Barea at Alexandria Stadium in their last Group B encounter almost two weeks ago.
    Nigeria will next trade tackles with the Fennecs of Algeria in the semi-finals on Sunday in Cairo, and the Franco-German noted the defeat to Madagascar deflected pressure from the Eagles.
    “The loss to Madagascar was our joker,” Rohr told the media.
    “We could lose it because we had already qualified for the next round.

    “We wanted to allow others in the team to play as well.
    “We can forget about the defeat to Madagascar now because we are through to the semi-final. Even the defeat helped us to be more humble and sometimes it is good also.”
    The Eagles have beaten Cameroon and South Africa after the defeat to the Barea and they are only a win away from featuring in the final.
    Goal

  • Nigeria v Cameroon: Battle of wingless Eagles and clawless Lions

    Nigeria v Cameroon: Battle of wingless Eagles and clawless Lions

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on defending champions Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in one of the Round of 16 matches on Saturday at the ongoing 2019 AFCON in Egypt.
    The game which sees the five-time champions take on three-times champions Nigeria in the scorching heat of Alexandria can best be described as a battle of wingless Eagles facing clawless Lions.
    Such a description cannot be faulted, especially as the Super Eagles have not been “super’’ at the competition so far, even when they were winning against Burundi and Cameroon.
    Equally, the Lions have looked very less likely to dominate, even appearing vulnerable as they struggled against Benin Republic and Ghana.
    However, it is the expectation of many Nigeria football fans that the Eagles will show their true self and go on to devour the clawless Lions.
    Of course, they will not forget in a hurry how Cameroon defeated Nigeria in the final of the AFCON in 1984, 1988 and 2000.
    But more painful was that agonising penalty shoot-out loss in front of home fans at the National Stadium in Lagos on Feb. 13, 2000.
    However, most recently and in the 2018 FIFA World Cup African qualifying series, the Super Eagles thrashed the Lions 4-0 in Uyo and were forced to a 1-1 draw in Yaounde.
    Beyond this and the bragging rights, the Super Eagles are expected to pick themselves up from Sunday’s embarrassing loss to debutants Madagascar and go all out for victory.
    Now is time for Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr, who has been criticised for not having a consistent line -up at the competition, to take some hard decisions and change tactics to win the game.
    Team captain Mikel Obi who had a knock in the last game will surely miss the game, with Alex Iwobi replacing him.
    Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo should be part of the starting line-up to complete the diamond defensive shield in the midfield.
    The Super Eagles have always thrived on fast movements from the wings, with effective ability to convert defence to attack through the channels.
    Ex-international Mutiu Adepoju told NAN, while previewing the match, that Nigeria must change tactics and improve on its transition from midfield to attack.
    He said this was necessary to break down the stubborn Cameroon defence which has not conceded in the tournament.
    “In our next match, we need to do better in our transitional play. We must move the ball faster from defence to midfield and attack.
    “We need to have the ability to surprise our opponents and not to be very predictable,” Adepoju said.
    With this said, South Africa-based Daniel Akpeyi is expected to return to goal while Kenneth Omeruo who has been outstanding should also return to partner William Troost-Ekong in central defence.
    Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Samuel Kalu or Henry Onyekuru will be expected to use their pace and trickery on the flanks.
    Such is needed to supply Odion Igahlo with the finish the Eagles need to break down the rugged Cameroonian defence.
    But one important ingredient to success is timely and apt substitutions, and that is one major attribute which distinguishes a good tactician.
    This is in his ability to read the game and make effective substitutions when things are not going right in the game, and Rohr must therefore up the ante in this regard.
    Bitrus Bewarang, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has nonetheless praised the coach for his substitutions in the first game against Burundi.
    But he also called for more effective changes, especially in the competition’s knockout stage.
    On the other hand, the Indomitable Lions have failed to impress in the defence of their AFCON title so far with just one victory from three matches.
    Clarence Seedorf’s men failed to win or score in their last two fixtures but have a very resolute defence that has not conceded so far in the tournament.
    Team captain Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has had a disappointing outing in Egypt so far, failing to find the net after three appearances.
    But the striker is still expected to start in attack alongside Karl Toko Ekambi, who is also seeking his first goal in the competition.
    While this makes the Indomitable Lions to appear unpredictable, Nigerians will be hoping that Rohr will get his starting line -up right.
    He will be expected to effect the necessary substitutions immediately things are not going according to plan, so as to scale the Indomitable Lions’ hurdle and give Nigerians victory on Saturday.

  • 2019 AFCON: Field your best players, Fuludu urges Rohr

    2019 AFCON: Field your best players, Fuludu urges Rohr

    Nigeria’s ex-international, Edema Fuludu, on Tuesday advised the Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, to field his best players at the ongoing 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16.
    Fuludu gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
    He said fielding the best players is the only way to get the desired result.
    NAN reports that the team suffered a 0-2 defeat in the hands of the Barea of Madagascar, in Sunday’s final Group B match in Alexandria, Egypt.
    “Truth be told that was a very painful defeat; it’s hard to come to terms with that defeat.
    “Again, that’s football; you lose some, you win some, some are just so painful.
    “I believe we have good players but I need the coach to play the best players out of the quality players that we have.
    “We need to always secure our win,’’ Fuludu said.
    According to him, quality players should always kick-start the match to get the result and we can then make substitutions if necessary.
    “This defeat was so uncalled for; the margin at which we were defeated is daunting,’’ he said.
    Nigeria, as runners-up in Group B with six points behind Madagascar on seven, will now play against the second-placed team in Group F which comprises Cameroon, Ghana, Benin Republic and Equatorial Guinea.

  • 2019 AFCON: I didn’t like Akpeyi’s dribble – Rohr

    2019 AFCON: I didn’t like Akpeyi’s dribble – Rohr

    Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr expressed his displeasure with Daniel Akpeyi’s attempt to dribble in his own box during their opening Africa Cup of Nations(Afcon) match against Burundi.

    Akpeyi was handed the no. 1 shirt ahead of Francis Uzoho and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, and he played a crucial role in helping the Super Eagles secure a 1-0 victory on Saturday with key saves.

    Despite his heroics between the sticks, Akpeyi nearly cost the three-time African champions a goal with his errors, notably the poor control of a back pass from Ola Aina in the first half.

    Following their winning start in Egypt, Rohr said that he is satisfied with the 32-year-old’s overall display and assured that the goalkeeper’s movement will be worked on in training.

    “The goalkeeper did not concede a goal which is good for him and for the team, and he stopped a wonderful opportunity in the first half and as you know that the first goal is the most important, so in that situation, he was really very good,” Rohr was quoted as saying by AOI Football .

    “Then we know that sometimes there can also be mistakes like what happened when he tried to dribble with the ball. I didn’t like that he did it but we will try to make it better next time.

    “But what I saw from him in the last three weeks was really so good in the training sessions that today [Saturday] he was our number 1.”

    Nigeria currently lead Group B with three points after their opening game. They are set to face Guinea for their next group fixture at the Alexandria Stadium on Wednesday.