andrew444:


Even if super eagles employ another coach dem go still complain

I remember france people calling for the sack of dider deschamps during the 2014 world cup saying he is too defensive, but he ended up in the euros final 2 years later and ended up winning the 2018 world cup, if they had sack deschamps they might not have won the world cup

TheGoodJoe:


I hope Rohr accepts the job and goes. I doubt he will go.

darkelf:


Dozier Deschamps also had a world class squad at the time. He underperformed in 2014 given the talent at his disposal. Yet I agree with you that we shouldn't be quick to criticise Rohr. This team is improving albeit slowly.

charlesemeka85:
For a record eighth time in their history, Nigeria came away from an African Nations Cup campaign brandishing bronze medals around their necks.


It is not just a record for Nigeria, but also for the tournament. No other country has more third-place finishes in the history of the competition.

When in the past this final podium place has been celebrated as a "golden bronze", this time emotions have been more varied. Nations Cup winner Segun Odegbami vehemently refused to celebrate it.

There are those, like Odegbami, who feel the Super Eagles should have done better than bronze with the quality of talent at their disposal, believing the team was held back by a conservative coach. Then there are those who argue the coach can do only so much given the broken structures in the country.

There is no "one size fits all" solution, but should Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr's position be the major issue of concern?

Calls for the German to be sacked have not exactly been muted. The major reason seems to be his perceived "lack of tactical nous" or, in other words, an "inability to read matches".

The argument here lies in an unfavourable comparison with the late Stephen Keshi, who is said to have led a more limited Super Eagles squad to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2013.

That comparison loses some steam in the face of context. Keshi had an almost ready-made squad with just a few additions to be made. Rohr has had to build his squad from the ground up.

Keshi's knockout stage opposition in 2013 was Ivory Coast, Mali and Burkina Faso. Rohr had to battle against Cameroon, South Africa and Algeria. The Fennecs, who were described as "deserved Afcon champions" by Nick Ames reporting for ESPN, were taken within seconds of extra-time by the 2019 Super Eagles.

How Algeria's defence made the difference in AFCON final

How Algeria's defence made the difference in AFCON final
While the African Cup of Nations final may have been tough to watch, Steve Nicol says Algeria's defence deserves a lot of credit for their victory.

All of these considerations might explain why Rohr himself has told close associates that he is uncertain if he wants to carry on.

"A lot of things have been going on but he has taken it all because he does not want to cause any controversy," sources have told ESPN.

"But now, he is not sure if he will continue."

Rohr was noncommittal when asked if he would continue, simply telling ESPN with a wry smile: "I go away to rest now, and then we think about it and see what happens.

"I have a clause in my contract, I made sure I put it there, that it is possible I go any time if we agree."

Rohr is due to meet Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick this week as part of that assessment. And if both parties come to an agreement, a parting of ways might come sooner than most expect.

If that were to happen, there will be many who will celebrate. But that would mean losing sight of what should be the more important conversation, one which should go beyond Keshi, Rohr or any other coach.


No team has more Africa Cup of Nations bronze medals than Nigeria's Super Eagles.
GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images
Nigeria have had six coaching changes in the past five years. Samson Siasia, Keshi, Sunday Oliseh, Siasia again in a stand-in capacity, Salisu Yusuf (also in a temporary capacity) and then Rohr.

Oliseh aside -- he resigned due to issues with the NFF -- the rest have been fired. And the same story goes back even further.

Clemens Westerhof, now acknowledged as one of Nigeria's greatest coaches, was hounded out and did not even bother to return home with the team after they were eliminated from the 1994 World Cup. His former assistant, Jo Bonfrere, who won the 1996 Olympic gold medal with the under-23 team, was fired as Super Eagles coach. Philippe Troussier was fired. Amodu Shaibu was fired multiple times, despite qualifying Nigeria for two World Cups. Christian Chukwu was fired. Austin Eguavoen was replaced by Berti Vogts, who ended up being hounded out. Same with Swede Lars Lagerback, who opted not to renew his contract with the NFF after the 2010 World Cup. It is a long, unending cycle of celebrating new appointments, then bemoaning their (in)competence before sending them on their merry way.

This unending coaching merry-go-round seems to mask -- however unintentionally -- the real issue. That the complete grassroots development of Nigerian football has been, and continues to be, totally ignored. There are no articulated programs to scout, identify, develop and train talent from a young age. No structured tournaments for children to take part in. No playing philosophy, nothing beyond a hit-and-miss approach relying on an entitled "we have abundant talents" narrative. It's an approach that relies on said talents flocking off to Europe before being called into the Super Eagles, or, even worse, the cadet teams.

The domestic league, which should provide a conveyor belt of ready-made talent, is running on life support, as club administrators push back against much-needed reforms.

As it stands, two influential players retired after Afcon: Captain John Obi Mikel and forward Odion Ighalo; John Ogu may have been a bit part player, but he is also almost certainly looking at the door.

Goalkeeping remains a major issue. Nigeria have struggled in that department since the departure of Vincent Enyeama. Francis Uzoho showed some stability at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but was shaky after. Ikechukwu Ezenwa is in his 30s, and rarely gets playing time in the Nigerian domestic league, and Daniel Akpeyi does not inspire confidence among the fans. Some say even among the coaches.

Nigeria can sack Rohr now or hound him out. But precedent has shown they are unable to attract any real big-name coaches. The ones they do attract, they take months just to hire. When a coach is eventually hired, whoever he is, what is the guarantee he will spend more than two or three years before being hounded out like others before?

And after poppling around in a fresh hire-celebrate-hound-fire cycle, the country returns once again to blaming the coach for another campaign that fails to meet entitled expectations, expectations without a grounding in fundamentals.

Rather than debating whether or not to fire a coach who has done more than most since Westerhof in 1989 to reboot the national team, conversation should be focused instead in a different direction.

How to reset the entire national football ecosystem in a manner that begins to produce and develop talent deliberately and consistently, one that will eventually lead to a playing philosophy that takes advantage of the in-bred self-expression of the Nigerian footballer as well as their natural physical attributes.

ChrisKels:


And u are gonna compare the Gabonese stars of 2010-2013 to these craps that make up the Taifa stars?

Fabrice Do marcolino 20goals for Angers ligue1

Moise Apanga ligue1

Andre Poko - Bordeaux ligue1

Levy Madinda - Celta Vigo laliga

Junior Ndong - Auxerre ligue1

Eric Mouloungui - Nice ligue1

Daniel Cousin who once scored 26 goals for Lens in the ligue1

Aubemyang the best striker in the ligue1 - Ettienne

Lyod Palun - Nice ligue1

Stephane Nguema who was a forward for PSG a season before that tourney, he also was a former Rennes striker

Ecuele Manga one of the best Centre Backs in the ligue1 from 2010-14

Ekwa Ebanega - Auxerre ligue1

In Didier Ovono, they had one of the best goalkeepers in Africa then and also like many of his teams mates was plying his trade in the ligue1


So bro what took Gabon that far was individual brilliance and sheer luck bkus the squad oozed class (experienced quality players) playing at the highest level, it has little or nothing to do with Rohr's tactical prowess. In fact it was Rohr's tactical ineptitude that denied them a place in the Semis. Compare this squad to Tanzania who can only boast of Sammata in the Belgian league, then u will understand Rohr didnt do anything remarkable. In 19 games with these names in the team, Rohr could only win a paltry 8

And to that guy shouting that they beat Morroco, it was Chamakk's Morroco not Ziyech's. That Morrocan side was so poor, and player for player, they were no match for Gabon bkus Gabon paraded far better players individually. And they were not the Madagasis of 2012 thats so wrong bkus they had players, Madagascar doesn't. In fact some of our starters this year couldn't have started for that Gabonese side, at least I know that no reasonable coach would bench Auba for Ighalo or Manga of 2012 for Ekong of today

charlesemeka85:
Gernot Rohr: Super Eagles top stars urge German boss not to dump Nigeria Read more: https://www.legit.ng/1250206-gernot-rohr-super-eagles-top-stars-urge-german-boss-dump-nigeria.html

forgiveness:


None of those Gabonese in their state as at that time will make the bench of this current SE. Perhaps, their defender will.

darkelf:


I can understand that he is holding the team to high standards but the fact that we came from two consecutive non qualifications to bag a bronze medal deserves some accolades. Although, we could have done better

darkelf:


I can understand that he is holding the team to high standards but the fact that we came from two consecutive non qualifications to bag a bronze medal deserves some accolades. Although, we could have done better

charlesemeka85:
According to reports from Belgium, FC Brugge have tabled an offer of 5 million euros for Nigerian international Striker, Paul Onuachu.

ChrisKels:


Only in ur kitchen will Ighalo of China bench Auba of Ettienne.

I don't even wanna talk about Ovono and Akpeyi

U no get yans

forgiveness:


Aubameyang never achieved what Ighalo achieved in professional football prior to 2010 AFCON.

Ovono could make this SE team

ChrisKels:



We dey talk 2012 u dey here dey yarn dust. Rohr dey coach Gabon for 2010?

darkelf:


Nice article. Dissects the roots of our problems in football.

Poor league management

Few if any chances for academy prospect to develop under a template

Age cheating at all levels

Corruption in the glass house

And so on. Sacking Rohr is simply blaming him as a scapegoat for all these maladies. Until there is a deliberate and purposeful revamp in our football, we will continue to replace coaches

forgiveness:


None of those Gabonese in their state as at that time will make the bench of this current SE. Perhaps, their defender will.

charlesemeka85:
Arsenal on Monday increased their bid for Ivorian winger Wilfried Zaha but reports in the English press indicate that the Gunners have seen their £65m plus youngster Reiss Nelson on loan improved offer rejected.

Unai Emery is hopeful of getting the deal over the line but Arsenal's bid of £55m paid upfront and £10m in add-on is still short of the Eagles' valuation.

However, The Independent is reporting that Palace could also be interested in the possibility of having Nigeria-eligible winger Bukayo Saka coming over on loan as an alternative to Nelson.

Saka's performances for Arsenal especially in last season's UEFA Europa League have always drawn the attention of some European clubs.

The winger was in action for 63 minutes in Arsenal's recent International Champions Cup match against Fiorentina along with fellow Nigerian James Olayinka.

darkelf:


Nice article. Dissects the roots of our problems in football.

Poor league management

Few if any chances for academy prospect to develop under a template

Age cheating at all levels

Corruption in the glass house

And so on. Sacking Rohr is simply blaming him as a scapegoat for all these maladies. Until there is a deliberate and purposeful revamp in our football, we will continue to replace coaches

ChrisKels:



We dey talk 2012 u dey here dey yarn dust. Rohr dey coach Gabon for 2010?

Taliban:


So aubameyang wont make our bench?

Starboytwo:
Thank God for oga forgiveness,na so we go chop Bobo wey oga chriskels drop for us, local man is bewildered



Meanwhile what is onyekuru doing there?

forgiveness:


Chriskels is full of bobo.

charlesemeka85:
bobolistic bobo

Starboytwo:
Thank God for oga forgiveness,na so we go chop Bobo wey oga chriskels drop for us, local man is bewildered



Meanwhile what is onyekuru doing there?

MetalJigsaw:
The day I saw this picture, I almost weep for our team. chai

forgiveness:



Fabrice Do marcolino never played in Ligue 1. He scored only 1 goal in Ligue 2 prior to the AFCON.

Moïse Brou Apanga didn't play a single match in Ligue 1 prior to the AFCON.

Levy Madinda played only one match prior to the AFCON and Celta Vigo was in La Liga 2.

Junior Ndong never played a single professional match.

Stéphane N'Guéma didn't play a single Ligue 1 game for 6 seasons prior to the AFCON.

Daniel Cousin didn't play a single match that season.

Aubemyang was an average player prior to the AFCON. He scored 6 goals prior to the AFCON.

Lyod Palun was a bench warmer prior to the AFCON.

This is contrary to your false claims, Rohr's Gabonese team were average players.