₦airaland Forum

Vulcanheph:
Super Eagles should be the african team with the highest number of third Trophies

Yes we are. This is our 8th third place finish. We've only failed on three occasions to win a medal at the nations cup: 1963, 1982 and 2008.

YoungAncient1:
Control =0
Pass =0
Set piece=0
Nothing is impressive about super eagles. With the youthfulness in the side, what we need is a coach that knows how to take dross out of silver to mould these young boys (as they claim to be) into a work of beauty. Rohr us not that man i must say. Maybe Oliseh or Siasia or some one new.

Excellent comment.

Ajibel:
If we had won Madagascar and topped our group, we could have met this Tunisia in semifinal ooo. They are nothing compared to the Algerian team we faced

We would have played against them at the quarter final stage.

DeRay98:
The problem with most comments here is the writers are kindergarten in Nigeria football history and development.
Most were born or little kids at the height of Super Eagles glory in the 90s.
They have no idea how long it took Westerhof and Bonfrere Jo to build the most successful Nigerian teams in history.
If Westerhof had been sacked for losing AFCON to Algeria in Algiers "90 a year after he took over, If he had been sacked after semi-final elimination by Ghana and winning bronze in 92 as many frustrated and myopic people were demanding we probably would never seen the final refined product of his 5yrs build up that eventually emerge as AFCON "94 Champions, first World Cup and appearance with scintillating football football that dazzled the world in U.S.A. "94.
That same foundation that took the team to Atlanta "96 Olympic glory.
If the NFA of that era had listened to all these "Sack him" shout from every ignorant football fans and even journalists we would never have so those events that have become a reference point today and well cherished memory.
These shouts for the sack of Rohr are those traits we see in our political leaders in last 50yrs that have wrecked Nigeria.
They're evidence of lack of knowledge, insight, foresight, purpose and planning.
If they can't have what they desire now, heads must roll because their that's wisdom to them.
I washed how Westerhof built that great team from a failed world cup final match lose to Cameroun in Younde in his first match in charge after Samuel Okwaraji died and our team was demoralised.
From one match to another, from one competition to another he kept trying newly discovered players, different patterns and formations with new players and old players.
Journalists were criticising and lambasting him for what they saw as "no consistent team" and experimenting.
He kept adding and dropping players with new and better fitting players and formations he wanted gradually emerged.
Nigerians have no idea that processes and time are key ingredients in building success and legacies.
ALL YOU NOISE MAKERS, SHUT UP!
Wetin una do when SE no qualify for 2 consecutive AFCONs?

You have raised certain salient points I'd like to touch on. You said it took five years for Westerhof to build a team that finally took us to the pinnacle of African football. This is a fact. But, I'd like you to compare Rohr's first three years to those of Westerhof. Between 1989 and 1992, and this includes the 1990 Nations Cup, qualifiers for the 1992 AFCON, 1992 AFCON, and the commencement of the 1994 World Cup qualifiers, how many players were used? Westerhof kept searching for the best legs home and abroad to prosecute most of these matches. Players like Kpakor, Semitoje, Babalade, Finidi, to mention a few, all started at home and were tested during the Afcon 92 qualifiers to fit into a system of play. Now I ask, what is Rohr's system of play and how many new players has he introduced to get it going? He (Rohr) has introduced no competition to the national team. Comparing our style of play and the technical prowess of our players, then and now, the gulf is so evident. We had players, who at a moment's notice, could change the complexion of any game. Our football under Rohr is languid, laborious and unimaginative to say the least. If you acknowledge that the 1994 squad is our best, kindly mention any player in the current Super Eagles that can make the bench of that illustrious squad? Finally, Nigeria has no business sending Rohr on any course unless it's in his contract, and if such a clause exists, this raises questions of the criteria by which he was employed.

If the NFF is planning to give Rohr more exposure, on what basis was he hired then? I perceive something is wrong with our football. This is the first time I'm learning of this happening anywhere in the world. Big ups NFF, pioneers to the left.

Former Nigeria national team coach, Adegboye Onigbinde has alleged the 1984 AFCON final against Cameroon was “traded” by what he described as elements in the Nigerian football fraternity and he has vowed to reveal every detail.

Onigbinde gave this stunning admission in a telephone interview with footballlive.ng while reacting to Nigeria’s semi-final defeat to Algeria at the ongoing AFCON.

The highly respected Coach and former Caf instructor who has continued to advocate for an indigenous Coach leading the Eagles, insists there is a conspiracy at the highest levels of Nigeria football administration.

“In 1984 Nigeria came second under my watch at the finals of Afcon against Cameroon in Cote d’ivoire, I lost that because the administrators traded the match and I will soon reveal their names soon,” Onigbinde said.

The Eagles lost the finals of the 1984 Afcon finals against the indomitable lions 3-1; the only goal was scored by Mudashiru Lawal.

I just hope Solskjaer tenure doesn't go the way that of his predecessor did.

Does Rohr's contract with the NFF including training and development?

ogbonti:
The most successful Coach in Nigerian history, Clemence Westerhoff was hired in August 1989, and his very first game for Nigeria hapened like 6 days later, it was a World Cup qualifier game against the Indomptable Lions of Cameroun at Stade Omnisport in Yaounde. That was an emotional match for Nigeria as SAM OKWARAJI died in the previous game against the Palanca Negras of ANGOLA in Lagos 2 weeks prior. We lost the game via a header by Francois Omam Biyick. Nigeria needed just a DRAW in Cameroun to appear at ITALIA'90 WORLD CUP - so everyone was angry at the NFA, and naturally most Nigerians who thought Westerhoff is a magician - wanted Westerhoff fired and the NFA dissolved, bla bla bla.. but the then Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Augustus Aikhomu made a statement that "while he is government, WESTERHOFF is going no where" WESTERHOFF was not fired.

He overhauled the team by offloading reliables like Ndubuisi Okosieme, Austin Igbinabaro, Mike Odu, Mike Obiku, Defence Minister Yisa Sofoluwe, Sunday Eboigbe, Bright Omokaro, Henry Nwosu, Humphrey Edobor,Ademola Adeshina, Waidi Akanni, and a host of others. (Do not forget these were the players that won silver at AFCON MAROC 1988) He took a new team to Algiers 1990 AFCON, we suffered the biggest humiliation in African football history, I remember how Algerian Desert Warriors team of Rabah Madjer, Menad Djamel and the small 18 year old Raheem overran Nigeria 5-1 in the opening game...Amokachi was just 17 and he was running around like a headless chicken in that game.... but we know he will grow someday, I remember Friday Elaihor, Herbert Anijekwu, Isaac Semitoje, Ayo Ogunlana, Toyin Ayinla, Uche Okechukwu, Moses Kpakor, Late Thompson Oliha, Emma Okocha (the real Jay Jay Okocha), Wasiu Ipaye, Rasheed Yekini and a host of others. Only Yekini was from the 1988 squad, the rest were kinda new - We made it to the finals, but LOST to the same Algeria via a single goal by Cherif Oudjani -WESTERHOFF was not FIRED. In 1992 at AFCON SENEGAL, we lost semi finals to Ghana, and won 3rd place game against Cameroun, WESTERHOFF WAS NOT FIRED- then came 1994. more than half of those boys in 1990 and some new discoveries now became the most potent attack in AFRICA and indeed the world. we now scored at will, won almost any game we played, killed teams 4-1, 7-1, 6-0 across AFRICA.

WE QUALIFIED first time for the world cup, won AFCON in 1994, won AFRO-ASIAN CUP in 1995, Won Olympics gold - until ABACHA halted the team in 1996 because of his rift with Nelson Mandela

what is the reason for this lengthy analysis? I want to state that most FOOTBALL SUCCESS STORY DOES NOT COME OVERNIGHT - you have to build on failure to become a future champion. If SEEDORF can get a team like Benin Republic who will be patient with him for 4 years, using his influence and contacts over EUROPE to groom the team, MARK this page, the Benin Republic that I saw in this AFCON will beat this same Cameroun that sacked Seedorf, on their way to win the AFCON!!!!



ROHR should not be fired, let us learn from the WESTERHOFF story!!!!!

Excellent write up. I can relate to Nigerian football of that era. Can you compare Westerhof to Rohr in any capacity be it scouting for players and the execution of tactics on the field of play? Westerhof was a maverick who wasn't afraid to rock the boat. Rohr, on the other hand, is inordinately conservative hence no spark in his team.

shockwave91:
But we're sending our coach to Bayern Munich for PhD in tactics and game management

An indictment on an incompetent NFF leadership that hired a coach that's technically bereft.

Deepfeel:
Sacking coaches after a bad performance is not always the best cause the longer a coach stays with a particular team the better understanding he gets to train them, Africans are always sacking coaches bringing new ones to start from the scratch again, it's not the best

True if only the coach is technically and tactically savvy.

robosky02:
Why Nigeria Lost

My observation

You can add yours

1 Gernot Rohr lacks technical dept to coach super eagle

2 in three year Nigerias football does not have a clear cut playing pattern

3 two years ago Algeria was ranged africa no1 Nigeria finish them 3-1 in uyo thanks to victor moses and co. They could not stand us. two years on we couldn't stand them even cameroon it took personal brilliance and determine for us to win. Simply put our team has retrogress no improvement

4. Three years on we are still crying for the lose of Enyeama. The coach has not been able to give us a keeper. With all due respect akpeyi enzenwa and uzoho are not our best
How do you take a keeper to world cup and now he is 3rd choice. Akpeyi is so shaky he doesn't inspire confidence. How did he became no1 when he is 2nd keeper in his club in fact last season he only played just 6 game for his club.
What happen to fine keepers like afolokai here in nigeria

5 Gernot Rohr is killing Nigerias football do you mean no single home base player is good enough. Clement westerhof and keshi won afcon with local players. In 2013 sunday mba an unknown local player score the winner. Under Rohhr he may never even make the reserve list

6 algeria and senegal are in the finals with local coach. they and senegal used local coaches to beat foreingn nigeria and tunisia coaches. Its no longer oyibo coach era. Its about competence.
Look at the resumee of siasia and amunike compare to rohr what has he achieve before coming to nigeria

7. You can expect to win champoions league or EPL with a mid table mentality coach like David Moyes. So nigeria can't win world cup with Gernot Rohr. Nigeria is too BIG for him. Imagine him celebrating semi finals.calling our team inexperience. A team we beat Algeria juat 2 years ago. Are we improving or retrogressing.

Infact Rohr lack tacticks do youi know algeria scouted us with 7 coaches and nutrilize all our key player. Chukweze had 2 men standby on him. Didn't you wonder with his man of the match performance in the prevous game, he could not make a single cross. Ighalo was cut out from any form of ball supply. He only manage to score penalt)

And yet Rohr could couild only look like PE master. Knowing nothing to change


Abeg excus us the reasons why algeria won


Egypt didn't wait for grammer they did the needfull we should follow suit

Look inwards our league and also our best coaches

Lalasticlala mynd44

Aptly captured.

tunjilee003:
during my secondary school days i don't socialize and it is killing me alot..i tried to work things out by going out with my friends though we don't think same....what really worsen the matter was when I was admitted to the polythecnic.my dad told me I'll be staying put with his relatives... since I've changed my environment i don't usually get myself again...am always alone, no one to talk with.no friends except my mobile phone... it's really draining me alot am no longer thinking straight.....my relatives are blocking me from having friends,am depressed,pls help a brother

What you're going through is perfectly normal for one who is shy and introverted. But, it is imperative that you try to make contact with people instead of being on your phone. As a student, the classroom provides you a veritable opportunity to socialise. Ask your mates for help on courses you don't understand. Also offer to help those who are not as strong as you in other subjects. Always remember you have something someone needs and vice versa. All the best.

Imogenn:
I really don’t know where all this stems from. I’ve always been that shy quiet kid from childhood. But it’s just gotten worse as I’ve transformed into adulthood.
Sometimes I feel I’m not adequate enough because I’m so quiet in a world full of confident people. I’m very conscious about my looks, as I’ve been told I’m ugly more than beautiful in my lifetime, that could be another reason. I feel everywhere I go, people must always have one negative/weird thing to say about me, so it’s just strange. I’m troubled.

You just have to learn to be comfortable in your own skin. It's okay to be self-conscious sometimes but don't dwell on it too much. Find something that interests you, develop yourself and see your confidence soar. Don't always expect the approval of others, and don't let them define the barometer of your life. All the best.

He's just being gracious.

lunacol:
Tinubu has been a proponent of restructuring.Why is he no longer agitating for restructuring the Nigerian polity?

It's because he's now a major power broker at the national level. Restructuring will limit his influence even among his people.

mideactive:
Our midfield was overwhelmed,I was expecting him to switch to a 3-5-2 formation. He doesn't read games,we have far better managers than him,if not for the issue of bribery that our local coaches are known for .

Your analysis is spot on. I'm of the opinion that this is the only system that will work for these crop of Super Eagles players until we get players in the mould of our US 94 squad.

Adakintroy2:
The couch did OK with the material he has to be fair.

No matter your tactics, you need good players to interprete it for you. The way a debruyn will interpreted a central midfield role, is not the same way bakayoko would.

The way a Messi will interpreted a wing position, is not the same way Musa would. The couch did well with the structure. But the players themselves were appalling.

In the end it came down to that one fact. Quality players. One strike from mahrez and we were done for.

If it was us getting it round the wall or hitting the target would be near impossible. Kudos to Algeria they did well.

I beg to differ on your assertion that he did okay with the material he has. First, Rohr was responsible for the selection of these players. Being a parochial and an inordinately conservative coach, he decided not to shake things up after the world cup. Remember that there's a kelechi Nwakali who could have, like Chukwueze, been a revelation playing behind the top striker at Afcon 2019. Need I also mention Taiwo Awoniyi who, in my opinion, is technically better than Ighalo. Rohr fixation on a certain crop of players smacks of one who seems to be 'benefiting' from this arrangement.

Dedetwo:
This thought process in soccer remains alien to most Nigerians. Recent Nigerians teams play with no mental power but physical power.

I agree. We've lost what made the Super Eagles super. Dynamism, technical ability, tactical and spatial awareness.

fadahero:
So we scored two goals and they scored one yet, we lost... Football

That's dependent on where one of our two goals was scored.

Pacesetter123:
Ndidi,dat tackle was unnecessary.Ur players wer plenty in 18th yard box.Ur trapping sef dat let to de foul is zero.

Akpeyi! Akpeyi! Akpeyi! How many times have I called you so? Which goalkeeper on earth will form a wall during free kick taking n still go n hide behind the wall? Even Ikorodu United goalkeeper can't be so naive n bereft of simple goalkeeping ideas.

I agree with you. Akpeyi's positioning gave Mahrez the goal.

Nigerian football needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. We have lost our dynamism. Players, today, are too predictable and are not self driven. Competition in the team is non-existent. Players waltz into camp and are guaranteed places. These bunch of players have given their best, and that best is a semi-final berth.