Rohr’s wake-up call By Udeme Inyang

There’s no Super Eagles Coach who has been given the kind of liberty to operate like Coach Gernot Rohr has been afforded.

From choosing players, training camp locations and even coaching the team without the interference of the boisterous NFF Technical Committee, Rohr has had a field day.

In return for these favours, Rohr has been very considerate to the Nigeria Football Federation. From funding his own travel expenses outside the country to monitor players and even his decision to endure (without complains) many months without salaries, the German born tactician has been superb in putting up with the well known “Nigerian Factors” of poor management, welfare and planning.

The relationship between Rohr and the NFF has simply been a marriage made in Heaven. The NFF has never worked with a coach who has smoothly tolerated the age long ineptitude of the Glass House. On his part, Rohr seems charmed by the reality of coaching arguably Africa’s biggest prospect at the world stage. With the talents at his disposal, the German knows that Nigeria can easily line up three football squads that can overwhelm even the big guns in African football. The proof is this: Of Coach Samson Siasia’s exciting bunch that grabbed a Bronze medal at last year’s Olympic Games, only Mikel, Etebo Oghenebo  and Abdullahi Shehu have earned a spot in Rohr’s Eagles. The rest of that promising team is still waiting on the wings to grab a chance.

Rohr kick-started his Nigerian sojourn with aplomb, going unbeaten in six games. On his engagement, the Eagles beat Tanzania in Uyo in a rather dead-rubber 2017 Cup of Nations qualifier, where nothing was in stock for the national team.

They followed that up with a 2-1 win over Zambia in Ndola in a crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Still in that World Cup qualifier series, they beat Algeria 3-1 in Uyo later on. The national team under Rohr also played a 1-1 friendly draw with the Teranga Lions of Senegal. Only recently, they shared the spoils with Corsica before beating Togo 3-0 in subsequent tune-up matches preparatory to the recent all-important Nations Cup qualifier with South Africa.

Against the South Africans, Rohr simply put every foot wrong. While this article would not question his obvious faulty 24 man team selection, his avoidable errors on match day in Uyo was glaring.

For those of us who devotedly watched the Eagles’ training schedules at the Nest of Champions, it was easy to spot who and who were ready for the crunch tie with Bafana Bafana. For five days, the Eagles under the watchful eyes of the German tactician sweated it out in readiness for the match but it was a shock that with a few hours left to kick off, the German dilly-dallied with coming out with his match selection, keeping fans of the team waiting, guessing and wondering who was in the team or not.

While Bafana Bafana coach, Stuart Baxter released his team list more than ten hours before the tie, Rohr’s obvious hesitancy in naming ours clearly showed a glimpse of a confused Super Eagles handler.

And then when it was finally out about three hours before the game, the selection was just not right. With Troost Ekong and Chidozie Awazim selected to man the central defense, it was clear the backline would lack a leader, and it did. While Ekong is simply upcoming in the Eagles set-up, fielding Awazim ahead of a vastly experienced Kenneth Omeruo was mind-boggling. Apart from Awazim’s inexperience at this level, the youngster spent last season with the Team B of Porto of Portugal. While he has showed promise and dedication since leaving El Kanemi for Porto in 2014, Omeruo who played prominent roles in our Nations Cup triumph of 2013 and then the World Cup a year later would have been a more reasonable option considering his experience and the importance of the game. Although the Chelsea loanee has suddenly become prone to errors these days, his ability to organize and lead the backline has never been in doubt.

In midfield, choosing Ogenyi Onazi, Etebo Oghenekaro and Wilfred Ndidi over Mikel Agu, John Ogu and Uche Agbo was expected. Any coach would have done so. But with Onazi and Ndidi clearly clumsy all afternoon, it was ridiculous to watch Rohr leave them on the pitch for ninety minutes. Introducing the energetic Ogu or the exciting Mikel Agu for either Ndidi or Onazi would have prevented our midfield from crumbling like it did in the second half.

It was also distressing to see Rohr’s over-reliance on Manchester City bench warmer Kelechi Iheanacho in attack back-fire. The teenager who must have assumed tin-god status in the team even refused to come off immediately when substituted before going ahead to do a Balotelli – throwing away his shin-guards, smashing a water-bottle on the floor and then kicking away any available one on the floor. It was a disgraceful act which needs to be cautioned.

The aftermath of this Bafana Bafana loss in Uyo will sure have its effects. Panic buttons will be pressed by the NFF. The Nest of Champions in Uyo has been tagged a cursed stadium just because of one loss in many matches. Port Harcourt has been suggested as the new nest of the Eagles. The once sleeping Technical Committee will be back to life, scrutinizing Rohr and his every move. Things might not be smooth again between the two. With just two months to the crunchy tie against African Champions Cameroon, it doesn’t look promising for the national team.

In all of these, Rohr must be feeling the heat for the first time since taking charge. The wake-up call on him is real. He needs to act fast and swift to retain the confidence of both the dressing room and federation.

He will have to solve his primary problem, which is to get the player selection right. Against Cameroon, the defense will have to be stern and disciplined. Players who are still playing regularly in Europe like Godfrey Oboabona and Efe Ambrose should be recalled to the team, not to necessarily pick first team shirts but to guide the youngsters.

Rohr should provide competition for Monaco’s Elderson Echejile at left back. Hearts of Scotland left back, Juwon Oshaniwa who played at the last World Cup should be added to the team. The left back at the last Olympics, Stanley Amuzie who is a Sampdoria of Italy player should be brought in too. The national team is not Echejile’s family property. He should earn his spot.

The panic in the Eagles nest will result in Chinese based strike duo of Brown Ideye and Odion Ighalo returning in a bid to rescue the ship. Hopefully Chelsea’s Victor Moses will choose to play the Cameroon game. And expectantly too, Rohr will have to wake up from this brief slumber by getting his match day selection right. He knows a coach is only rated by his results. The bells are ringing. The wake-up call is real.

By Udeme Inyang