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Odegbami: Gernot Rohr – All Is Forgiven… But Nigeria Needs a New Coach For 2022!
 59 July 12, 2019 7:59 pm


Last Wednesday night, the Super Eagles put up their best performance so far in AFCON 2019. As difficult as the match was, there were almost no threats to the Nigerian goal throughout the encounter. Even the goal the South Africans scored was a gift by the elements. On hindsight, it was so that Nigeria’s victory would be much sweeter. A match without high tension is like tea without sugar.

A lot of the credit for the team that was assembled, how the team played, and how they won, must naturally go to the man whose responsibility it was to put it all together – Gernot Rohr.

A British journalist friend, Satish Sekar, called me up from Cairo after Nigeria won their match against South Africa last Wednesday night wondering if I had changed my mind about Gernot Rohr and forgiven him his ‘sins’.

Satish must have read media reports during the week where I said that were I to be in charge of the Super Eagles, I would have sidelined Gernot after the loss against Madagascar. Hence his valid question now.

My simple answer is that my statement was hypothetical. I am not in charge of Nigerian football. Gernot is still in charge of his team, a responsibility handed to him by his employers who also read my reaction and, I believe, must have let the German know that he made a big mistake and goofed by toying with the emotions of Nigerians.

Nigerians love to win every single match even if it is against the World XI, and it is not that they do not know they are not the best team in the world and must lose matches.

The issue is that, beyond football, the country represents more than meets the ordinary eye with which Gernot must have been viewing Nigeria and Nigerians. Otherwise, why would he take the entire country for granted by taking an avoidable and unnecessary decision of assembling a ‘weak’ team to represent the largest congregation of Black persons in the world, a country with pride, a country with rich historic antecedents in football, with resources and human capacity to become a global football power, to play a match, any match for that matter, where the whole world will be watching and the joy and livelihood of over 50 million Nigerians will be at risk?

For general information purposes, for those that do not know, unofficial estimates put the number of people driving an undocumented football economy in the country at over 50 million. Most of them are youths.

Do the math. There are over 5 million small television viewing centres in all the nooks and crannies of the country, with a minimum of about 10 people in each centre fueling business and sustaining a silent but very crucial economy.

So, with over 50 million youths watching their national team every time the Super Eagles play, a youth population of very loud people, barely surviving with great difficulty in a harsh political, economic and social environment, to lose an important match carelessly against a small, country from ‘nowhere’ and without any antecedents in football, is totally unacceptable.
That ‘small’ defeat that Gernot glossed over with a remorseless smile when he granted an interview after the match, has dented Nigeria’s records in the history books of African football, could have cost Nigeria further progress in the current African championship and created untold and immeasurable temporary pain and agony in every home in the country.

It was a careless decision, and must be condemned so that such is never repeated.

The football economy impacts the media, the leisure industry, the betting industry, the entertainment industry, and so on. This humongous field is one that feeds on the success of the Super Eagles. To lose an important match means hunger and ‘death’ for some businesses. I know because I am involved.
That was my point. That was why I would have rested Gernot till the end of the championship if I were in charge. To teach him a lesson on how not to coach Nigeria’s national team, and how not to take Nigerians and their national sport for granted.

He got my message, that’s the important thing.
Something tells me that the meeting he held with Amaju PInnick before the last match was to register that point and others to him.

Since then everyone can see what has happened. Going forward now, no matter what happens till the end of the AFCON 2019 championship, from what I saw last Wednesday night, Gernot Rohr has become a changed man. He is now reborn.

He selected the best set of players that coincided with what majority of Nigerians watching all the matches and making their own assessments would largely agree with.
He got the team to play with confidence and calmness and everyone could see a pattern, discipline and organization in how the team played. No, it was not perfect, but football is never perfect, but this time it worked.

Cameroon assistant coach Patrick Kluivert in handshake with Gernot Rohr
Playing like that, even if Nigeria had lost, we would still have been pained but would have gone back home knowing that it was not because we disrespected our opponents and did not field the best of us.

Gernot was on his feet raising his voice, gesticulating from time to time, feebly giving out instructions, trying to act as if marshalling the team and guiding them, throughout that match. He showed some concern for whatever was going to happen, even if he was obviously not in the class of a Mourinho, or a Klopp, in the act of being the 12th player.

He did not play ‘sentiments’. When he felt that the captain of the team needed to give way, he did not even hesitate in substituting Ahmed Musa. That’s how a serious coach should behave to demonstrate loyalty and commitment to a foreign country that hires him.

Gernot has changed. So, he deserves to be given the opportunity to serve out his term.

Going forward, however, looking towards a bigger goal, going to the 2022 World Cup and going far in accordance to Nigeria’s potentials seen long ago by global experts, but still hovering in the periphery of greatness only, the country needs a new coach, one that will imbibe and use the inherent strengths in the Nigerian DNA to drive the country’s football and footballers to become the best in the world and show the rest of the domestic polity, that Nigeria can be the greatest Black country in the world with the right kind of leadership…and followership.

Football can be the light of at new nation.
So, in response to Satish’s question, for Gernot Rohr, all is forgiven!
Good luck to him for the rest of AFCON 2019.

MetalJigsaw:
Odegbami: Gernot Rohr – All Is Forgiven… But Nigeria Needs a New Coach For 2022!
 59 July 12, 2019 7:59 pm


He got my message, that’s the important thing.
Something tells me that the meeting he held with Amaju PInnick before the last match was to register that point and others to him.

Since then everyone can see what has happened. Going forward now,
Football can be the light of at new nation.
So, in response to Satish’s question, for Gernot Rohr, all is forgiven!
Good luck to him for the rest of AFCON 2019.

All I can see is a man trying hard to stay relevant.

He didn't say it after we lost, but after we won against the Cameroonians, and days after we won the South Africans, all was well?

like seriously??

smh

MetalJigsaw:
Odegbami: Gernot Rohr – All Is Forgiven… But Nigeria Needs a New Coach For 2022!
 59 July 12, 2019 7:59 pm


Last Wednesday night, the Super Eagles put up their best performance so far in AFCON 2019. As difficult as the match was, there were almost no threats to the Nigerian goal throughout the encounter. Even the goal the South Africans scored was a gift by the elements. On hindsight, it was so that Nigeria’s victory would be much sweeter. A match without high tension is like tea without sugar.

A lot of the credit for the team that was assembled, how the team played, and how they won, must naturally go to the man whose responsibility it was to put it all together – Gernot Rohr.

A British journalist friend, Satish Sekar, called me up from Cairo after Nigeria won their match against South Africa last Wednesday night wondering if I had changed my mind about Gernot Rohr and forgiven him his ‘sins’.

Satish must have read media reports during the week where I said that were I to be in charge of the Super Eagles, I would have sidelined Gernot after the loss against Madagascar. Hence his valid question now.

My simple answer is that my statement was hypothetical. I am not in charge of Nigerian football. Gernot is still in charge of his team, a responsibility handed to him by his employers who also read my reaction and, I believe, must have let the German know that he made a big mistake and goofed by toying with the emotions of Nigerians.

Nigerians love to win every single match even if it is against the World XI, and it is not that they do not know they are not the best team in the world and must lose matches.

The issue is that, beyond football, the country represents more than meets the ordinary eye with which Gernot must have been viewing Nigeria and Nigerians. Otherwise, why would he take the entire country for granted by taking an avoidable and unnecessary decision of assembling a ‘weak’ team to represent the largest congregation of Black persons in the world, a country with pride, a country with rich historic antecedents in football, with resources and human capacity to become a global football power, to play a match, any match for that matter, where the whole world will be watching and the joy and livelihood of over 50 million Nigerians will be at risk?

For general information purposes, for those that do not know, unofficial estimates put the number of people driving an undocumented football economy in the country at over 50 million. Most of them are youths.

Do the math. There are over 5 million small television viewing centres in all the nooks and crannies of the country, with a minimum of about 10 people in each centre fueling business and sustaining a silent but very crucial economy.

So, with over 50 million youths watching their national team every time the Super Eagles play, a youth population of very loud people, barely surviving with great difficulty in a harsh political, economic and social environment, to lose an important match carelessly against a small, country from ‘nowhere’ and without any antecedents in football, is totally unacceptable.
That ‘small’ defeat that Gernot glossed over with a remorseless smile when he granted an interview after the match, has dented Nigeria’s records in the history books of African football, could have cost Nigeria further progress in the current African championship and created untold and immeasurable temporary pain and agony in every home in the country.

It was a careless decision, and must be condemned so that such is never repeated.

The football economy impacts the media, the leisure industry, the betting industry, the entertainment industry, and so on. This humongous field is one that feeds on the success of the Super Eagles. To lose an important match means hunger and ‘death’ for some businesses. I know because I am involved.
That was my point. That was why I would have rested Gernot till the end of the championship if I were in charge. To teach him a lesson on how not to coach Nigeria’s national team, and how not to take Nigerians and their national sport for granted.

He got my message, that’s the important thing.
Something tells me that the meeting he held with Amaju PInnick before the last match was to register that point and others to him.

Since then everyone can see what has happened. Going forward now, no matter what happens till the end of the AFCON 2019 championship, from what I saw last Wednesday night, Gernot Rohr has become a changed man. He is now reborn.

He selected the best set of players that coincided with what majority of Nigerians watching all the matches and making their own assessments would largely agree with.
He got the team to play with confidence and calmness and everyone could see a pattern, discipline and organization in how the team played. No, it was not perfect, but football is never perfect, but this time it worked.

Cameroon assistant coach Patrick Kluivert in handshake with Gernot Rohr
Playing like that, even if Nigeria had lost, we would still have been pained but would have gone back home knowing that it was not because we disrespected our opponents and did not field the best of us.

Gernot was on his feet raising his voice, gesticulating from time to time, feebly giving out instructions, trying to act as if marshalling the team and guiding them, throughout that match. He showed some concern for whatever was going to happen, even if he was obviously not in the class of a Mourinho, or a Klopp, in the act of being the 12th player.

He did not play ‘sentiments’. When he felt that the captain of the team needed to give way, he did not even hesitate in substituting Ahmed Musa. That’s how a serious coach should behave to demonstrate loyalty and commitment to a foreign country that hires him.

Gernot has changed. So, he deserves to be given the opportunity to serve out his term.

Going forward, however, looking towards a bigger goal, going to the 2022 World Cup and going far in accordance to Nigeria’s potentials seen long ago by global experts, but still hovering in the periphery of greatness only, the country needs a new coach, one that will imbibe and use the inherent strengths in the Nigerian DNA to drive the country’s football and footballers to become the best in the world and show the rest of the domestic polity, that Nigeria can be the greatest Black country in the world with the right kind of leadership…and followership.

Football can be the light of at new nation.
So, in response to Satish’s question, for Gernot Rohr, all is forgiven!
Good luck to him for the rest of AFCON 2019.

stupidity from the embryo sac the person can't win any trophy with any NPFL team dey talk too ... #gernottill2022

Eagles should raise their game

by Ade Ojeikere

Soccer is very exciting, especially when your team is winning. Not many can stand the twists and turns associated with watching matches, largely because of the emotion they attach to their teams. People may differ in the choice of clubs they support, but the rank of supporters swell when it comes to support for national teams – Consider Nigeria, where everyone is a coach.

This all-knowing trait of Nigerian soccer fans makes it very difficult for Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pick coaches for our national teams, particularly the Super Eagles. Eagles’ coaches are subjected to all manner of scrutiny, which invariably affects the composition of the team, which are condemned to win every game. But this isn’t where our soccer differs from others.

The intrigues arising from needless power tussle between NFF chiefs and Sports ministers polarise the players, officials and coaches. Every game becomes a gamble, with the players getting jittery. What motivates the players is cash. If it isn’t coming, events of the past are brought to the fore. We are specialists in creating crisis, knowing that hurriedly provided cash aren’t accounted for, especially if the team wins the trophy.

So, what happened in Alexandria before the Madagascar game wasn’t new. Our players were simply living up to their distasteful reputation. It was a familiar script, with Nigeria losing the game – humble pie for them, if they really care. Can the players change? No, I dare say. Not with the kind of structures in our sports, where the minister dictates how things should be done without having the cognate know-how for the industry. Had funds been released early, perhaps, we would have watched some scintillating soccer from our boys instead of the convulsive outings.

Eighty per cent of a soccer side’s ability to win matches rests with the players’ mentality, physical fitness and their willingness to play according to the manager’s pre-match plans. The manager’s theatrics on the sidelines count for nothing, if the players are needlessly defensive. No team wins games when players lack the initiative to score goals.

So, when a team loses a game, it becomes baffling how the coaches carry the can, not the players. Yet, when the team win, the players are applauded, leaving the coaches in the lurch. Have the players have no role in the defeat as much as they do in victory? Super Eagles have been uninspiring in all their games – forget how they fought to beat Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions.

The players’ nervy display from the opening game against Burundi and even the hypertensive 1-0 victory over Guinea raised questions about the technical savvy of the manager, Gernot Rohr. Rohr had his flaws in both games but our players ought to have raised their game. Eagles’ soulless displays against Madagascar confirms the players’ absence from their European sides’ squad.

Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, has been a jelly fish. He has not inspired the players. He appears lost in our matches, except that he was lucky not to have conceded a goal in our first two games. Not many have recovered from the near howler Akpeyi would have committed against Burundi, if the Burundian striker had been prolific. Arguments about Akpeyi’s replacement are divided, with the poor display by goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who was in awe as the Madagascar striker left him sprawling on the turf, having snatched the ball off the feet of a wobbly Leon Balogun. Ezenwa was awful in the way he responded to Madagascar’s second goal. He set the defensive wall to ward off the ball. Rather than cover the remaining part of the goalpost, Ezenwa stood behind the wall. Unfortunately, the ball deflected on the wall and ricocheted into the net. If Ezenwa had been there, the defected ball would have either been pushed away or caught by him.

With the players having plenty cash in Egypt, many would have thought that they will give their best. Only a few of them have done so. The statistics confirm their sluggishness, so much so that we had 38 per cent possession to South Africa’s 62. It is easy to say that it is good to play ugly football and win than the one in which fans get full value for their money, with the losing team being the better side. With a fumbling goalkeeper such as Akpeyi, the players should dominate our matches. It is the only way to win with wide margins, irrespective of the opponents.

It should dawn on our players that as they progress in the competition, certain players, such as Odion Ighalo, Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi and Oghenekaro Etebo, will be marked. In fact, teams playing against Nigeria in Egypt will be racking their brains to see how they can short-circuit Wilfred Ndidi’s domineering presence in our midfield. Ndidi is easily Nigeria’s best player in the tournament.

Our defenders are clay-footed; tackle late and hardly jump from set-pieces. Such flaws create panicky moments in our defence. Perhaps, Rohr needs to play a defender in front of the defensive pair of Kenneth Omeruo and Troost Ekong. Our defenders should be taught how to anticipate passes instead of laying back for the opposition to launch its onslaught.

Rohr should emphasise shooting from the distance. This was missing in our four matches. If we play against a team with equally talented and exposed midfielders as ours, we will be in trouble because our attacking options will be pegged back a bit. If we play against Algeria, it will be a battle royale between Ndidi and Mahrez, former team mates at Leicester, even though the latter now plays for Manchester City. Will Rohr mark out Mahrez? Sunday will tell when both countries play for the ticket of the final game, which is slated to hold on July 19.

Eagles’ flank defenders are tentative in their offensive onslaughts, leaving gaps behind when they lose the ball. They should be instructed to finish off their moves with good penetrating passes or they should be challenged to belt home the ball beyond the goalkeeper, if they can sight him. So far, Ekong and Omeruo have stuck like glue in the central defence. Our flank players upfront should be directed to track back after any unsuccessful attacking foray.

One isn’t surprised that Ighalo and Musa are carrying injury knocks as a result of crunchy tackles from the South Africans. Ighalo spent time with the doctors treating the knock on his calf. Musa has issues with his adductor. As for Awaziem, the brutal tackle from the bullish Bafana Bafana defender on his ankle was unsportsmanlike. But the Bafana Bafana defender, surprisingly didn’t get the red card from the Moroccan referee.

But Rohr is optimistic that the trio will be fit for the semi-finals clash. After all, Awaziem continued the game against Bafana Bafana, having been treated on the sidelines by the doctors.

“We have a very young team and we tried to play very good football,” Rohr told journalists in a post-match conference in Cairo Thursday morning.

“We changed our game a little bit with two left-footed players coming in. One of them, Chukwueze, was even the man of the match and the other one, Jamilu Collins, played very well on the left side position. We are happy because it was in this wonderful stadium. We know that Egypt is a little bit sad and disappointed, but I hope that we can give them good football to play and in a spectacular way.”

Rohr expressed caution regarding the feeling back home in Nigeria that the Eagles are now good for the title after they muscled their way into the last four.

“I hope so, but we must win the semi-final first before dreaming of winning the cup. It will be a tough game against Algeria.

“Our target was to go get to the semi-final stage because we are number three in Africa so we have to be in this position also to be on that level. But it was so difficult because the game was very close.

“We had to wait until the last minute to score a second goal. We didn’t score the second goal in the first half but in the second half; we were punished. We are looking forward to the next game and are very happy about this victory.

“It was not easy to pull out two players from the winning team against Cameroon,” he added.

“I decided to do that even though it was a risk, but I think in a team we need a left-footed player, but against Cameroon, we didn’t have. It was logical to start the game with Chukwueze. I took a risk to start with Collins because it was his first game after his injury a day before our first game with Burundi.

“He told me he was fit and he did a good job against Percy Tau. The loss to Madagascar was our joker. We could lose it because we had already qualified for the next round.“

The Algerians won’t be cheap meat for the Nigerians. They don’t look like the team to last beyond 90 minutes, given the way they struggled against Cote d’ Ivoire on Thursday night. Had the Ivoriens converted the goal-scoring chances they created, the Algerians would have been home sulking.

The Algerians were bullied by the stronger Ivoriens; they have issues dealing with crunchy tackle. But, are the Eagles hard tacklers? Not at all. The Nigerians like the flair style of play. They may be curtailed from showboating by the Franco-German tactician, who prefers the direct approach during matches.

One thing is sure, the Nigerians know that victory on Sunday over Algeria guarantees them the final ticket and a place in history – if they win the trophy on July 19. Good luck, Super Eagles. Up Nigeria!

https://thenationonlineng.net/eagles-should-raise-their-game/

barackodam:



All I can see is a man trying hard to stay relevant.

He didn't say it after we lost, but after we won against the Cameroonians, and days after we won the South Africans, all was well?

like seriously??

smh

He did add that we need a new coach for 2022 though

Humble pie for Eagles

by Ade Ojeikere

I’m not a seer. But, I always strive to look dispassionately at trends in our sports. My submissions most times are spot on. At other times, they go haywire; I’m only human. Only our Creator is infallible. It is, however, easy to predict what is possible with the Super Eagles, especially when there is a needless tussle between the Sports Minister and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).. Why ministers stoop to hijack the functions of a lower-body still beats pundits hollow. I feel strongly that if the government can remove the NFF – and other sports bodies – from the ministry, football will blossom.

Ministers sustain their meddlesomeness in football administration because we are experts in looking at problems from their effects instead of identifying the causes. These ministers hide under the obnoxious Decree 101 to ensure that our soccer totters, putting their primary assignment of developing sports generally in abeyance. Other sports are in limbo while football, which should serve as the pivot to lift others financially ,is perpetually enmeshed in crises subtly sponsored by idle ministers seeking to annex the NFF for selfish reasons.

Appoint a minister today, next week, he visits the NFF. An itinerary, which are to visit players in Europe, irrespective of what happens in the domestic league is drawn up. Thereafter, the minister confronts the NFF, insisting on knowing how government’s cash is spent. Not done, he despatches letters to FIFA – with fifth columnists suggesting visits to Zurich – to find out if the global soccer body could compel the federation to tell the government how FIFA cash should be accounted for.

But such information is available on FIFA website at the press of the computer buttons. In the ministers’ entourage are former NFF members and those seeking to be members, having lost in the last elections. Why ministers fall into this trap remains a mystery. One of such ministers was caught on camera sitting down like a palace chief . He is watching as the Super Falcons players kneel down to count cash due to them. Is the minister saying that the ministry doesn’t have accounts department staff for this? What has happened to the bank transfer system? Is anyone, therefore, shocked that Super Falcons have the temerity to hold the country hostage all the time?

Ministers start their romance with the players during the qualification series, by lampooning the NFF chiefs publicly, if they err in the eyes of the minister. Did I hear you ask where the ministers and the players meet? No prize for getting it right. Our ministers are so busy that they always accompany the team to all trips no matter how inconsequential such matches are. We have witnessed instances where a minister caused a scene outside the country simply because NFF chiefs were not around to receive him. Such scenes where the ministers assert their powers, invariably, diminish the NFF men’s authority . With time, the players know where the authority lies, even as indiscipline sets in.

What our players dare not do in their European clubs, they do with swagger here, knowing that they have a chummy relationship with the ministers, who don’t flinch in reversing decisions taken by the NFF. This minister/Eagles’ stars’ relationship got to a ridiculous level ahead of the France ’98 World Cup, where key players were junketing around the country and Europe in presidential jets, while other countries were in training.

Things started going awry for the Eagles in France when a certain minister directed the NFA, as it was then known to sack Phillipe Troussier, even when he got us the ticket for the Mundial, with a game to spare. Troussier’s sack arose from complaints from key players of the Atlanta 96 gold winning team who lost their places in the ‘’White Witch Doctor’s’’ 3-5-2 tactical formation. For that minister, it didn’t matter if the Olympic gold medallists lost their form or were injured. All that Nigeria needed to win the World Cup was to appear in France and announce to others that they were the defending Olympic Games winners, take a bow and the referee will signal the end of the game. Really! What about the defending champions, Brazil , what would they do? They won’t just come to France.

With Troussier out, the players chose who they wanted to such an extent that even before the first ball was kicked, we knew certain players (permit me not to mention them) won’t kick the ball. Why we left them in the squad underscores how powerless the NFA men were before the players. This indiscipline got to a head when players insisted that they be paid $15,000 up front before the round of 16 game against Denmark, which ended in a 4-1 trouncing in favour of the Danes. In France, the then minister had to return to Nigeria for funds; the dark goggled Head of State, the late Sani Abacha, died shortly before the Mundial began.

We learned no lessons from the 1998 misadventure, hence the fiasco in 2002. In fact, matters got to a head that players were ready to exchange blows with ministry officials. The coaches and players were at daggers drawn against the ministry chiefs, who insisted on dealing with the team directly and not through a ‘’corrupt’’ NFA. Had Nigeria gone to the Japan/Korea 2002 World Cup with the players we had then, we would have done well.

The ministry tigers tore the squad apart under the guise of instilling discipline, leaving the veteran coach deployed to take charge of the team in a precarious position in Japan/Korea. Some of the banned players were our best. The Mundial in Asia threw up Osaze Odemwingie, Vincent Enyeama, Femi Opabunmi and Julius Aghahowa. Nigeria would have done better, if Austin Okocha had played with some of the absentees, such as Sunday Oliseh, Finidi George et al. Taribo West, sarcastically described the Eagles squad to Asia as ‘’junk.’’ -Whatever that meant. The ministers and the ministry chiefs render NFF men otiose, hence the difficulty in instilling discipline. If these three groups just forget their interest, football will be the best for it.

The intrigues of 2002 dovetailed into the new NFF and remained unabated until we failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup held in Germany. The 2010 World Cup wasn’t any different; in fact it was worse. The coach who secured the World Cup ticket, like in 2002, wasn’t allowed to handle the team at the Mundial in South Africa. In fact, the contraption called Presidential Task Force, in like other crises times took charge. So ridiculous was it that at the Mundial in South Africa, Nigeria had two presidential committees. Laughable, isn’t it? Don’t ask me about the NFF chiefs, who were hounded to face the court. These NFF men are free today, but the trauma of that exercise, especially spending Christmas and New year in Kuje Prison, contributed largely to the death of one of them (Ma soro ju).

Since 1994, every minister has visited FIFA’s headquarters, asking the same questions to underscore how busy they are. We wasted two World Cup appearances in 2014 (Brazil) and 2018 (Russia), bickering over leadership at the Glasshouse, leaving undone the task of assembling a good team for the future. Isn’t it striking that it is only in football that we are talking about a decree as an instrument to govern the game? Ministers who should be worried about this development and call for its change, would rather it stays for them to have unhindered intervention in how the game is governed. But for the FIFA Statutes, we would have been changing NFF personnel faster than light.


The Nation Newspaper
Humble pie for Eagles
Ade Ojeikere by Ade Ojeikere July 6, 2019
Super Eagles
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I’m not a seer. But, I always strive to look dispassionately at trends in our sports. My submissions most times are spot on. At other times, they go haywire; I’m only human. Only our Creator is infallible. It is, however, easy to predict what is possible with the Super Eagles, especially when there is a needless tussle between the Sports Minister and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).. Why ministers stoop to hijack the functions of a lower-body still beats pundits hollow. I feel strongly that if the government can remove the NFF – and other sports bodies – from the ministry, football will blossom.

Ministers sustain their meddlesomeness in football administration because we are experts in looking at problems from their effects instead of identifying the causes. These ministers hide under the obnoxious Decree 101 to ensure that our soccer totters, putting their primary assignment of developing sports generally in abeyance. Other sports are in limbo while football, which should serve as the pivot to lift others financially ,is perpetually enmeshed in crises subtly sponsored by idle ministers seeking to annex the NFF for selfish reasons.

Appoint a minister today, next week, he visits the NFF. An itinerary, which are to visit players in Europe, irrespective of what happens in the domestic league is drawn up. Thereafter, the minister confronts the NFF, insisting on knowing how government’s cash is spent. Not done, he despatches letters to FIFA – with fifth columnists suggesting visits to Zurich – to find out if the global soccer body could compel the federation to tell the government how FIFA cash should be accounted for.

But such information is available on FIFA website at the press of the computer buttons. In the ministers’ entourage are former NFF members and those seeking to be members, having lost in the last elections. Why ministers fall into this trap remains a mystery. One of such ministers was caught on camera sitting down like a palace chief . He is watching as the Super Falcons players kneel down to count cash due to them. Is the minister saying that the ministry doesn’t have accounts department staff for this? What has happened to the bank transfer system? Is anyone, therefore, shocked that Super Falcons have the temerity to hold the country hostage all the time?


Ministers start their romance with the players during the qualification series, by lampooning the NFF chiefs publicly, if they err in the eyes of the minister. Did I hear you ask where the ministers and the players meet? No prize for getting it right. Our ministers are so busy that they always accompany the team to all trips no matter how inconsequential such matches are. We have witnessed instances where a minister caused a scene outside the country simply because NFF chiefs were not around to receive him. Such scenes where the ministers assert their powers, invariably, diminish the NFF men’s authority . With time, the players know where the authority lies, even as indiscipline sets in.

What our players dare not do in their European clubs, they do with swagger here, knowing that they have a chummy relationship with the ministers, who don’t flinch in reversing decisions taken by the NFF. This minister/Eagles’ stars’ relationship got to a ridiculous level ahead of the France ’98 World Cup, where key players were junketing around the country and Europe in presidential jets, while other countries were in training.

Things started going awry for the Eagles in France when a certain minister directed the NFA, as it was then known to sack Phillipe Troussier, even when he got us the ticket for the Mundial, with a game to spare. Troussier’s sack arose from complaints from key players of the Atlanta 96 gold winning team who lost their places in the ‘’White Witch Doctor’s’’ 3-5-2 tactical formation. For that minister, it didn’t matter if the Olympic gold medallists lost their form or were injured. All that Nigeria needed to win the World Cup was to appear in France and announce to others that they were the defending Olympic Games winners, take a bow and the referee will signal the end of the game. Really! What about the defending champions, Brazil , what would they do? They won’t just come to France.

With Troussier out, the players chose who they wanted to such an extent that even before the first ball was kicked, we knew certain players (permit me not to mention them) won’t kick the ball. Why we left them in the squad underscores how powerless the NFA men were before the players. This indiscipline got to a head when players insisted that they be paid $15,000 up front before the round of 16 game against Denmark, which ended in a 4-1 trouncing in favour of the Danes. In France, the then minister had to return to Nigeria for funds; the dark goggled Head of State, the late Sani Abacha, died shortly before the Mundial began.

We learned no lessons from the 1998 misadventure, hence the fiasco in 2002. In fact, matters got to a head that players were ready to exchange blows with ministry officials. The coaches and players were at daggers drawn against the ministry chiefs, who insisted on dealing with the team directly and not through a ‘’corrupt’’ NFA. Had Nigeria gone to the Japan/Korea 2002 World Cup with the players we had then, we would have done well.

The ministry tigers tore the squad apart under the guise of instilling discipline, leaving the veteran coach deployed to take charge of the team in a precarious position in Japan/Korea. Some of the banned players were our best. The Mundial in Asia threw up Osaze Odemwingie, Vincent Enyeama, Femi Opabunmi and Julius Aghahowa. Nigeria would have done better, if Austin Okocha had played with some of the absentees, such as Sunday Oliseh, Finidi George et al. Taribo West, sarcastically described the Eagles squad to Asia as ‘’junk.’’ -Whatever that meant. The ministers and the ministry chiefs render NFF men otiose, hence the difficulty in instilling discipline. If these three groups just forget their interest, football will be the best for it.

The intrigues of 2002 dovetailed into the new NFF and remained unabated until we failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup held in Germany. The 2010 World Cup wasn’t any different; in fact it was worse. The coach who secured the World Cup ticket, like in 2002, wasn’t allowed to handle the team at the Mundial in South Africa. In fact, the contraption called Presidential Task Force, in like other crises times took charge. So ridiculous was it that at the Mundial in South Africa, Nigeria had two presidential committees. Laughable, isn’t it? Don’t ask me about the NFF chiefs, who were hounded to face the court. These NFF men are free today, but the trauma of that exercise, especially spending Christmas and New year in Kuje Prison, contributed largely to the death of one of them (Ma soro ju).

Since 1994, every minister has visited FIFA’s headquarters, asking the same questions to underscore how busy they are. We wasted two World Cup appearances in 2014 (Brazil) and 2018 (Russia), bickering over leadership at the Glasshouse, leaving undone the task of assembling a good team for the future. Isn’t it striking that it is only in football that we are talking about a decree as an instrument to govern the game? Ministers who should be worried about this development and call for its change, would rather it stays for them to have unhindered intervention in how the game is governed. But for the FIFA Statutes, we would have been changing NFF personnel faster than light.


No one is shocked by the Eagles’ refusal to attend the press conference before the game against Guinea. Our players don’t enjoy peaceful settings in camp. They enjoy rocking the boat to show their importance. Such instances when there is a crisis in camp increases the cash they take home. When they are not crying about the quality of jerseys, they are rejecting hotels or are insisting on sitting with the authorities to decide what they will earn in the latter stages of the competition.

Rather than call their bluff, we stoop to get them to play on their terms, which most times are ridiculous, compared to what other countries pay their players in the same competition. Nigeria is the only country where the President talks to the players to boost their morale. This writer won’t blame the NFF chiefs who bend over backwards to get the President to speak with them. Such gestures lessen the tension in the camp.

Unfortunately, this set of players overstepped their welcome with their protest, even after speaking with the President before the opening game against Burundi. The President is said to have assured them that he had signed all their requests. If the players couldn’t believe Mr President, who then can they trust?

We should stop this show of shame by our footballers. Our players ought to apologise to the nation for their disgraceful action despite Mr. President’s assurance.

This writer is tempted to suggest a code of conduct for the players, but won’t because they are adults. Instead, the ring leaders should be eased out. Manager Gernot Rohr should live in Nigeria, where he can watch the domestic game to pick younger players.

Enough of this nonsense from our footballers (both sexes) playing overseas. Nigeria won’t cease to be a sovereign nation if we don’t participate in soccer competitions.

https://thenationonlineng.net/humble-pie-for-eagles/

darkelf:


Was Nigeria decimated by bombs from 1960 till date (Bar the states under Biafra)?

What Is all this for goodness sake. this is not a history or politics thread

MetalJigsaw:
What Is all this for goodness sake. this is not a history or politics thread

Go and meet those that started it please. Not me. I gave just 3 mentions.

Drtega:
To b sincere rohr actually got his tactics right in the last game ... Jamilu came in solely because of Tau
Even with their possession ..we still dictated the gane

even the possession was largely in their own half.

darkelf:
Am I wrong for saying Etebo is bigger than Stoke city now??

you're certainly not. But inconsistency is what is hindering him.

raindodger13:


Agreed. The attack & defense looks to be in form. We have to inspect the midfield and goalkeeper positions.

d midfield is OK sir
Our major concern should b d goal keeping department,akpeyi cant even save a ball to save his fvcking soul

andrew444:


Oga big 4 for epl no easy ooo

But etebo is not far from getting a top 10 team in the epl if he continues doing well

If dem tell people say Leicester go fit sign ndidi from genk dem no go beleive, as he join them it took him just 3 days to make the starting XI, and since then he he their most used player, and one of the most used player in the epl

I think he actually meant the top four leagues.

Jarus:


Sure?

No one in the team has the long passing ability of Mikel

wen last did Mikel display DAT ability?

I trust Nigerian journalism, blasé at best. What better time to start releasing Articles that will naturally not get a sniffle

minfelix:
Some how we have manage to beat two north african teams with the dark green jersey
Libya 2-3 Nigeria
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt.
Prediction
Algeria 1-3 Nigeria(semifinal)
Tunisia 0-2 Nigeria (final)

But the jersey we used was home jersey

MetalJigsaw:
you're certainly not. But inconsistency is what is hindering him.

He has actually been consistent in this tournament

Ajoboss:
wen last did Mikel display DAT ability?

They are living on past glory

Odunayaw:
I trust Nigerian journalism, blasé at best. What better time to start releasing Articles that will naturally not get a sniffle

The second article I posted was released last weekend. Only the first one was released today.

gamaliel9:
IWOBI IS GROWING WELL...HOLDING THE BALL....NO MORE ONE-TWO PASS

WE ARE NOT MISSING MIKAEL OBI

I just hope he stops blowing hot and cold.

darkelf:


The second article I posted was released last weekend. Only the first one was released today.

Still...we're overfamiliar with the topic, It naturally will not garner eyes if it came out pre-tournament.

darkelf:


They are living on past glory

One of Mikels best match


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M17SGuhMglc

Odunayaw:
Still...we're overfamiliar with the topic, It naturally will not garner eyes if it came out pre-tournament.

The truth is:

We need to stop disgracing ourselves at tourneys. That gimmick of refusing to train or play or board plane is as old as ASUU endless strikes.

The president needs to stop playing politics with who he appoints as sports minister. The right person for the Job who is selfless and really has the good of our sports at heart should be chosen. I hope the past mistakes would be corrected with this incoming ministerial list. The same criteria should be applied to the NFF chairman and board members.

The writer also raised a food point about disciplining ring leaders of protest especially after the President had given his word of having released the funds and the NFF chairman confirming it in person

elyte89:



One of Mikels best match


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M17SGuhMglc

This is past glory. The 2013 confed cup match against Spain if I'm not mistaken

darkelf:


This is past glory. The 2013 confed cup match against Spain if I'm not mistaken

Yea, just letting u knw aw good he was den

elyte89:



Yea, just letting u knw aw good he was den

Yes, that was then. Now, he looks like 2018 Onazi

BascoVanVeli:


What the bloody hell does Coutinho a starter have to do with a conversation about substitutes? If i am not mistaken he was their leading UCL goal scorer before his move so how does he figure in a discussion about replacing Salah?

Because the decision to loan out Origi was at the beginning of the season and Liverpool had Coutinho in the team before the decision was made, and even after he forced his way out at mid season, he was replaced with Ox who unfortunately got injured prior to the final.

Therefore, the siliy move your claimed might have cost Liverpool the final was uttered due to ignorance.

Next time think well before you make unnecessary and inconsequential statements.

BascoVanVeli:


We saw how good an idea that was. That silly move might have cost them a champions league because Solanke was sh*t for Liverpool and couldn't offer a single thing.
Imagine that lucky negro Origi coming in as a sub against real Madrid?

darkelf:


The truth is:

We need to stop disgracing ourselves at tourneys. That gimmick of refusing to train or play or board plane is as old as ASUU endless strikes.

The president needs to stop playing politics with who he appoints as sports minister. The right person for the Job who is selfless and really has the good of our sports at heart should be chosen. I hope the past mistakes would be corrected with this incoming ministerial list. The same criteria should be applied to the NFF chairman and board members.

The writer also raised a food point about disciplining ring leaders of protest especially after the President had given his word of having released the funds and the NFF chairman confirming it in person

I didn't even question the points raised or unraised.
There are hosts of "pointing outs" and "pointing to" all over the internet & we're still here today, I am just musing on its timing... from experience I reckon its to gather attention.

That said, we sooner or later need to find sense & shame in this country

ChrisKels:
Remember the day I told u guys I was humbled by Samuel Chimerenka Chukwueze? Damne just stumbled on this pic, 2016, back of stadium Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU).

Keep this picture for the future. Chukwueze will be one of the best players in the world within the next five years.

Not by any means relegating your own prospect in the future against his. We all shall soar in our careers.

TheSuperNerd:
@bolded


Komekn once said Osimhen got relegated to youth football with no concrete evidence.

Also said Osimhen had only handful of appearances ignoring the fact that the lad struggled with injuries.
Also, at that time, Osinhen was still 19. Not 20.

Who replied this post? Bascovanveli did.

This is just one out of so many.


It is funny how amnesiac some monickers on this thread are going by how many are ever ready to asslick this liar from Nottingham. Lol

Komekn you asked for proof right? Wait for it....

I will remind all of your dirty lies and ever evasive selective analyses on our youngsters.
Your constant repetition of selective lies times without number has eroded the memory of some here and even made them believe that what you say is true.

Man, time to expose you well enough now.... You have shot yourself with your words so many times and the evidences are too numerous to select from. Good day.

For s person that defines themselves as an outstanding academic. I expected you to present a more substantive approach to prove your point which is to malign my comments as LIES and HYPOCRISY

I am not going to indulge your over inflated ego with tit for tat responses l don't have your misplaced youthful exuberance . But before we proceed let's get perspective.

Firstly, when a comment is taking out of context it becomes misleading.

Secondly, an opinion is not a matter of fact but personal perspective and ot otherwise.

Your intent is to prove LIES and the overly misused term by you HYPOCRISY.

I will reiterate, clubs in Europe don't care whether you are coming from Alaska or Timbuktu. The don't care about your personal circumstances historic or otherwise. We don't create set of parameters for Nigerian players alone to the exclusion of other players.

Football is a very very short term career. everything is considered in the here and now and maybe very near future.

I will say it again and again. If a player is getting to 20 and has not started to play in the first team and or going on loan that player is not PROGRESSING but on the contrary is. FAILING.

Back to Osimhen at Wolfsburg he was FAILING like it or that's the reality. To tell him anything else is to compound the problem

He was injured for a short period although that can also count against you i.e. be labelled injury prone. You must take your chances because they will.be very few that's how you SUCCEED. He then played a few games but was anonymous. REALITY. He was then sent back to the U21 YES or NO truth or lie


Where is the hypocrisy and where is the lies ❓

It seems that Osimhen read my Post and took on board my very constructive criticism. Then added to that my proposition for success.

Which is. "The acceptance of Failure is the beginning of success."

Look at my comments which you took a screen shot off ( u get time) Advised him to take a loan move to a less competitive league and REINVENT himself. That's exactly what he has done I STAND TO BE CORRECTED.

Now look at yourself and ask yourself in the cold light of day

Who is overwhelmed with his oversized ego, bigotry and negative prejudice that he can't see the difference between positive and negative ❓ ❓ ❓

Misplaced youth Superdelusuional. I tire 4U

I know follow you talk d matta again oh

If old man follow small pikin deh drag ground Eéeeeeee get as he be, na higher foolishness be dat.

TheSuperNerd:
@bolded


Komekn once said Osimhen got relegated to youth football with no concrete evidence.

Also said Osimhen had only handful of appearances ignoring the fact that the lad struggled with injuries.
Also, at that time, Osinhen was still 19. Not 20.

Who replied this post? Bascovanveli did.

This is just one out of so many.


It is funny how amnesiac some monickers on this thread are going by how many are ever ready to asslick this liar from Nottingham. Lol

Komekn you asked for proof right? Wait for it....

I will remind all of your dirty lies and ever evasive selective analyses on our youngsters.
Your constant repetition of selective lies times without number has eroded the memory of some here and even made them believe that what you say is true.

Man, time to expose you well enough now.... You have shot yourself with your words so many times and the evidences are too numerous to select from. Good day.

Why have you chosen to be always controversial?

I have followed this medium for a long time and I have seen that this place enjoys some degree of peace save for the Ghanaian trolls whenever you take sabbaticals.

You are back now and so are multiple controversies in a row.

I had always wondered how you relate with your colleagues or bosses in real life with this attitude.

Yo, I'm not coming at you. Just an innocent observation.

Peace.

forgiveness:


Because the decision to loan out Origi was at the beginning of the season and Liverpool had Coutinho in the team before the decision was made, and even after he forced his way out at mid season, he was replaced with Ox who unfortunately got injured prior to the final.

Therefore, the siliy move your claimed might have cost Liverpool the final was uttered due to ignorance.

Next time think well before you make unnecessary and inconsequential statements.

Again I repeat what the heck does Coutinho have to do with Origi? U are being ridiculous. The reports were clear that Origi was loaned out because Solanke came in but now you are bringing up ying and yang.