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Tinkering Rohr must get new mix right

By Daily Sports on May 23, 2017

The Super Eagles will have a loaded 2017 which begins next month with the clash against the Bafana Bafana for a spot at Cameroon 2019. For the first time in recent history, the Super Eagles will be made of players from three different parts of the world. Not that this is a misnomer but it will be a first for Rohr who has to contend with the fact that his captain and two of his most experienced strikers now play in China. Considering the distance and playing style, Rohr will have to evolve his squad such that everyone can be be accommodated.

Rohr has had major success so far in his four games in charge of the Super Eagles. He has had to combine players from different parts of the world-mainly Europe and Nigeria but all that looks to be changing.

With some of his experienced players moving to Asia, a new challenge is upon the gaffer as he tiinkers with his squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and 2018 World Cup qualifier.

This is the first time that any Super Eagles coach will have to deal with his captain and experienced campaigners playing anywhere elsewhere than Europe or Nigeria.

The 1996 Olympic Games football gold winning squad was populated by players from Europe (15) with two goalkeepers Dosu Joseph and Emmanuel Babayaro from local clubs Plateau United and Julius Berger respectively while Garba Lawal was the sole representative from North Africa (Esperance)

In the last two FIFA World Cups Nigeria featured in (2010 & 2014), out of a combined squad of 46 players, 42 came from Europe while four came from the home front, the NPFL.

Late coach Stephen Keshi won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with six players based in Nigeria while the rest (17) came from Europe.

That was the last time Nigeria played at the Nations, an anomaly Rohr wants to correct but will have to blend his squad with players from different regions of the World.

Gernot Rohr insists the local players are part of his programme as he rebuilds the Eagles. His team for the friendly against Senegal had Ikechukwu Ezenwa as the only local-based player. The latest squad for residential camping in France and the friendly with Corsica, however, has Ezenwa, Alhassan Ibrahim and the MFM duo of Sikiru Olatunbosun and Stephen Odey from the NPFL.

Whether this is going to be the norm or not, Rohr has a tough task ahead. He needs to find a way, a system that will accommodate all players from China, Europe and Nigeria. It won’t be easy, but coaching the national team of the most populous black nation in the world has never been an easy one.

*Photo shows Rohr.

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 23, 2017