Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has urged the team to keep a cool head following their famous win over hosts Cote d’Ivoire Thursday in a group A match of the African Cup of Nations.
Against all expectations the Super Eagles played a tactical game that rendered the Elephants ineffective with top striker Victor Osimhen winning a penalty in the 55 minute. William Troost Ekong scored to sealed up the game and the three points for the Super Eagles.
Rohr who was sacked from his position 11 days to the 2022 AFCON in Cameroon said the team in Cote d’ivoire was brilliant and they must remember who easily they crashed out of the last AFCON in the round of 16.
“It’s a very good result. I’m happy for my former players because they had been so many criticisms in the past but they answered with this big match against the host country,” Rohr said in interview with veteran journalist Osasu Obayiuwana.
“But they should be careful, still be modest and humble, because in the last AFCON they won the three games in the group and then it was finished.
“Each match is very, very important but now they can say they are already qualified. I enjoyed the game of Chukwueze also, he deserves to start the match and of course Osimhen is always able to score a goal.”
He added that the 5-4-1 formation depolyed by coach Jose Peseiro did the magic for the Super Eagles: “Very good organization 5-4-1. It was decisive because we didn’t see the Ivorian strikers at all and the five defenders – three central defenders, two on the sides – did a good job.
“In the midfield Alex Iwobi did very well with Onyeka. On both sides, Chukwueze and Lookman came back to help and could be in a good offensive situation like winger when Nigeria had the ball.”
