After a shocking 1-0 loss to Central Africa Republic on Thursday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, the Super Eagles are in for a tricky second leg in Cameroon in an encounter they cannot afford to be complacent, writes Kunle Adewale
Nigeria senior football team, Super Eagles were expected to make a mincemeat of Central African Republic in their group C 2022 World Cup qualifier but Les Fauves had other ideas as a late goal from Karl Namnganda ensured that the Gernot Rohr led side lost 1-0 and must at least get a draw in the return leg in Cameroon on Sunday to remain top of the group and to also stand a chance of qualifying the last knockout stage of the qualifying match.
To make Super Eagles loss on Thursday more complicated, Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks won 2-1away against Liberia in Monrovia and a win in the return leg would take them to seven points, meaning Nigeria cannot afford a slip-up in Sunday’s reverse fixture.
The scanty fans at the Teslim Balogun Stadium were disappointed at the lacklustre performance of the Super Eagles with many of them calling for the resignation of the team’s Franco-German Manager.
Rohr indeed blamed the absence of the midfield duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi as one of the reasons for his side’s loss.
“We missed the creativity of Iwobi; we also missed Ndidi so much. It was not easy for Frank Onyeka and a first-timer Taiwo Awoniyi to come in this team,” the Franco-German manager told Goal.
“The players are still disappointed in the dressing room and still not understanding why we could lose this match.
“When we analysed it, we dominated possession of the ball, we had several opportunities to score, but we did not score and very often in football, there was a counter, and our opponents scored.”
To complicate matters for the Super Eagles, Rohr has said Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, might not play in the reverse fixture against the Central African Republic after he picked up a knock during the game at the Teslim Balogun Stadium and is now a doubt for the trip to Douala.
“There will be some changes. Already, there are some injuries and I don’t know if Iheanacho is able to play because he had a knock.
“We have some players who are tired because they ran a lot and were fighting as always. This defeat will surely make their recovery more difficult.
“They will not sleep well tonight but we have to recover and prepare for Sunday’s game which we must win,” Rohr said.
The Nigeria Football Federation believes the much-adored Nigerian Spirit will come to the fore and ginger the Super Eagles to solidify their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying campaign when they take on the Les Fauves of Central African Republic in Douala on Sunday.
Pinnick said on Thursday night that the Eagles have the character to bounce back from the shock home defeat by the central Africans and still fly very high above other contenders in Group C of the African race by taking the maximum points in Douala on Sunday.
“This result has been a huge shock, especially after the NFF provided everything necessary to make the team comfortable and focused on the task at hand, even going the extra mile in a number of areas.
“This is a setback, which can be quickly reversed and the Nigerian Spirit is what we will take to Cameroon. The NFF is backing the team to retain a strong hold on the group and qualify to the knockout phase. We believe they will deliver against the same team.”
Pinnick said the NFF was taking responsibility for the defeat and urged Nigerians from far and near to get behind the team at this period.
“Everyone is stunned, but we do not have to be emotional or negative about things. The same team defeated Liberia here in Lagos and Cape Verde away. They still have that ability to deliver. As a Football Federation, we take responsibility for this defeat. We believe things will change positively in three days. We also believe that this loss is a massive wake-up call and could be the springboard to reset and motivate the team to keep giving their all to not only qualify for the World Cup but to perform well in Qatar.”
Central African Republic Coach, Raoul Savoy has given reason for his side’s victory on Thursday in Lagos.
Savoy said CAR defeated Nigeria because his players didn’t allow the Super Eagles to play quick football.
Savoy disclosed CAR put in a strategy that worked against Nigeria, adding that his players gave their best during the encounter.
“We stood by them and knew that if we cut them off and don’t allow them to be quick, then we have got a chance. It’s a very great result for us.
“I’m very happy because we put in a strategy and it worked. And when you put in a strategy and have young players, because we have young players in our team, who listen and put their heart in, they can beat anyone.
“Nigeria is one of the best teams in Africa but sometimes in football, you don’t take the game seriously because you feel at the beginning you have already won. I feel the Eagles said ‘we are going to take the three points and focus on other things.”
Savoy described the 1-0 victory over Nigeria as the best thing to have happened to the team.
The Swiss-born coach said that though he had many victories in his past games, the one against Nigeria, the giants of football in Africa, was historic.
“I have won against many countries such as Morocco and Kenya during my coaching career, but in the history of Central African Republic, this is the best one.
“We have to respect ourselves in football and today, my players will be happy at the dinner.
The victory notwithstanding, Savoy has tipped Super Eagles to qualify for the World Cup ahead of other teams in Group C.
“I am not thinking about the World Cup because we are work in progress, we are a young team; the slot for the World Cup is for Nigeria. “We just want to play and qualify for the African Cup of Nations.
“I said before now that if we can pick a point from the match against Nigeria, I will be the happiest man in the world, but now, we have three points.
“It is not that we are a better side, but we put a plan and Nigeria also put theirs, but our plans worked very well, that is football,” he said.
How far the Nigerian Spirit will carry the Super Eagles remains to be seen.
Nigeria remain top of Group C with six points, two more than both Cape Verde (who defeated Liberia’s Lone Star in Monrovia) and Central African Republic, with Liberia bumped to bottom place.
