Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has outlined what he described as ‘commando tactics’ that helped him pull off victory away to Cape Verde in the second match of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Megasportsarena.com reports that the Nigerian squad romped from behind to eke out a 2-1 victory on Tuesday, much to Rohr’s delight, as he had stated before kick-off that his side only need a goal to carry the day.
He equally admitted that The Blue Sharks would not be easy to defeat on their home soil, as they employ tactics similar to that of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, but the Franco-German gaffer opined that his side are still better off.
Despite being without ten key players for the encounter and needing to adjust to stiff weather conditions as well as playing on artificial grass in Mindelo, Rohr enthused before kick-off that his wards would hold their own and come out with their heads held high up.
That was exactly what happened, as a 30th minute equaliser by Victor Osimhen and an own goal by the hosts, plus lots of luck that stopped The Blue harks from converting a late opportunity to seal a draw, eventually saw the thee-time African champions to their second straight win in the qualifiers.
That seemed to justify Rohr’s tactics for the match, as the former Girondins-Bordeaux, Niger Republic, Gabon and Burkina Faso coach said before the game: “They play much like the Portuguese, they like to play quickly forward.
“They have very good strikers, they have this wonderful player Mendes (Ryan) and Tavares (Julio) we know them; they have very good offensive players.
“They play very often with three in the back. We know that they like to come back to be sure that they don’t concede.
“But we have our idea, our tactics to score a goal and to win the match, that is what we want to do and we know that it is not easy.
“We are commando here and it is the fighting spirit that you have to show with a good technical football like always.”
Eagles’ squad – Maduka Okoye – Jamilu Collins, Shehu Abdullahi, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Bonke, Michael, Ejuke (Zaidu Sanusi, 83′), Moses Simon (Terem Moffi,72′), Ahmed Musa (Henry Onyekuru, 72′), Victor Osimhen (Paul Onuachu, 83′). Unused Subs: Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi, Valentine Ozornwafor, Adekunle Adeleke.
