Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has come under technical scrutiny from Nigerian football fans and analysts, who questioned the gaffer’s tactics after his side failed to hold a 4-1 lead at half time and eventually drew 4-4 with visiting Sierra Leone, megasportsarena.com reports.
Friday’s first leg of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier appear to be heading by rote for the Nigerians, following four stunning goals they romped home, but things looked to be falling apart when they allowed The Leone Stars pull one back just before half time.
Subsequently, an injury copped by one of Nigeria’s scorers on the evening and current rave of the moment, Victor Osimhen seemed to take the fire out of the Eagles’ attack, but analysts were left wondering why Rohr started Kevin Akpoguma ahead of Ola Aina and Tyronne Ebuehi.
Rohr ostensibly hit himself harder when he yanked off Leon Aderemi Balogun, despite the Glasgow Rangers of Scotland defender obviously having one of his best matches of recent in green-and-white, and the Eagles imploded at Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
Despite all the enthusiasm with which they entered Friday’s game in the Edo State capital, the Eagles were ultimately forced to settle for a point; even after Alex Iwobi’s double as well as delightful strikes from Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze handed Nigerian an impressive lead.
The restart turned into a nightmare for Rohr, as the Franco-German gaffer had no answer to diffuse the Leone Stars, as a brace from Al-Hadji Kamara plus singular efforts from Kwame Quee and Mustapha Bundu ensured the game ended in a shock draw.
In a frantic bid to get the onus back in for his side, Rohr introduced Leicester City of England forward, Kelechi Iheanacho for the ineffective Ahmed Musa, as the Eagles’ captain continued showing that his days in the starting line-up are numbered, while West Bromwich Albion centre-back, Semi Ajayi went on for Balogun in the 65th minute.
Both substitutions proved to be ineffectual, as Sierra Leone pushed for a comeback with Kamara reducing the deficit in the 72nd minute before Bundu scored the third eight minutes later; after which Kamara got the all-important equalizer with four minutes left to full-time and ensured that his side shared the points with the Nigerians at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
The result slowed down the Eagles’ surge, as they had heroically hit off the qualifying campaign with victories over Republic of Benin and Lesotho in November 2019 and, though they remain top of Group L with seven points from three games, they could have sealed an early ticket to Cameroon 2021 with back-to-back wins over Sierra Leone, who are third with two points.
