By Our Reporter
The Nigerian Football Federation, NFF finally relieved Franco-German gaffer, Gernot Rohr of his job last week, after six agonizing years as the coach of the Super Eagles.
Augustine Eguavoen is a wise choice, regardless of what anyone may say. He’s an ex-international, who understands the Super Eagles of which he was a part as a player and former coach.
The NFF was patient with Rohr for six under – performing years, during which he won nothing and didn’t even lift the team higher than he met it. All that is history now.
This is the era of a new coach, even if on interim capacity. Unfortunately, the Super Eagles have crucial pay – offs in January, 2022; the pressure on Eguavoen and his team would be much.
And with the Nation’s Cup around the corner, Nigerians expect the coaching crew to quickly come up with a winning formula for the national team. Mr. Eguavoen would have no honeymoon because there’s no time at all for him to even settle down to business. He just has to hit the ground running. The team needs cohesion, confidence and match-winning strategies; we need to project that intimidating power – play that strikes fear into opponents.
Under Rohr, nobody feared the Super Eagles. Minnows came here and humiliated our team. We had to rely on providence to overcome potent threats posed by many little teams. Coach Eguavoen certainly followed these unfortunate developments and, with his team, which included, Salisu Yusuf, Joseph Yobo, Aloy Agu, and ex players Nwankwo Kanu, Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha and Garba Lawal as Technical Ambassadors, no loophole should be left uncovered.
Nigerians expect clear-cut victories against opponents, especially in crucial matches. Match tactics and strategies must be planned and executed. Only duly fit players who have the capacity to deliver on match day, should wear our colours in all the future encounters.
Perhaps, Eguavoen should study the Stephen Keshi template. The late coach used a combination of local and foreign-based players to win the African Cup in South Africa. What he did was to raise a perfect blend of youthful and experienced players to execute the project in South Africa and it worked!
Nowadays, soccer calls for a mix of talent, youth and experience to win matches. Every serious coach must exhibit strong character in managing a bunch of professional footballers. Coach Eguavoen must show strength as a manager. He has to prove he’s in charge and not allow any player intimidate him.
What Nigerians expect is emphatic victories in matches and more trophies to show for our rating as one of Africa’s soccer power houses.
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