Stakeholders hail Eagles qualification

fault Rohr sub

By Femi Atolagbe
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Football stakeholders in Ondo State have praised Super Eagles semifinals qualification in the Africa Cup of Nations, but faulted Gernot Rohr’s substitution.

Goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Troops Ekong  in the 27th, 87th minutes  had sent Super Eagles  through to the semifinal over South Africa in the Cairo encounter.

While speaking to the Sporting Hope on the enthralling encounter, Ondo State Football Agency board member, Mr Adetoye Sunday hailed Rohr’s tactics, saying Eagles played tactically well against Bafana Bafana.

Sunday, who believed that an attacking team is also a defending side, opined that Musa’s removal restored South African’s confidence of attacking the Super Eagles, because their tormentor had been subbed .

He commended the Eagles  back four for been able to form a strong shield in the defence line to curb the South African paces.

Also a former Director of Football Academy in the Agency, Mr Fadoju Moses, who revels in Eagles triumph over Bafana Bafana, said Rohr should have removed Odion Ighalo for Moses Simon instead of Musa who had a descent run against South Africa’s team.

According to him, “the Coach knows his team better  than anybody, but in my own opinion as a grassroots football developer, the substitution was wrong, he shouldn’t have removed Musa when he removed him”.

The only saving grace for him was that Nigeria won the match.

On his part, former Sunshine Stars’ head coach, Bobola Akinfolarin said the Eagles striking force was  lost in the match, saying it seems they were not  ready for the match.

He appreciated the fact that Rohr tutored side approached all their matches as they come.

 Akinfolarin said “forget that we won the match, there are lots of mistakes that needed to be corrected before our next match.

We have to identify our mistakes, so that we can correct them in our subsequent matches, our defenders are very solid and focused from the blast of the  referee whistle to the end.

The midfield was intact, no pressure on the goalkeeper because of the strong defensive wall,  our attack need to be worked on so that they can deliver  efficiently, if we are able to address that area, sky will be our starting point”.

The trio believed if the Eagles continue in same spirit, they will come home with the trophy.