Watch it, ex-internationals caution Super Eagles
Two ex-internationals on Friday called for more seriousness among the Super Eagles, to enable Nigeria to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The former Nigeria internationals gave the advice in separate interviews with the Newsmen in Lagos.
The advice became necessary following the Super Eagles 0-1 loss to C.A.R on Thursday evening at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
C.A.R’s Karl Namnganda’s last minute goal ensured victory for the Les Fauves (Wild Beasts), now third in the Group C standing with four points, behind Cape Verde that is also on four points but with superior goal difference.
The Super Eagles are still leading the pack with six points, the defeat notwithstanding, while the Lone Star of Liberia is fourth with three points.
Felix Owolabi, a former Green Eagles player, said that the Gernot Rohr-tutored team was becoming complacent as shown in the match.
“I don’t know, maybe it’s because they have won a couple of matches and they assume they have it all together, but with this defeat, it’s obvious that they don’t.
“I believe they need a psychologist that can work on their mindset; football has gone past training on the field alone. Psychologically, players need to be ready; it takes a lot to build a solid team.
“Gernot Rohr has a lot to do and same goes for the boys too, one would have thought maybe Central Africa Republic would have been a walk over.
“But that’s not the case, as we all have seen,” Owolabi said.
Bright Omokaro, a former Super Eagles defender described the Nigerian team as lacking in passion.
“After parading top international players, we obviously don’t have somebody who knows the technical know-how. Rohr doesn’t know what they call football.
“Since he came to Nigeria, I haven’t felt his impact because he has neglected the home-based players. He has to look inward and blend.
“The players lacked passion or should I say they also lack the technical know-how, no vigour.
“With this COVID-19 of a thing, clubs even find it difficult to release their players. So, what does a coach fall back on, the domestic league that he abandons?
“When the likes of (Samson) Siasia, Austin (Eguavoen) and the late (Stephen) Keshi handled the team, we saw results, right now, we can’t beat our chest that we would beat any country,” Omokaro said.
It was reported that the return leg of the double-header against the C.A.R holds on Sunday in the port city of Douala, Cameroon.
