Gernot Rohr, former coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, has expressed satisfaction with the quality of football exhibited at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.
Rohr highlighted the commendable performances of smaller countries in the tournament, emphasizing that there are no longer “small” teams in Africa.
Read Also: Nigeria Athletes Kick Off Preparations for African Games with Evaluation Meet
The former Super Eagles coach cited examples of countries like Namibia, Mauritania, Mozambique, and Angola, noting that they have performed admirably, even defeating some traditionally strong teams like Algeria.
Rohr praised the competitiveness of the tournament, with several surprises and the notable comeback of Ivory Coast.
Rohr commended the Super Eagles for finding a good balance between defence and attack. He highlighted the team’s tactical approach with five players in defence, three central defenders, four in midfield, and Osimhen as the lone striker.
According to Rohr, this system has worked well for Nigeria, making them favourites for the tournament.
“Super Eagles are doing well now because they found a good balance between defence and attack.
Being five behind with three central defenders four in the midfield and one in the striker only with Osimhen who is a wonderful player.
And when they have the ball they go forward with three, four, three. This is a good system. So now they’re the favourites of the tournament.”
While acknowledging the strong performance of Ivory Coast, Rohr warned that it wouldn’t be easy for them to beat Angola.
He praised Angola’s and Cape Verde’s playing style and mentioned that Cape Verde had faced Nigeria in the World Cup qualifiers, showing significant improvement since then.
Rohr expressed his support for the Super Eagles, hoping they would go on to win the AFCON.
He described the tournament as a very good one with numerous surprises and competitive matches, making it an exciting spectacle for football fans.
As the AFCON progresses, Rohr’s insights provide valuable perspectives on the evolving dynamics and the strengths of the participating teams, emphasizing the unpredictable and competitive nature of African football.
