- …urges Rohr to reorganise Eagles’ defence for Algeria
F ormer Hansa Rostock of Germany striker, Jonathan Akpoborie, has joined the league of football pundits agitating for the immediate return of Lille of France goaltender, Vincent Enyeama, to the Nigeria’s national team, Super Eagles.
Previewing the chances of Nigeria in the November 12 World Cup qualifier billed for Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Akpoborie said Enyeama’s return to the Eagles will bring back stiff competition among the goalkeepers, a development which at the end, will give Nigeria the best options, while making final selection for every important match.
According to Akpoborie, Nigeria needs her best materials to prosecute the World Cup qualifiers and there is nothing stopping Enyeama from coming to fight for shirts.
“I have heard it several times that with Carl Ikeme around, Nigeria does not need to worry about goalkeeping problems. No, we still need a goalkeeper like Enyeama around to fight for shirt. Nigeria needs her best players, no matter the circumstance. Enyeama is the best in Africa at the moment, and we cannot afford to lose him. With him around, there would be healthy rivalry among goal keepers in the Eagles’ camp,” Akpoborie said. The former international, popularly called ‘Jonny’ in his playing days, urged Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr, to reorganise the team’s defence, saying that there are still visible lapses among the defenders.
“The last match against Zambia in Ndola, exposed our defenders. They were not coordinated and their recovery pace was very slow. They need to adjust and arrange themselves properly. A team like Algeria will capitalise on Eagles’ lapses in the defence to have their way. So we just have to plan well and give the Algerians a good fight,” he said.
Extolling the qualities of the Eagles’ coach, Akpoborie said he was excited about what Rohr is doing with the national team, adding that he was confident that he would succeed with the team. “You can see that the German picks players according to the level of their current forms in their clubs and the level of their appearances. If you are not playing regularly in your club, you may not make Rohr’s team. He is strict and disciplined. He has injected new mentality into the team. He went to Ndola to give Nigeria an away victory, which means the coach knows what he is doing. The match against Algeria may not be easy, but if they strategise well, we would triumph in Uyo. Nigeria needs the best players around now,” he said.
Also speaking on the match, former Green Eagles skipper, Henry Nwosu, said he was optimistic that Nigeria would disgrace Algeria at home, adding that he is sure of the present team’s capabilities against the dreaded side.
“We should give Rohr more time. He is still young with the team and so far, he has proved himself. I am supporting this man to succeed and I am enjoying all his matches, but the team need to reorganise in the defence and block all the loopholes from the midfield to the defence against Algeria,” he said.
