One value of the tournament is that it gives African teams a chance to assess progress midway before the next world cup, and make necessary course corrections, to build on progress or restart the project.
Nigeria under Gernot Rohr has come a considerable way, following failure to qualify for two back to back Nations Cups.
Progress Under Rohr
The progress in squad development following the late Stephen Keshi's team is quite obvious. This is perhaps Rohr's most important achievement so far: a stable and progressively growing squad, with new players being introduced slowly...
In defence, two young specialist fullbacks have emerged from this competition in Aina and Collins, with competent backups to create one of the most competitive positions in the team.
In central defence, Omeruo brought his La Liga performance to the competition, complete with its highs and lows, in combination with Ekong. An initially solid defensive organization, progressively declined on the strength of individual mistakes. More quality options are needed in central defence.
If the defensive organization was initially good, in goal there is no such equivocation. Nigeria paraded a trio of incompetent goalkeepers, each with no upsides. None capable of further development. All three terminal cases and dead-enders. There is no option but to look for better alternatives. The fact that Nigeria is in this position by itself points to greater issues about the development of the game that I will address later.
In central midfield, Ndidi has emerged as a clear leader and next to Etebo, in my view the best central midfield combo in the competition. But there are clear weaknesses in both players, with Ndidi still learning the position, and Etebo, for all his industry, inconsistent in his use of the ball, and average in defending space. In fairness to him, some of this is coming from the tactical decisions of the coach. More on this later...
In the wide areas, Rohr has supervised the emergence of a set of players that makes this the most competitive position in the team. The quintet of Musa, Simon, Chukwueze, Samuel and Onyekuru hold much promise for the future, especially with a more dynamic approach.
In the central striker role, Odion Ighalo brought a level of work rate that I have not seen for a while in the Super Eagles, and while Rohr has slowly built up additional options in Onuachu and Osimhen, this is clearly a weak position for the team.
Tactical Organization:
Tactically, it was always clear that Rohr is of a conservative bent, and on that, the man has been a model of consistency. This has resulted in a team often seating deep in midfield, inviting the opposition, any opposition, and looking to breakaway in open play, especially in the wide areas.
It has also produced some strong defensive organization at AFCON especially, betrayed only by individual errors, notably from Balogun and Omeruo.
However, the above merits are quickly negated by a chronic lack of imagination in the attacking phase, with players generally fit into well-formed straight jackets, where a wide player is a wide player, and a striker is a burly center forward, forever with back to goal, chasing down cul de sacs...
The result is a team growing, but only in millimeters, with little innovative thinking in midfield or attack. When tasked to find solutions to support the play on the field, adjustments when they have come, have been delivered cautiously; always cautiously, like the Nigerian road-sign: "slow men at work"!
For much of the game against Algeria, the young Samuel Chukwueze would struggle to find space behind the fullback and double coverage, to run onto. But on the bench his manager dithered in varying the points at which he picked up the ball to give him different looks and ask different questions of the Algerian defence. And when he tired out, Henry Onyekuru would be introduced, to do the very same thing! Perhaps his shock of blonde hair was the different look!!!
The tactical shape of the Nigerian midfield has remained a conundrum, starting with the idea of Mikel Obi in attacking midfield. At the heart of central midfield, Etebo continues to be used in a far more horizontal way than his best skills suggest- a box to box midfielder. While it is true that not enough credible options currently exist in midfield, it is equally true that the situation is constrained by a lack of dynamism in approach.
There is not an underdog tag available that Rohr has not clutched at, often with the fervor of a man hanging on to a ship wreck! While I understand much of this to be coach-speak, it is the reflection of this in the ensuing tactics that I find disconcerting.
In the crucial opening game at the last world cup, this mind set would lead to an approach that was focused far more on countering the perceived strengths of Croatia than on exploiting an opposing defence lacking in pace in wide areas, ironically the strength of his team.
However, this is not to absolve players from individual failures, such as Ndidi conceding a dangerous freekick in the last minute of injury time, or Omeruo repeatedly gifting the opponent in the penalty area, or Alex Iwobi's diabolical performance against Algeria....But I am reminded of this quote from Liverpool manager, from back in his early days at Mainz.
"We watched this very boring video, 500 times, of Sacchi doing defensive drills, using sticks and without the ball, with Maldini, Baresi and Albertini. We used to think before then that if the other players are better, you have to lose. After that we learned anything is possible – you can beat better teams by using tactics." Jurgen Klopp
Time for a Reset
In assessing the 3-year tenure of Genot Rohr, it is obvious that there are plenty of positives. It is therefore a legitimate position to advocate for continuity in the national team by retaining him. What is more, there are clear risks in making a course correction at this stage. Such a move is replete with potential minefields, and nothing as always is guaranteed.
But nonetheless I come to a different conclusion, even while agreeing with Rohr's assessment that this team will get better. And I did not reach this position as a result of the Algeria defeat. Indeed, even an AFCON triumph would not have led me to a different conclusion!
Why is this?
Philosophically, Rohr's tactical concept of the game neither suits the Nigerian concept of the game and what it should be in 2019, nor does it meet Nigeria's ambitions, even recognizing some of the limitations of talent.
The sight of Nigeria repeatedly lumping the ball forwards in search of the big target man, playing with back to goal, rather than playing through midfield, with attacking patterns of play based on passing and movement, as opposed to overcoming in 1v1 situations, is simply not acceptable.
The young players who have emerged from Rohr's tenure or are emerging in Europe deserve a more forward thinking manager. A manager who doesn't see the game in "monosyllables", forever reluctant to engage tactically!
Recommendations:
In advocating for a change, I also include in this a change in our approach to the recruitment of coaches. First of all, the old dichotomy between foreign and local coaches cannot stand any basic test of logic. It is irrelevant whether the coach is Nigerian, European, South American, from Kafanchan or Saskatchewan! What matters is the competence of the coach and the suitability of his philosophy of the game.
Secondly, as currently constituted, the NFF is not equipped to carry this task out on its won, and I would seriously recommend the short-term engagement of our own Mike Emenalo for his professional assistance.
And if we are not able/willing to engage with professional recruitment, then it would be best to leave Rohr in place and extend his contract, although that would be a clear mistake in my opinion.
Domestic Focus:
What is clear from our inability to find a competent goalkeeper is that the domestic game is not developing players properly. A fact that was also evident in the U-20 team.
For us to regenerate the national team for the long term, we must address weaknesses in the development of local players, through renewed focus on the national league.
It is especially imperative, in the immediate period, that we revamp the process for selection of players to the youth teams and focus, not entirely on winning at all cost, but in exposing exceptional young talent at the global level.
Too many of the players coming through our youth teams are either age inappropriate or simply not high quality talent. We must challenge our national team youth coaches to engage in comprehensive scouting for talent as was the case in the past with Sebastian Brodericks and Fanny Amu.
We need to return to the schools system as the framework for selecting young players, especially at the U-17 level.
Going forward, the options before us appear crystal clear. Continuing with Rohr will bring stability. We will likely qualify for the next world cup and next AFCON. We will improve the team and the Super Eagles will grow. But only marginally....
Reflecting on the s/final loss, the coach said as follows: “It was a big fight until the last minute, it was a wonderful match, I think my players wanted it to go to extra time thinking Algeria were more tired,” Rohr was quoted as saying by Reuters.
The above statement encapsulates the Super Eagles under Genort Rohr: never able to seize the moment and the advantage staring them squarely in the face!
The question is, are we willing to accept marginal, incremental progress? For me the answer is No!
