Nigeria Suffers Shock Loss (+ Ratings)
Alexandria, EGYPT -- Nigeria suffered a 0-2 shock in its encounter with Madagascar. Going into this game many expected Nigeria to take all three points when only a tie was needed. Yet, Nigeria neither accomplished a win nor did it split the points on a tie. Instead, the shock loss denies Nigeria the top position in the group and condemns Nigeria to a tougher Round of 16 match-up.
An early blunder by John Ogu and then Balogun's lack of awareness or failure to protect the ball resulted in a gift goal to Madagascar. Bouyed by the goal, Madagascar defended stoutly and presented problems in a few counters. While it seemed Nigeria's frenetic play after going behind was going to earn them at least a tie, it was another error that pushed Nigeria further back early in the second half. This time it was a poor pass by Etebo back into his area that forced Ndidi to foul a Madagascar forward. The resulting free kick deflected off Ndidi and wrong footed goalkeeper Ezenwa for the second goal.
Manager Rohr's attempts to salvage the game at that point was like chasing a mirage. He had already taken off Ogu. This time he took off Mikel and then Kalu but the reality is that there were a litany of others that also did not deserve to finish the game. Mikel certainly is on his last legs. After watching him in two games at this AFCON, it is quite clear that he is slower than ever. Then his ability to protect the ball is now history. His play and his inability to adapt to the pace of the games tells the story of who he is now at this stage of his career. He is finished. It is now unlikely that he will find any additional minutes in what is left of Nigeria's participation at this 2019 AFCON. It is a sad end to an erstwhile decorative Nigerian career.
As for Manager Gernot Rohr, he is now hanging on a thin string. This result will find no friends among his bosses at the federation. It was an embarrassment that was totally unexpected. While it is easy to blame the loss on his decision to bench some starters, the reality is that Nigeria, even with a totally changed team, was the overwhelming favorite. Nigeria had the players with the foreign club profile that is so highly touted in Africa. Even Rohr has touted that in selecting his squad. But today he team was outplayed by an opponent who had players at nondescript professional locales.
Ratings:
Ike Ezenwa (1) -- 6.0 -- Ezenwa made one save that prevented Nigeria from going down three goals and it is hard to assign him blame for any of the two Malagasy goals.
Chidozie Awaziem (20) -- 6.2 -- Awaziem was quite average, just like several other Nigerian players, on the day but he is accumulating fouls at a quick pace at this AFCON. Today was more of the same.
William Ekong (5) -- 6.3 -- Ekong kept it simple at the back but that isn't saying much. In the air, he easily dominated his man.
Leon Balogun (6) -- 5.8 -- Although Leon recovered to put in a decent shift in the second half, his failure to protect the ball was part of the shocking error that led to the opening goal. Then he made yet another error with a shocking pass that goalkeeper Ezenwa rushed out to cut off as an attacker loomed.
Ola Aina (2) -- 6.2 -- This was Aina's weakest game at this AFCON but you cannot blame him for the disastrous result.
Mikel Obi (cpt--10)-- 5.5 -- It was sad to watch the state of Mikel Obi's game. He is now extremely slow and his vaunted ability to protect the ball is a distant memory. It is likely that he may have played his last meaningful minutes at this tournament and as a Super Eagle.
John Ogu (19) -- 5.8 -- Ogu was slow and covered very little ground and recovered very few balls. It was his horrendous pass that led to the opening goal. It was not a surprise that he went off at halftime.
Oghenekaro Etebo (8) -- 6.7 - Etebo worked his socks off but with both Ogu and Mikel Obi literally at lunch, Etebo's efforts did little to overcome the swarming pressure of the Madagascar team. Late in the game, his efforts ended up in wild shots.
Samuel Kalu (17) -- 6.0 -- Kalu was denied space wide as the Madagascar defense shifted quickly to cut off the wide areas where Kalu usually feasts. That mostly rendered him average until he was taken off.
Odion Ighalo (9) -- 6.0 -- Ighalo was starved of service from the middle but his poor touches did not help either. Clearly, Ighalo stayed on for 90 minutes only because the coach had run out of ability to substitute.
Ahmed Musa (7) -- 6.0 -- Musa faded badly in several chunks of the second half as Nigeria chased the game. It clearly was not one of his best days. He suffered from the suffocation of space out wide by the Madagascar defense.
Substitutes
Wilfred Ndidi (4) -- 6.8 -- Ndidi played urgently when he went on and in 45 minutes he clearly put in a better shift than many of Nigeria's players. Unfortunately, he had very little help.
Alex Iwobi (18) -- 6.0 -- Alex had little impact on the game when he came on. None of his passes provided opportunities for Ighalo that could have helped.
Moses Simon (15) -- 5.8 -- Simon was unremarkable and even his corner kicks were subpar. However, he had just 18 minutes to make a difference after he came on for Kalu.
An early blunder by John Ogu and then Balogun's lack of awareness or failure to protect the ball resulted in a gift goal to Madagascar. Bouyed by the goal, Madagascar defended stoutly and presented problems in a few counters. While it seemed Nigeria's frenetic play after going behind was going to earn them at least a tie, it was another error that pushed Nigeria further back early in the second half. This time it was a poor pass by Etebo back into his area that forced Ndidi to foul a Madagascar forward. The resulting free kick deflected off Ndidi and wrong footed goalkeeper Ezenwa for the second goal.
Manager Rohr's attempts to salvage the game at that point was like chasing a mirage. He had already taken off Ogu. This time he took off Mikel and then Kalu but the reality is that there were a litany of others that also did not deserve to finish the game. Mikel certainly is on his last legs. After watching him in two games at this AFCON, it is quite clear that he is slower than ever. Then his ability to protect the ball is now history. His play and his inability to adapt to the pace of the games tells the story of who he is now at this stage of his career. He is finished. It is now unlikely that he will find any additional minutes in what is left of Nigeria's participation at this 2019 AFCON. It is a sad end to an erstwhile decorative Nigerian career.
As for Manager Gernot Rohr, he is now hanging on a thin string. This result will find no friends among his bosses at the federation. It was an embarrassment that was totally unexpected. While it is easy to blame the loss on his decision to bench some starters, the reality is that Nigeria, even with a totally changed team, was the overwhelming favorite. Nigeria had the players with the foreign club profile that is so highly touted in Africa. Even Rohr has touted that in selecting his squad. But today he team was outplayed by an opponent who had players at nondescript professional locales.
Ratings:
Ike Ezenwa (1) -- 6.0 -- Ezenwa made one save that prevented Nigeria from going down three goals and it is hard to assign him blame for any of the two Malagasy goals.
Chidozie Awaziem (20) -- 6.2 -- Awaziem was quite average, just like several other Nigerian players, on the day but he is accumulating fouls at a quick pace at this AFCON. Today was more of the same.
William Ekong (5) -- 6.3 -- Ekong kept it simple at the back but that isn't saying much. In the air, he easily dominated his man.
Leon Balogun (6) -- 5.8 -- Although Leon recovered to put in a decent shift in the second half, his failure to protect the ball was part of the shocking error that led to the opening goal. Then he made yet another error with a shocking pass that goalkeeper Ezenwa rushed out to cut off as an attacker loomed.
Ola Aina (2) -- 6.2 -- This was Aina's weakest game at this AFCON but you cannot blame him for the disastrous result.
Mikel Obi (cpt--10)-- 5.5 -- It was sad to watch the state of Mikel Obi's game. He is now extremely slow and his vaunted ability to protect the ball is a distant memory. It is likely that he may have played his last meaningful minutes at this tournament and as a Super Eagle.
John Ogu (19) -- 5.8 -- Ogu was slow and covered very little ground and recovered very few balls. It was his horrendous pass that led to the opening goal. It was not a surprise that he went off at halftime.
Oghenekaro Etebo (8) -- 6.7 - Etebo worked his socks off but with both Ogu and Mikel Obi literally at lunch, Etebo's efforts did little to overcome the swarming pressure of the Madagascar team. Late in the game, his efforts ended up in wild shots.
Samuel Kalu (17) -- 6.0 -- Kalu was denied space wide as the Madagascar defense shifted quickly to cut off the wide areas where Kalu usually feasts. That mostly rendered him average until he was taken off.
Odion Ighalo (9) -- 6.0 -- Ighalo was starved of service from the middle but his poor touches did not help either. Clearly, Ighalo stayed on for 90 minutes only because the coach had run out of ability to substitute.
Ahmed Musa (7) -- 6.0 -- Musa faded badly in several chunks of the second half as Nigeria chased the game. It clearly was not one of his best days. He suffered from the suffocation of space out wide by the Madagascar defense.
Substitutes
Wilfred Ndidi (4) -- 6.8 -- Ndidi played urgently when he went on and in 45 minutes he clearly put in a better shift than many of Nigeria's players. Unfortunately, he had very little help.
Alex Iwobi (18) -- 6.0 -- Alex had little impact on the game when he came on. None of his passes provided opportunities for Ighalo that could have helped.
Moses Simon (15) -- 5.8 -- Simon was unremarkable and even his corner kicks were subpar. However, he had just 18 minutes to make a difference after he came on for Kalu.
E11, A Question for You..
ReplyDeleteHas Super Eagles under the Current coaches in a Competitive Matches came back from a Goal Down to win a game? If not, not good in my opinion.
The answer is no. They have not won a competitive game after being a goal down under Gernot Rohr. You are correct that the scenario is not good. Failure to pass such a test indicates that the team may not be prepared for adversity.
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