Monumental Shock as Nigeria Crashes at home 0-1 to No. 124 Central Africa Republic

Lagos - The shock of a home loss to Central African Republic (CAR) is a deep wound that will take ages to ameliorate. In this World Cup qualifier, no one was expecting Nigeria to share points in any of the scheduled two games against CAR and yet, at home, Nigeria collapsed. Gratefully, they have a few days to rest before red-encountering CAR but this time in Cameroon. Thankfully, the game will be in neighboring Cameroon and not CAR where the crowd would have been rabid and making amend more difficult given the result obtained in Nigeria by CAR.

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The shock of a home loss to Central African Republic (CAR) is a deep wound that will take ages to ameliorate. . . . Gratefully, they have a few days to rest before red-encountering CAR but this time in Cameroon. Thankfully, the game will be in neighboring Cameroon and not CAR where the crowd would have been rabid and making amend more difficult given the result obtained in Nigeria by CAR.

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The unfortunate result demonstrated Gernot Rohr's inability to solve a packed defense that closed out any meaning fully Nigerian attack down the spine. The CAR central defenders dominated the air and massed on top of their box as they fended any attack generated by the home team. To make matters worse, Nigeria generated very little opportunities, surprisingly, in the opening half. This was clearly demonstrated when one of the few notable opportunities was a 20 yard strike, opportunistic at best, by Osimhen midway in the opening half. In the wide areas, the Central Africans easily dealt with crosses from wide. But even such crosses were few and far between with Ejuke choosing mostly to cut in from wide and Collins offering nothing going forward. It harkens back to Manager Gernot Rohr who had told Nigerians that he was not going to change his system for any one when asked about varying his method for the masterful header of the ball -- Paul Onuachu. Yet, on this day, it came back to haunt Rohr.

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It harkens back to Manager Gernot Rohr who had told Nigerians that he was not going to change his system for any one when asked about varying his method for the masterful header of the ball -- Paul Onuachu. Yet, on this day, it came back to haunt Rohr.

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But Rohr did recognize what needed to be done when he sent on the tall Awoniyi early in the second half with Onuachu unavailable because of injury. But did Rohr then change the tactics? No. It made one wonder what was the thinking of sending Awoniyi in? But truthfully, the Nigerians did become more inventive at the start of the second half. They upped the energy and the quest. Rohr called in the old veteran Ahmed Musa and also pushed on Samuel Kalu but all were in vain. Nigeria did have mo0re opportunities to be certain but none was anywhere near as clear as had been envisaged.

CAR, sensing Nigeria was ripe to be taken, dared to try the unthinkable. They attacked! They had put the ball in the net in the opening half but an obvious foul on Jamilu ruled that opportunity out. But yet, thy had another opportunity. This time it came late. With a minute left in regulation time, a ball dropped with two Nigerian defenders against a sole CAR attacker. Somewhat, Balogun failed with an attempted header out of danger and the CAR attacker  easily shot into the gaping net past goalkeeper Uzoho. But it had not been CAR's lone chance. Beyond the disallowed goal, Uzoho had masterfully prevented another midway in the second half.

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CAR, sensing Nigeria was ripe to be taken, dared to try the unthinkable. They attacked! They had put the ball in the net in the opening half but an obvious foul on Jamilu ruled that opportunity out. But yet, thy had another opportunity. This time it came late. With a minute left in regulation time, a ball dropped with two Nigerian defenders against a sole CAR attacker. Somewhat, Balogun failed with an attempted header out of danger and the CAR attacker  easily shot into the gaping net past goalkeeper Uzoho

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Ultimately, this was a game that Nigeria for all its vaunted European talents should have won going away. It dominated play but failed to really present a constant danger to score at home. That the fans turned against Nigeria with the "Eh, Eh, Oooo, ooo" was a sign of disappointment. It was a result of shocking proportion but there is a chance to make amends in Cameroon just a few days from today.

LINE UP

Francis Uzoho (23) -- 6.2 -- He made a single save to keep hope alive and could not be faulted for the deciding goal. In reality, he had little to do for much of the day.

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Ola Aina (2) -- 6.4 -- Aina had a solid game. Of the defenders, he seemed far more awake on a day when the team did not sense a CAR capable challenge.

William Ekong (cpt-5) --6.0 -- He had his usual game. Unspectacular but effective. Although, he attempted some dangerous movements with the ball deep in his own half when a simple pass would suffice.

Leon Balogun (6) -- 6.0 -- His days with the national tase will likely be examined in the days to come. Good or bad? The fact is that his failure to head a ball out of danger gifted CAR with the goal and three points.

Jamilu Collins (3) -- 6.0 --I wonder if he was sleep walking most of the game. He certainly provided very little going forward and seemed out of synch working alongside Ejike on the left.

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Frank Onyeka (4) -- 6.5 -- There was genuine concern about his readiness to deputize for the injured Ndidi. He did quite well with his presence and he was smooth going forward with the ball when the occasion called for it.

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Moses Simon (15) -- 6.3 -- Simon played relatively well but not as well as we have seen him play,. His set pieces were quite uneven and no one missed him when he was sent to the showers.

Joseph Aribo (10)-- 6.2 -- H seems increasing able to adjust to the African game and the physical contact but those challenges went a notch up today and eventually he had to be relieved.

Kelechi Iheanacho (14) -- 6.4 -- Kelechi was active early and suffered several fouls. That he was eventually taken off was more due to tactical change than anything else beyond his injuries.

Chidera Ejuke (11) -- 6.2 -- Today, his game came down a notch. His penchant for cutting in from the flanks played right into the hands of the CAR defenders who stoutly protected the spine.

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Victor Osimhen (9) -- 6.4 -- No one can fault Victor for his effort. However, he had very few opportunities until the second half when a second striker was brought on. Unfortunately, it was not his day and it was a day of half chances.

Subs

Taiwo Awoniyi (13) -- 6.2 -- He had two opportunities and his entrance brought the energy to the attack but unfortunately none of those ended up being fruitful.

Samuel Kalu (17) -- 6.0 -- Kalu brought some energy but his sole chance came after he outwitted two defenders only to see his attempt easily saved by the goalie as the game died.

Ahmed Musa (7) -- 6.0 -- Ahmed was thrown into the game to energuize the team and he did stamp his presence on the game but little else.