SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has detailed his tactics that got the team victory over Central African Republic on Sunday.
Rohr’s side defeated Central African Republic 2-0 in Douala, Cameroon on Sunday to avenge their shock 1-0 loss to the same team three days earlier in Lagos.
Leon Balogun and Victor Osimhen scored on Sunday to restore some pride to the three-time African champions, and Rohr was pleased with the performance.
”It was good reaction from my team. We were unlucky when we lost the other day, conceding in the last minute and everybody wanted to take revenge,” Rohr said in his post-match interview.
“They (the Super Eagles) did very well and we could have scored a third or fourth goal.”The German gave an insight into the tweak he made that resulted in the victory.“We changed the system; we played with three at the back and I think it helped us,” Rohr explained.
“Also the leadership of Musa was key to win this game.”
Musa won his 100th Super Eagles cap during the match and became only the third Nigeria international to reach that milestone after Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama.
Rohr admitted that the hosts put up a brave and physical fight despite their defeat.“It was not easy to beat Central African Republic, we saw it,” he added.
“They made a lot of fouls but fortunately we don’t have any big injury. Now we can prepare for the next games in November with calmness and I hope everything will be fine at the end of the day.”
The Super Eagles received heavy criticism from disappointed Nigerians after Thursday’s defeat, but Rohr was grateful for the fans’ backing.
”Nobody was in the stadium (in Douala) but our fans who watched on TV, thanks for your support all the time. We have a young team that can make mistakes like it happened the other day but they never give up.”
The Super Eagles lead African qualifying Group C with nine points from four matches but Cape Verde are on their tails after a narrow win over Liberia in Mindelo also on Sunday.
Ryan Mendes scored in the 90th minute to give hosts Cape Verde the three points, which took their tally to seven points.
They had beaten Liberia twice in three days with late goals in each fixture.
Central African Republic have four points, while Liberia have three.The qualifying campaign resumes in November when the Super Eagles travel to Liberia.
