By Ifeanyi Eduzor
With few days to the commencement of the 2019 Nations Cup in Egypt, former Technical Director of Nigeria Football Federation, Coach Tunde Disu (OFR) has advised the Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr to ensure there is a playmaker in his team as that is the only way the country’s dream of winning the continental championship for a record fourth time could be achieved.
In an exclusive interview with The Nigerian Xpress Sports, the one time national team handler, noted that the 30-man provisional list released by the Franco- German tactician is solid as it contains most of the country’s regulars and some new discoveries.
Disu was however quick to add that Rohr must build his team around a playmaker with a special responsibility…that of creating goal scoring chances and stabilizing the team.
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“The 30-man provisional list released few weeks ago by Gernot Rohr is a good one because it contains most of the country’s regulars and some new discoveries made by the coach. They are all doing well in their various clubs… I believe they have what it takes to deliver in Egypt.
But my only worry is for Rohr to ensure there is a playmaker in his final 18 man list. It’s the duty of the playmaker to turn the fortune of the team around and create goal scoring chances in difficult situations. When you look at modern football, for any team to successful, it must have a player it relies on to break the deadlock.
Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu were doing it for us before they retired from active football. At the club level, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are presently doing the same for their various clubsides and that is what we exactly need in the Super Eagles for a successful outing in Egypt,” Disu said.
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The former Flying Eagles Coach who was made popular by the Daman miracle of 1989 stressed that for Eagles to go all the way in Egypt, the players and coaching crew must take every game serious and avoid giving unnecessary respect to any of their opponents both at the Group stage and the knock-out stages.
“Eagles must avoid underrating any of their opponents. Some people are already talking about our not being in a difficult group. I don’t subscribe to that. They must approach all games with seriousness as that is the only way they can realize their ambition of being African champions once again.”
He warned that the duo of tournament debutants Madagascar and Burundi who the Eagles face in Group B alongside Guinea, would be coming to Egypt to prove a point.
“There is need for the Eagles to take their Group matches serious because there are no more minnows in African football. All the teams that qualified for the AFCON finals are capable of lifting the trophy and there are bound to be upsets. They should also be mindful of the Syli Stars of Guinea who are not new comers to African football.”