Dutch manager Jo Bonfrere has taken a swipe at the head coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr for putting together a dull team despite boasting an array of talented players.
Rohr has led Nigeria to only nine defeats in his 44 matches in charge, but former South Korea coach Bonfrere is not impressed with his colleague’s tactics and strategies.
Bonfrere knows quite a bit about nurturing successful sides for Nigeria, having led the country’s Dream Team to the 1996 Summer Olympics gold medal in Atlanta, Georgia.
He was also the gaffer when Nigeria co-hosted the 2000 African Cup of Nations with neighbours Ghana. The Nigerian team reached the finals but lost on penalties to winners Cameroon.
Rohr, though, has handled the Super Eagles since 2016, leading the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 AFCON, where his side finished in third place.
The German tactician has several exciting forwards in his squad, including Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze, Lille’s Victor Osimhen, Everton’s Alex Iwobi, Bordeaux’s Samuel Kalu and Nantes Moses Simon among many others.
But 73-year-old Bonfrere is concerned that the three-time African champions are being set up to play defensively despite being blessed with several attacking options.
“Under the coach (Rohr), the Eagles have not done well,” Bonfrere told Sports Extra.
“There haven’t been any good team tactics or team play despite having in their ranks exciting players.
“The way Nigeria have played lately is with much defensive tactics, and it’s boring to watch, which is not good enough. They haven’t really improved.”
Rohr is in his last three months of his current contract with the Super Eagles, and he is yet to be offered a new deal despite expressing his desire to continue with the team.
