Rohr Praises Uzoho, Idowu For ‘Fantastic’ Debuts; We’re Not Going To Russia As Spectators, Says Dalung

Nigeria’s players celebrate the team’s second goal during an international friendly football match between Argentina and Nigeria in Krasnodar on November 14, 2017. Mladen Antonov / AFP

●Sampaoli blames wastefulness for Argentina’s defeat

Super Eagles’ Coach, Gernot Rohr has singled out the duo of goalkeeper Francis Odinaka Uzoho and Brian Idowu for special praise in Nigeria’s 4-2 win over Argentina in a pre-World Cup friendly.

The Guardian Nigeria report continues:

Speaking after the game, Rohr, who handed debut to the duo, rated them as two players, who really impressed him during the match, which saw Nigeria recovering from two goals down to win 4-2.

Idowu scored on his debut after coming on for Ola Aina, while Uzoho ensured Nigeria didn’t concede again when he replaced Akpeyi, who conceded both goals.

“Brian is a newcomer in the team, but he’s not the only one. We have three new players, and I would like to highlight our 19-year-old goalkeeper Uzoho. He played well. Such matches are specially designed so that we can assess new players in the team. We have three players who have a special relationship with Russia.

“We have Ahmed Musa and the captain (Mikel Obi) of the team. He has a connection here through the family. Brian played well, scored a goal. His prospects depend on how he will perform at the club. His debut, I am happy. On his position we have other options, so who will pick who plays better, he will be involved in the fight,” he said.

Also speaking after the match, Amkar Perm defender, Idowu said scoring on his debut for Nigeria gave him a wonderful feeling, just as he revealed that several Super Eagles players have been asking him questions about Russia.

Eight minutes after coming off the bench, Idowu scored to give Nigeria a lead for the first time in the match against Argentina.

“It is clear, I felt normal, the third match at this stadium. Everyone was surprised if this stadium is a World Cup venue. I said no. Everyone was shocked. But I explained that the matches of the mundial will be held in Sochi,” Idowu told reporters at the post-match conference, including Sport Express.

“They asked me questions related to whether the soup is Russian, whether it is Russian salad, how to say “good morning”, “thank you”.

“The atmosphere is very positive, and I am glad that it turned out to be a successful debut,” he enthused.

Meanwhile, Argentina Coach, Jorge Sampaoli has blamed his side’s 2-4 defeat to the number of chances it wasted after going two goals up.

Sampaoli’s side squandered a two-goal lead to lose 2-4 as Nigeria rallied back with a strong showing in the second half of the encounter meant to prepare both teams for the World Cup in Russia.

The coach said, “I do not think it’s hard to explain. We played in the first half well… in the second we tried to play more in attack. It happens with all the teams. Nigeria had many good moments, but we defended well, and I think that we just did not realize our moments. There were many passes which we couldn’t use.”

We’re Not Going To Russia As Spectators, Says Dalung

The Guardian Nigeria reports Youth and Sports Development Minister, Solomon Dalong ‎has declared that Nigeria will go to the Russia 2018 World Cup as a strong contender and not as a spectator.

Still basking in the euphoria of Super Eagles’ 4-2 victory over the Argenti‎na national team in a friendly on Tuesday night, Dalung yesterday boasted that the nation was going to the World Cup in Russia to make a statement, just as he urged opponents to ‘watch out for the new Nigerian soccer.’

Briefing State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) ‎meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister ascribed the Eagles’ victory to the unity of purpose which, he said, inspired the players to stun the two-time former World Cup winners by recovering from two goals down to win 4-2 in Krasnodar on Tuesday.

He said, “We engaged the team to test, and from what happened yesterday (Tuesday), there is no doubt that Nigeria has made a statement.

“The joy of it all is that there is a unity of purpose among the administrators, our players are in high spirit and they are prepared to make Nigeria proud.

“This victory couldn’t have been possible if there was no consensus of all the stakeholders in the football family. When I talk about stakeholders, I am looking at the football fans, I am looking at the media,‎ private sector, the government, partners and the promoters.”

Dalung assured that the 2018 World Cup trophy will ‎be heading towards Nigeria, with the sustained hard work on the part of all and sundry to make the nation proud.

He added that he was in the State H‎ouse to officially inform Council that Nigeria has qualified for the World Cup, Russia 2018 having completed its match with Algeria and rounded up all of its competitions without losing any match in the entire campaign.