It’s Difficult For African Nations To Win World Cup, Says Odemwingie As Rohr Rates Uzoho Ahead Of Akpeyi, Ezenwa

Nigeria's Super Eagles

Former Super Eagles winger, Peter Osaze Odemwingie has said that it would be difficult for Nigeria and other African teams heading to the 2018 World Cup to lift the trophy.

In this photo taken on November 14, 2017 Nigeria’s German coach Gernot Rohr looks on ahead of an international friendly football match between Argentina and Nigeria in Krasnodar. The 2018 World Cup will take place in Russia from June 14, 2018 until July 15, 2018. / AFP/ Mladen Antonov

The Guardian Nigeria report continues:

None of the five African teams heading to Russia are in the top 20 of FIFA’s world rankings and Odemwingie claims African football has gone backwards.

He spoke with the BBC yesterday on a topic: Will an African team reach semi-finals for first time?

“There’s definitely been a decline,” said the ex-West Brom, Cardiff and Stoke striker, who played at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

“Nigeria had one of the best African squads at the 1994 World Cup. We were knocking on the door. We won the 1996 Olympics by beating Brazil and Argentina with all their stars.

“That period was like, ‘yes, it’s coming’.”

But Nigeria, who will be competing at their sixth finals in Russia, is still waiting along with the rest of Africa.

The three teams to make the quarterfinals – Cameroun (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) – have come from sub-Saharan Africa.

But in Russia, there will be more teams from the north than elsewhere on the continent, including a first appearance in 28 years for Egypt, and a return after 20 years for Morocco.

A number of north African countries have players who learned their trade at academies in Europe, but it is Morocco who arrive at this World Cup with the most foreign-born players – 17 of their 23-man squad were born outside the country.

Odemwingie believes those who play for the north African nations are “more clever” at reading the game and has also noticed a physical difference.

“It’s like Anthony Joshua fighting Floyd Mayweather,” he said on comparing a typical player from sub-Saharan Africa with one from the north.

Rohr Rates Uzoho Ahead Of Akpeyi, Ezenwa At World Cup

FIFA World Cup Trophy

The Guardian Nigeria reports that the debate on who will be Super Eagles goalkeeper when Nigeria takes on Croatia in their Group D opener in Essentuki, Russia, on Saturday, may have been put to rest, following a declaration yesterday by manager Gernot Rohr that the Deportivo de La Coruña youngster, Francis Uzoho was ahead of Chippa United’s Daniel Akpeyi and Enyimba’s Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

Rohr’s declaration came, just as Croatia coach, Zlatko Dalić, said he would line up the best squad to tackle the Eagles in Saturday’s game.

Uzoho has started every single game of the Super Eagles since the beginning of 2018, against Poland, Serbia, DR Congo, England and Czech Republic – and that is not expected to change when the World Cup begins.

Rohr told the German Press Agency yesterday that ‘’I could rely on him, but if I really can, you have to see.’’ He admitted that the young Uzoho would be under a lot of pressure at the World Cup.

‘’It’s going to put a lot of pressure on him, and if he really gets the number one, the last training days will show.

‘’We have three good goalkeepers and the competition is open. At the moment, Francis is a bit ahead of the game,’’ Rohr stated.

According to allnigeriasoccer.com, Uzoho is the second youngest goalkeeper to be included in Nigeria’s squad for the World Cup after Austin Ejide, who was 18 at Korea/Japan 2002.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles opponent in Saturday’s Group D opener, Croatia, flew into Russia yesterday morning.

Speaking to reporters before the squad departed Zagreb’s Franjo Tuman Airport, manager Zlatko Dalić, refused to provide clues about his starting lineup against Nigeria, but stated the best players would be fielded.

‘’We have played four games and we have tried a lot. Now we have to choose the best against Nigeria in five days.

The match with Nigeria is the first and most important one,’’ said Dalic.

‘’I will give the opportunity to the best, neither young nor old, the best, Senegal has shown us all, we have to fix some things. There is no reason to fear any opponent.

‘’I know that there are great expectations, but it will not be easy. We have to be at the best possible level, but I do not doubt our team, we have great players and their quality has to come to fruition.’’

Croatia’s World Cup base camp is located at Ilyichevo, Zelenogorsk, 60 kilometers from St. Petersburg.