DIFFERENT STROKES OF TENSION AND RELAXATION, AS NIGERIA AND CAMEROON FACE OFF IN TITANIC CONTEST

Gernot Rohr

Nigeria and Cameroon could not be any more different in outlook heading into Saturday’s titanic round of 16 clash at the Alexandria Stadium in Egypt.

Friday’s pre-match press conference represented a marked contrast in styles for both sides on the eve of the game.

Nigeria’s Gernot Rohr, doing his best to stay calm and jocular even as he admitted his job was on the line

“What I have heard is that even if we win the cup, my job is not safe,” he said with the slightest hint of a forced laugh.

Beside him was a serious William Troost-Ekong in a serious-visaged exhortation of his teammates “Any player who needs to be motivated for a game like this does not have the right mentality,” he said.

Contrast with the relaxed mien of Clarence Seedorf, who looked so relaxed as he fielded questions that Cameroon journalists were left bristling. 

“I was even more relaxed than this before I played in the Champions League Finals that I won,” he said in response to a very passionate-sounding Cameroonian journalist who seemed upset to see him so loose. “It is not about being too serious. But about having the right balance between focus and relaxation. We don’t have to remind the players because we have a very intelligent group of players here.”

Goalkeeper Andre Onana, taking a cue from his boss, sat next to him, chuckling and smiling his way through the press conference like an excited kid 

“I’m born ready,” he quipped, his eyes lighting up when asked about how prepared he was for the game.

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CRTV Journalist Njie Enow was not amused

“How can he be so relaxed. He is not being serious enough with the players and that concerns me and everyone other Cameroonian here.

“The former coach had a go at Christian Bassogog in public because he was not being serious and that helped him. But Seedorf is almost playing around.”

He would have been thrilled at Rohr’s approach then. The players were sequestered from media and fans in the two days leading up to the match. Rest time was strictly observed, and unlike in the days during the group stages, players were not even allowed to lounge around in the hotel.

One day was allowed for media interaction and interviews, but after that, it was closed house. Open training was restricted to two 15-minute sessions as the team focused on the task at hand.

Troost-Ekong acknowledged that Cameroon would be fired up for the game after their World Cup qualifying loss to Nigeria, but said that the Super Eagles were smarting from that giveaway loss to Madagascar and were looking to make amends

“Nobody was happy about that game. But we know that we have to make up for it in the next one and that is just what it is.”

One thing both teams have in common is their inability to score goals. Both coaches acknowledge the problems

“We have to create chances,” said Rohr. “We have good players who can score. But we have to put them in good position so they can score.”

Seedorf could have been copying from Rohr’s playbook

“It’s not so much about scoring but the things you do before. Our decisions in the last part o the field is something we need to improve. We need to continue as a team too try to create chances. We have the quality to score.”

Captain John Mikel Obi has been ruled out with injury and was seen at Friday’s training with his right need heavily strapped in ice. Shehu Abdullah is also not ready to return yet but Rohr said there was good news about left back Jamilu Collins

“He can play now, but I don’t know if he is ready to start.”

On a final note for Rohr, the lesson of humility that was handed down by Madagascar would play a key role in the approach to Saturday’s game

“It was a lesson of humility for the players, for the coaches and even for the fans too,” he said.

And for Seedorf, it is a game that could go either way

“We have to demonstrate that we are the better team and win. But if Nigeria prove to be the better team and win, we will congratulate them.”

FIVE SUPER EAGLES PLAYERS WHO STOOD OUT IN THE FIRST ROUND

Kenneth Omeruo has been outstanding so far for the Super Eagles in Egypt

So the Super Eagles bombed, badly, in their final group match against Madagascar. Old news. But one that will be talked about for a long time, especially if they do not beat Cameroon on Saturday and advance to the quarterfinals.

It was a bad time to lose, after a good start where they made two wins in two for the first time in 13 years. But all the talk since has been on the loss side, with most of the positives all but forgotten.

But there have been more than a few. Like how many players shone brightly in those games, even during that loss.

As we get ready to dive into the round of 16, let us take a look at the top five players who have excelled for Nigeria so far

KENNETH OMERUO

He played only those first two games, rested by Gernot Rohr for that flawed third, but by Jove, what a tournament he is having!

Actually, he started during the qualifiers. Omeruo has been imperious in defence, not only succeeding in breaking up the Oyibo Wall, but making himself just about the first choice in defence. 

And he has proved that he deserves it. The Leganes man missed a header against Burundi that was as close a shave as anyone could get. And then he guided in a header against Guinea for his first ever international goal.

It is a sign of how his form has ticked up that he can afford to go that high up the pitch and also play the ball out of defense with confidence.

If he keeps up this form, there is no telling how far the Super Eagles can go.

OLA AINA

Who can forget that assist? My word!

The dejavu-inspired goosebumps it brought as it threw back to the goal scored by Ben Iroha in 1994, also from a similar backheel. This time, from Austin Okocha. Aina must have been preening.

This is shaping up to be the tournament of breakout defenders for the Super Eagles. Left out of the Nigeria World Cup squad, Aina must have been relieved when he was finally named on the Nations Cup roster.

But even he did not expect to start with Shehu Abdullah the regular right back and Jamilu Collins the regular on the opposite flank.

But it would appear that the former Chelsea man was just waiting for an opportunity to come. Come it did when Collins picked up an injury and Aina was thrown in, he absolutely killed it. He was a monstrosity in the first game, looked great in the second, and even in the train wreck that was the third, was one of three players who come out smelling of roses. 

How Gernot Rohr will find a way to fit in Jamilu when he returns from injury is one headache the German will be happy to have.

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OGHENEKARO ETEBO

Nigeria’s own Energizer Bunny keeps showing exactly why he is such a valuable asset to this national team. Etebo brings energy, dynamism and the lungs of a horse to the midfield. He can play as both an attacking midfielder and and a defensive midfielder. And the team’s transition and pressing game - when they do press - pivots around him and his lung-bursting abilities.

Against Guinea, his destructive coverage of Naby Keita was key to disrupting the Guineans rhythm and against Madagascar, he did the job of three people in the midfield for the better part of the game.

Hard to find a more industrious worker in that squad.

AHMED MUSA

Musa’s quality has never been in doubt, neither has his devotion to the cause of battle. And with Nigeria struggling against Madagsacar, the assistant captain led by example. He ran himself ragged, chased after balls, swapped wings and even dropped deep to pick up balls when service was not forthcoming. It is a shame his efforts did not result in a goal.

But his attitude is always spot on and he can always be found in and around the goal area, threatening with his pace and looking dangerous with his efforts from both inside and outside the box.

Although he is yet to score - Ighalo’s decision to go for goal rather than square the ball to him a factor there - Musa remains has shone and shown that he will continue to be a potential decider for Nigeria going forward.

WILFRED NDIDI

If Etebo is the Energizer Bunny, Ndidi is the street-fighter in that midfield. Between them, they shut out two teams. Without them, the Super eagles midfield looked every bit as strong as rotting tomatoes.

Ndidi lets nothing get by him, and this tournament, has been even more aggressive in his tackling and interceptions.

As if that was not enough he has found himself venturing into the opposition box to create shooting opportunities, like he did in turning on a dime inside the Madagascar box and shooting at goal. A few millimeters left or right of goal and that would have been 2-1 with more than a healthy few minutes to play, which would have given the Super Eagles a chance at clawing back a draw.

These are our top five Super Eagles players from the group phase. Is there anyone that deserves to be here that is not? Let us know.

Next up will be the top three players who can make a difference against Cameroon and maybe even further.

ROHR SAYS MADAGASCAR HAS TAUGHT SUPER EAGLES HUMILITY

MIKEL OUT FOR A WEEK AFTER INJURY

Mikel is out of at least Nigeria's round of 16 game

Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi is likely to miss Nigeria's round of 16 game at the Africa Cup of Nations after suffering a knee injury in Sunday\s shock loss to Madagascar.

The midfielder missed recovery training on Monday morning with a swelling in the knee and is now expected to be out for at least a week

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"He has hematoma in the knee," Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr said. "We don't know how soon he can again play but we wait for the medical team."

Mikel on Sunday night signed a two year deal to join Turkish club Trabzonspor with an option for a third year. His new employers will be looking on with some concern.

SEE WHO PLAYED THE WORST, AS MADAGASCAR STUN NIGERIA

Oghenekaro Etebo was the standout player on an afternoon of forgettable performances

An afternoon of woebegone performances by Nigeria saw the Super Eagles succumb to a 0-2 defeat against Madagascar. 

Lailana Nomenjanahary pounced on Leon Balogun’s defensive mistake to round Ikechukwu Ezenwa in the first half, and Carolus Andriamatsinoro finished off the more higher rated Nigerians when his freekickmtook a heavy deflection;off Nigeria substitute Wilfred Ndidi and sailed past Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

There were precious few displays to give credit to and we do our best 

EZENWA 4

Not very much he could do about the first goal, and short of growing an extra couple of inches Same with the second.

Beyond that, he was hardly ever tested although he did have to make a low reaction save from a scramble that followed a corner kick.

AWAZIEM 5

Was given a bit of a bother by Carolus for most of the game but offered the major attacking outlet on the right little. When he did peel forward, barely got any service and delivered only a few crossed balls

AINA 6

One of the few who came away with any sort of credit from the train wreck that was the Alexandria night. Stayed strong in his tackling, and looked a danger helping out in attack. Infact, almost created one good opportunity.

TROOST-EKONG 5

Held his own strongly in defence, but also had his moments of nervous uncertainty on occasion. Lost his man on the second goal, forcing Ndidi into a tackle that led to the fatal freekick.

BALOGUN 5

Guilty in the second phase of the error that led to the opening goal. Almost caused a second with a back pass but from then on, kept his head about him as he tried to shake off the mistake. Beaten in the air from a cornerkick close to the hour that almost led to a third goal but overall, reacted well to making a mistake

OGU 4

Even he will be wondering how quickly he can forget this game. Looked invisible for most of his time on the pitch. Responsible for the first goal with a high risk pass to Balogun under next to no pressure.

ETEBO 7

Another one to emerge out of all this with some of his dignity intact. Ran himself aground tracking players, making tackles, and trying to win second balls. The Stoke man was a major reason this stayed respectable and he kept the midfield going when the other two went AWOL. Man of the Match.

MIKEL OBI 4

A poor display from the skipper. Looked off the pace, misplaced his passes, mistimed tackles and just lost the ball uncharacteristically. In fact, the less said the better.

MUSA 6

The last of the trio who acquitted themselves well on the day. Musa tried to win the game on his own, switched wings, took players on, dropped deep and had at least one chance to score which he ruined by taking one touch too many. 

KALU 4

He may have been passed medically fit to play, but Kalu played like a man with one eye on his medical report. Lacked his usual verve and even his take-ons were tentative and lacking in spark.

IGHALO 4

Bad day at the office for him. Totally shut down by Pascal Razakanantenaina. His first touch deserted him and he never quite found his way back into the game.

SUBS

NDIDI 5

Brought some much-needed energy back into the middle, not to mention assistance for the overworked Etebo. But was guilty of recklessly giving away the free kick that led to the second goal. Almost made amends when he turned inside thebox and let off a left footer, only to see it go straight to the keeper.

IWOBI 4

Added a bit more spark and drive after coming in for Mikel, but by then the damage had been done and there was little he could do to shake the confidence of the Madagascans.

SIMON

Not enough to earn a rating