Afrigather Nigeria fell to a disastrous 2-1 defeat to the Benin Republic contained in the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Monday to go away their World Cup hopes hanging.
Raphael Onyedika broke the impasse within the twenty eighth minute for the Eagles however the Cheetahs struck again twice earlier than the top of the half to seal a memorable victory over their West African neighbours.
Soccernet.ng‘s Imhons Erons seems to be on the key takeaways from the disappointing defeat.
1. The NFF mustn’t have sacked Rohr
Since Rohr was relieved of his duties in December 2021, the Tremendous Eagles have didn’t carry the AFCON twice and didn’t qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Rohr, on Monday, led the Benin Republic to register their first senior win in worldwide soccer over Nigeria. The German’s Cheetahs appeared fitter, extra organised, and extra decided than Finidi’s Eagles.
Now, Benin is best positioned to be on the subsequent Mundial than Nigeria.
Rohr final certified Nigeria for the World Cup in 2018. Augustine Eguavoen failed to duplicate that success in 2022 and it seems that Finidi won’t be able to match the German’s feat, both.
Nigeria would in all probability have received as we speak’s match if Rohr had been within the Tremendous Eagles’ dugout and never Benin’s.
2. Finidi arrange the Eagles to fail within the first half
Finidi appeared to study no lesson from Nigeria’s loss towards South Africa final week as he once more arrange an imbalanced crew versus Benin.
The Tremendous Eagles coach deployed three gamers of their unnatural positions.
Fenerbahce right-back Vibrant Osayi-Samuel was given the left-back function. Centre-back Benjamin Tanimu performed as a right-back whereas left-back Calvin Bassey was deployed once more as a centre-back.
It didn’t work towards South Africa and it failed once more towards Benin. Finidi reverted to manufacturing facility settings at the beginning of the second half by which period Benin had wrecked most harm.
3. Calvin Bassey shouldn’t be a centre-back
For emphasis let me repeat, Calvin Bassey shouldn’t be a centre-back!
That experiment of changing him from a left-back to a centre-back began at Rangers however it failed woefully at Ajax.
Marco Silva has caught with it at Fulham however even Peseiro realized Bassey shouldn’t be a centre-back and solely performed him there as one-third of a three-man centre-back system.
Finidi partnered Bassey with Semi Ajayi towards South Africa and Benin and Nigeria conceded three objectives in two video games.
Bassey is a wonderful left-back and never certainly one of Nigeria’s finest centre-backs. Olisa Ndah, Kenneth Omeruo, and even Tanimu would do a greater job on the coronary heart of the defence than Bassey.
And this isn’t even due to his mistake that led to Benin’s equaliser.
4. Nigeria’s worst efficiency towards Benin
That was the primary time Nigeria had ever conceded two objectives in 17 video games towards Benin throughout 47 years, ranging from a 7-0 triumph in February 1977.
In 14 earlier video games towards the Beninoise, Nigeria boasted an unbelievable document of 12 wins and two attracts. Even the CHAN Eagles didn’t ship two objectives in two outings versus Benin.
Thanks to teach Finidi Geroge and his not-so-Tremendous Eagles, a loss has been added to the Nigerian slate. Sadly, it comes in the course of the World Cup qualifier and never a world pleasant.
5. Nigeria will NOT qualify for the 2026 World Cup
The Tremendous Eagles have three factors from 4 matches and at the moment are 4 factors adrift of Benin Republic, who climbed to the highest of Group C after their unbelievable win in Abidjan.
Nigeria will stay fifth within the group and will slip to the basement of the pile, ought to Zimbabwe win their match.
It’s Nigeria’s worst run ever in the course of the qualifying marketing campaign for the World Cup, with the Tremendous Eagles now and not using a win in any of their final seven video games within the collection – recording six attracts and one defeat.
That type is for a crew not able to compete with the perfect nations on the Mundial. Until one thing dramatic occurs within the following months, Nigerians mustn’t anticipate to see the Eagles on the showpiece to be co-hosted by america, Canada, and Mexico.
NB: What are your takeaways from the match? Depart them within the remark part beneath.
