Anger, Disappointment Trail S’Eagles’ Benin Misadventure

It was supposed to be a grand event, a match that would have put the Super Eagles within a touching distance of the ticket to the next African Cup of Nations scheduled for 2022 and a celebration of the reopening of the refurbished Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City.
When the Super Eagles appeared to be in their elements and pumped four goals beyond the visiting Leone Stars of Sierra Leone within thirty minutes of the game, there was a sense of déjà vu within the fan-less terraces and the Nigerian bench.
Indeed, when the Leone stars pulled one goal back off Samuel Chukwueze’s error in the 42nd minute, the ominous signs of calamity were not palpable and went unheeded.
In an astounding turn of events in the second half, the Nigerian team collapsed disastrously as the wheels came off their cart. The Leone Stars happily took advantage of the Eagles vapid performance to bring the famous miracle of Damman by Nigeria’s Flying Eagles of 1989 to Benin City as the visitors rallied to draw level from almost a hopeless position.
At the final whistle, it was obvious that the Nigerian team had not only missed an opportunity to establish a commanding lead in their Group but had disappointed millions of Nigerians as they flattered to deceive in the match.
Benin fans, most of who followed the match on television ran to the stadium in despair and in demonstration of their anger literally held the Eagles hostage by preventing them from leaving the stadium. Calls for the immediate sack of coach Gernot Rohr and the dropping of some members of the team rented the air
According to some fans, Rohr has over time proven to be deficient tactically and technically as he failed to react effectively to the sloppiness that marked Super Eagles second half performance.
“ Gernot Rohr is not a coach, he is a scam, the NFF should sack him immediately if we are not going to witness a more damaging disgrace”, said Bright Ogunbor, a football fan.
According to Osazuwa Idehen, another Benin football fan, “ One cannot fathom the criteria used to invite players to the national team, even the ones invited, the coach couldn’t use them effectively, I swear that any of our local teams could have beaten this Sierra Leonean team. They have just succeeded in wasting money to invite all these so called foreign-based players
‘ I am pained because they just desecrated our new stadium”
Speaking to news men post match, Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, President, Amaju Pinnick described the 4-4 draw as the worst result he has seen in his life. “I will say it the way it is in my heart and the heart of many Nigerians, the truth is that we can’t be leading 4-0 to Sierra Leone and concede four goals for no reason, there is no reason. Since I became the president of NFF, this is the worst result I have seen in my life and in the next few days I wonder how I’m going to sleep”, he said

By: Gabriel Nwanetanya