After a promising start, is it too soon to say whether the German coach can match the Big Boss’s achievements
Gernot Rohr has only just begun to make his impact felt as Super Eagles head coach, but already, his impressive results have prompted comparisons with some of his finest predecessors, and few loom larger in Nigeria’s collective psyche than the legendary Stephen Keshi.
Keshi’s legacy as coach—and notably his successes—may be brief, but he was responsible for some unforgettable landmarks. Following his achievements with Togo and Mali, he, momentarily, placed the Super Eagles at the pinnacle of Africa, and then emulated the nation’s finest ever World Cup appearance by guiding them to the Last 16 in Brazil in 2014.
As Keshi did before him, Rohr has got the Super Eagles getting positive results, but if he is to emulate the Big Boss’s successes, he’ll surely have to take a different route from the Nigeria legend, who was once his rival for the Burkina Faso job.
Unlike Keshi, for example, Rohr is having to tackle the rigours of a World Cup qualifying campaign before a Nations Cup.
Similarly, while Keshi often prioritised substance over style—focusing on getting the result rather, perhaps, than enthralling supporters—Rohr has already laid down a playing blueprint for his team.
Under the German, Nigeria have played on the front foot with the liberty to display their various different abilities to the fullest while gunning for the valuable points.
While Keshi frowned at Ikechukwu Uche’s silky skills, flicks and tricks—coming in contrast to the fans who adored seeing such flair—his successor has shown he’s not afraid to try new things to see off opponents.
Additionally, Keshi’s rigidity remained intact both tactically and in terms of his playing staff.
Even at their lows, the core of his Nations Cup-winning squad still had his trust, and were repeatedly given opportunities to right their wrongs.
On this point, we’re yet to know exactly how Rohr would respond to a sub-par spell. Would he keep faith with his favoured players as Keshi did, or would he be more ruthless than his predecessor and seek new solutions?
The evidence so far suggests that he’s willing to assess different options in order to find the right solution, and wasn’t slow to change the team that beat Zambia as he sought a more convincing performance.
Either way, considering his track record, don’t expect Rohr and the Nigerian media—or the NFF for that matter—to stay the best of friends forever!
His reaction when things do not go his way might just bring back not too fond memories of the late coach.
Rohr may not get the opportunity to secure an early Afcon success as Keshi did due to the failures of previous regimes, but there’s little doubt that if he retains his recent form, his side won’t be able to enjoy the ‘Dark Horses of Africa’ tag that the Big Boss’s XI once did.
By the Nations Cup in 2019 in Cameroon—and perhaps the 2018 World Cup before that—his men should be at the same level—or beyond—Keshi’s 2013 generation and the all-conquering 1994 crop.
Rohr certainly has the players to eclipse the late Big Boss, now it’s down to him!
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