Complacency Nigeria’s greatest threat on road to Russia

Gernot Rohr is enjoying a perfect start to life as Super Eagles boss, but he must improve his side's defence urgently.
Two games into the World Cup qualifying campaign, and the Super Eagles are sitting pretty at the top of Group B, the supposed 'Group of Death'.


Everyone is basking in the euphoria of being four points ahead of nearest challengers Cameroon after the defeat of Algeria at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday took the Super Eagles to six points from two games.
Cameroon could only draw against Zambia in Limbe which, following on from their stalemate with Algeria in their opener, leaves them in second place on two points.


Following the delightful—and somewhat unexpected—win by the Super Eagles, many people have had their say—especially on social media—with many offering unconditional support for Gernot Rohr, whose short tenure to date has seen the players play with the sort of verve and attacking vibrancy that Nigerians have desired for years.

However, irrespective of the fact that maximum points have been accrued from the first two qualifying games, the displays have been characterized by defensive mistakes…something which should be alarming for Eagles supporters.
The team’s soft underbelly will worry Rohr, who has his work cut out if he is to make the defence play as a unit.

At times, the Algerians cut through the Nigerian defence like a hot knife through butter, and the defensive display could have undermined the collective performance of the side.
The Super Eagles had the Algerians’ profligacy to thank for not succumbing to an undesirable result at home, and ultimately, the three points may mask that weakness, however, the defensive frailties were noticeable in the opening game of the qualifying series against the Chipolopolo of Zambia in Ndola as well.



On that occasion, the defence had the outstanding Wolverhampton Wanderers stopper Carl Ikeme to thank for letting them off the hook with a series of fine saves in a man-of-the-match display to deny the Copper Bullets and win the three points for his country.
However, Ikeme can’t be expected to deliver these kinds of heroics on a consistent basis!