Jo Bonfrere has picked out Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr for criticism in the aftermath of the team’s shock 2-0 defeat to AFCON finals debutants, Madagascar, in Alexandria on Sunday.
The footballing world was taken aback on Sunday when two goals, one on either half of the game, condemned the Super Eagles to a shameful defeat at the ongoing AFCON 2019 and ensured the Indian Ocean Island nation recorded their biggest win on the African continent to finish top of the Group B table.
“You don’t score goal when you don’t play well,” Bonfrere said.
“A coach should teach his players how to play, create chances and how to score goals.
“You don’t score, you don’t win. The Super Eagles have big players but there is no cohesion.
“Burundi match, one goal; Guinea, one goal. Madagascar came, and Super Eagles goals dried up, its not okay.
“Yes, no team is cheap now. Without disrespect, Madagascar is not the team to beat Super Eagles.
“No team can respect Super Eagles again. Yes, the door (of rubbing shoulders) is open and I can’t believe it”.
Bonfrere was in charge of the U-23 Eagles in 1996 when Nigeria became the first African nation to win the Olympic Games Soccer gold medal with a 3-2 win over Argentina in the final in Atlanta.
He was also in the dugout in 2000 in Lagos when Super Eagles finished runners up in the AFCON finals jointly hosted by Nigeria and Ghana.
The Dutchman restates that the Super Eagles have a turbulent river to cross in their campaign for a fourth AFCON silverware.
“This (knock out stage) is when top teams show their quality. It will be tough. I don’t know the next opponent but, yes, its going to be difficult.
“The coach has to do a good work on the players. He has to get the right combination (of players) and the tactics must be good,” insisted Bonfrere.
Bonfrere says he has been enjoying a festival of African football in his sitting room.
“No, I did not want to go to Egypt. I’m in the house, there is AFCON and there is Copa America,” he quipped.
“Its good for me, sit in the house, watch all the African Nations Cup games and also the Copa America matches on my television.”
