Players of the Super Eagles of Nigeria have hit back at statement made by coach of the team Gernot Rohr while discussing the chances of the team in reaching the semi finals.
Rohr in an interview with ESPN said players of the Super Eagles don’t play in big teams and that is partly why they can’t dream of reaching the semi final of the World Cup.
“They have players playing in the best teams in Europe. We don’t, unfortunately have these players,” he told ESPN.
“Our players are playing in lower clubs. We don’t have these players like Egypt, like Senegal, like Cote d’Ivoire who are playing in the biggest clubs. Our players are playing in clubs who are not the best ones.
“When you see the world champions, France, the players are playing for Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester United.
“When we have players in the biggest teams, then we can say we have chance to get to the semifinal of the World Cup
That statement hasn’t gone down well with a couple of players with about three of them voicing their unhappiness in a chat with Owngoalnigeria.com on the condition of anonymity.
“ It looks like the coach in trying to stay modest has ended up making a mockery of our clubs. The team that won the AFCON had few players in big team. So how did they win it”, one of them told Owngoalnigeria.com.
“ I was a kid when the Senegalese team went all the way to the quarter final of the World Cup in 2002 and I also saw the Ghana team at the 2010 World Cup. Who are the stars in the team? It’s sad that he thinks that way about our clubs”, another said.
“ The idea has always been play for a team in a top five European League now it is playing for a team that competes for honours. How many countries have such? It’s not right that he used us to make a point the wrong way”, the third player we spoke with remarked.
