It was reported that Rohr had led the team to a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

The Eagles had won the bronze medals on Wednesday after beating Tunisia by a lone goal scored by Odion Ighalo in the third minute of the game.

The football enthusiasts told our reporter the team would have made it to the final if the coaching crew had made better selection and had better tactical approach.

Emeka Okeke, a sports presenter, said Rohr lacked the technical know-how and made bad selection of players.

Okeke said that most of the players he took to Egypt were less than average and were not doing well in their various clubs.

He said Rohr experimented with the players from the day he took charge of the team, adding that he should be shown the way out.

“We cannot be playing games at competitions with our hearts in our mouths, no confidence in both the players, the technical crew and the bench,” Okeke said.

Ikem Asika, a sports analyst, said Rohr showed he was not in firm control of his team and expressed worries that the domestic league has not attracted him since he was employee.

Asika alleged that most players fielded by Rohr were foisted on him by “jobbers in the Glass House”, adding that no coach would do well under such condition.

“Any coach that knows his onions must insist on his players and game plan and not be pushed around on who should play or not,” he said.

Asia added that it was not proper for Daniel Akpeyi to play ahead of Francis Uzoho or Okechukwu Ezenwa if not by “special selection”.

Jude Atupulazi, a journalist, said while the team might not have met the expectations of their teeming fans, the players still deserve some accolade.

Atupulazi said Rohr should be given more time as there were chances he would do better with the team in the future.

“The team tried, coming third out of 24 nations. It isn’t easy. So, we may have to manage Rohr in order to sustain the progress being made.

“Look at the average age of our players. They are very young, and it means the future is bright. So, instead of starting afresh with a new gaffer let Rhor continue,” he said.

Victor Nwangwu, a veteran football administrator, said Rohr has met and surpassed the target set for him by his employers in line with the contract.

Nwangwu said the performance of the Super Eagles in Egypt was not bad as teams that had better chances to win the cup exited much earlier in the competition

“He qualified Nigeria for the World Cup, qualified Nigeria for AFCON, got a third position in the competition proper, a step more than his contractual target, and this is with the youngest Super Eagles team ever assembled by a coach.

“Ghana, Cameroon and Egypt hold superior AFCON records than Nigeria, yet they got eliminated much earlier than we were.

“What else can we say of Rohr, other than he did not win the cup? He deserves to be appreciated and of course respected,” he said.

Anthony Udennaka, a retired football referee, warned against incessant sacking and hiring of coaches to ensure sustainable progress.

Udennaka said the Super Eagles under Rohr did well but lost due to ill-luck, noting that football was an open game which any side playing could win.

“I am of the opinion that the man should be allowed to continue with his good job. Hiring and firing of coaches has never done us any good.

“Many world class coaches lose matches. So, Nigeria’s case should not be an exception,” he said.

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The fans told our reporter that winning the third-place match was good for the team’s image and psychology for the future.

One of them, Suleiman Garba, described the victory as a consolation and a gift to Nigeria, adding that it had redeemed the Eagles from all criticism since the commencement of the tournament.

“The team played well and I congratulate the players for the good performance throughout the tournament. We are proud of the young team.

“As the team play more games together, we will come out more refined and better placed to compete at the highest levels in the future.”

Sarah Bitrus, another fan, said: “The team played well and the players have the third-place trophy to show for it. So, it’s congratulations to them from me.

“What they have done in Egypt will impact on our rating and as far as this tournament is concerned, we are the third best in Africa.

“We must not fail however in rebuilding this team for future competitions, and we should not wait till the qualifiers come knocking before we assemble the team again.”

Bitrus appealed to football administrators to secure frequent friendly matches to sustain the team’s current form, adding that with world-class friendlies the team would do better.

On his part, Nafada Baba, another fan, told NAN that he was happy that the team would come home with a trophy.

Baba added that the team must be encouraged by all through the fulfillment of all financial pledges made to the team before and during the tournament.

Also, Uche Ezenna who is also a football fan in Gombe said: “The boys played well, but our overall performance calls for a review of the team with a view to getting better goalkeepers for the team.

“We must shop for a good choice to man the post. For now, we are lagging behind in that area.”

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The 30-year-old forward, who is now the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, was gifted an easy tap-in following a Tunisian defensive mix-up at the Al Salam Stadium.

Jamilu Collins’ cross from the left was poorly parried by goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifa against the legs of defender Yassine Meriah.

The defender tried to stop it from going over the line before Ighalo pounced to give Nigeria a third minute lead.

It proved a costly blunder for Tunisia, who lost Sunday’s semi-final in extra time to Senegal in similar circumstances.

Ben Cherifa attempted to make up for his error with some good saves in the second half.

He first denied Samuel Chukwueze’s left-footed shot just after the hour mark, before saving two efforts from substitute Samuel Kalu in stoppage time.

Nigeria, who dominated the game, have now won the bronze medal at eight different Cup of Nations’ tournaments.

Algeria play Senegal in the 2019 AFCON final match in Cairo on Friday.

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A horrific mistake by goalkeeper Moez Hassen in the 100th minute saw the ball bounce off the head of defender Dylan Bronn and into the net.

It was the only goal of a game in which both teams had second-half penalty kicks saved.

Hassen came flying off his goal-line to try to cut off a free-kick from the right flank but completely missed the ball which then hit the unfortunate Bronn on the head.

Senegal, who were runners-up 17 years ago, are seeking their first Cup of Nations title with a place against either Algeria or Nigeria in Friday’s final.

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It was reported that the Super Eagles on Wednesday defeated Bafana Bafana of South Africa 2-1 in the quarter-finals of AFCON 2019 in Egypt.

A goal each in each half from Samuel Chukwueze and William Troost-Ekong saw Nigeria eliminate South Africa from the tournament and advance to the semi-finals.

Musa told reporters in a post-match interview that the Super Eagles’ plan going into the game was to stay focused and patient against a resolute South African side.

“We knew that the game against South Africa would be tough and not an easy ride.

“So, we spoke and reminded ourselves of the need to be patient as we worked towards achieving our goal.

“As you can see, we had to wait until the last minute to score the decisive goal and that is the most important thing,” he said.

Musa noted that both Nigeria and South Africa had similar styles of play as they possessed more attacking prowess on the flanks.

“I think the same thing they (South Africa) have is what we too have on the wings. Both teams played the same style of football.

“But the difference was that we were more patient and persistent in our approach than our opponents.

“Chukwueze is one of the young and talented players in our squad. He had a great game today and scored a fantastic goal.

“I think with time he is going to be one of the best players we have in the Super Eagles team.

“Chidozie Awaziem, Wilfred Ndidi and Jamilu Colliins are also other young talents in the squad and players for the future.

“As you know, we the old players in the squad are gradually winding down and will not be here in a couple of years from now.

“So, we definitely need players like them to step up and take over from us,” he said.

It was reported that the Super Eagles now await the winners between Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria in one of Thursday’s quarter-final matches.

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He said the time taken to confirm his opponents’ goal had unsettled his team.

The VAR system was introduced at the quarter-final stage and is being used in the competition for the first time.

It made its first significant intervention when it overruled a linesman’s decision to disallow Bongani Zungu’s goal for offside.

“For five minutes we had to wait, goal or no goal, and that was hard for my team,” the German told reporters in Cairo.

“The second goal did not go in for us and then you have seen this free kick, and this VAR decision ——- you never know what can happen with VAR on a free kick.”

Rohr also praised the character of his side who came back from 2-1 down to beat Cameroon 3-2 in the previous round and grabbed a late winner in Wednesday’s match.

“Now we are mentally strong and we were able to come back,” he said. “The attitude of my players was wonderful. Such a good relationship with everyone.”

Rohr recalled when Nigeria were beaten 2-0 by South Africa at home in a qualifier for the tournament two years ago, one of his first games in charge.

“We had a young team but this team continued to work and this result perhaps helped us to beat in the next game Cameroon, who were African champions, 4-0 in the same stadium (in a World Cup qualifier).

“So, we will also learn from this match,” he added.

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The goal ensured a 2-1 victory for Nigeria over South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in their quarter-final match at the Cairo International Stadium on Wednesday.

Samuel Chukwueze had put the Eagles in front in the 27th minute when an Alex Iwobi square play into the dangerous area found Chukwueze.

The Villarreal player’s first shot was luckily deflected onto his path for a simple rebound to give the Eagles the deserved lead.

Nigeria made two changes to the starting lineup which came from behind to defeat Cameroun 3-2 in the second round.

Chukwueze was rewarded with a place in the starting 11 after his outstanding performance against Cameroon at the expense of Simon Moses, while Ola Aina made way for Jamilu Collins in defence.

It was perhaps the most open first 45 minutes Nigeria have played in 2019 AFCON so far as both teams engaged in end-to-end displays.

However, it was the Super Eagles who seemed to show more intensity with the two fullbacks — Jamilu Collins and Awazie — overlapping to add bite to the Nigerians’ attack.

Nigeria’s dominance finally paid off when a counter attacking move launched by stand-in skipper Ahmed Musa found Iwobi, whose quick feet on the flank was too much for Bafana Bafana defenders.

It was his low cross down the flank that led to Chukwueze’s opener.

A similar counterattack offered itself in the 35th minute involving Musa, who put his pace to work and found Chukwueze but the goal scorer squandered the glorious opportunity to double Nigeria’s tally.

The South Africans came out to play thereafter but found it difficult to penetrate Nigeria’s defence, anchored by Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo.

Their tactics of sending long balls to forwards Lebo Mothiba and Thembinkosi Lorch proved inadequate as Omeruo and Troost-Ekong always got the better of the South Africans’ aerial battles.

Nigeria started off the second half on the front foot and were inches away from making it 2-0 when Kenneth Omeruo’s fierce free-kick rattled the woodwork in the 50th minute.

South Africa were able to string some good passes together on the hour mark but they seemed to be weary of Nigeria’s counter-attacking threat led by Musa and Chukwueze.

Defending set pieces has been one of Nigeria’s undoing at this year’s tournament and it again manifested in the 70th minute when South Africa’s Bongani Zungu headed home a free-kick to make it 1-1.

The referee had to consult the Video Assistant Referee after it appeared that the South African player was offside.

But the goal was awarded as the cross appeared to have been deflected off a Nigerian player before Zungu’s header.

Simon Moses was introduced in the 80th minute to replace Musa, while the South Africans substituted Mothiba for the imposing Lars Veldwijk, apparently to win long balls in the Nigerian goal area.

However, it was the Super Eagles who punished South Africa in their own area as Troost-Ekong threw himself into a Moses corner kick and directed the ball home in the 80th minute to restore Nigeria’s lead.

There was one more opportunity from yet another counter-attack missed by Odion Ighalo but it won’t matter as the Super Eagles won the match 2-1 and moved into the semi-finals.

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The resounding victory thus reaffirmed their status as one of the favourites for the title.

The previous five round-of-16 ties had produced a heady mixture of shocks, drama and comebacks.

But Sunday’s match was straightforward as Algeria, yet to concede a goal, won their fourth straight match at the tournament.

The Desert Foxes were strong in defence, intelligent in midfield, ruthless in attack and played with a swagger that suggested they believe they are on course to claim the cup again.

Belaili broke the deadlock after playing a one-two with Baghdad Bounedjah in the 24th minute and Mahrez, following some sublime control, lashed home the second just before the hour.

Substitute Adam Ounas added the third on the break in the 82nd minute, making him joint tournament top-scorer with three goals alongside Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo.

Algeria, whose one previous title came in 1990, will face either Cote d’Ivoire or Mali in the quarter-finals.

On Sunday they were quickly on the attack as a ball floated over the Guinea defence was chested down by Bounedjah but he fired wide.

Guinea’s attacks mainly consisted of long balls aimed towards Jose Kante but he got little change out of the Algerian defence.

A period of sustained Algeria pressure led to the first goal.

First Bounedjah shot wide from eight metres and Guinea escaped again when Ismail Bennacer produced an acrobatic volley which was saved by Ibrahima Kone.

But there was no let-off from the next superbly-executed move as Belaili exchanged passes with Bounedjah before slotting a low shot past Kone from a narrow angle.

After a scrappy start to the second half, Mady Camara gave Rais Mbolhi something to do with a long-range shot which the Algeria goalkeeper turned over the bar.

But Guinea were soon on the rack again.

Bennacer found Mahrez with a pass across the face of the penalty area and the Manchester City player caressed the ball past a defender before sending Kone the wrong way from 20 metres.

Algeria spent the rest of the match stroking the ball around.

But there was time for a third when Youcef Atal won possession, burst down the flank and laid the ball into the path of Ounas to score from close range.

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The Eagles led until the 41st minute, through an Odion Ighalo goal, before being pegged back and going behind within three minutes.

Goals from Ighalo and Alex Iwobi within three minutes after the hour restored the Nigerian side’s lead and gave them the important win.

Nigeria will now on Wednesday meet the winners of the fixture between hosts Egypt and South Africa, which will be played later on Saturday.

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