Accept criticisms, John Fashanu hits out at Super Eagles coach

Nigeria: Accept criticisms, John Fashanu hits out at Super Eagles coach after poor showing in recent international friendlies

 

British TV presenter and former professional footballer, John Fashanu. (Photo credit: Getty images)

Former Wimbledon star, John Fashanu has hit out on Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr on his rigidity following his winless outings in the two friendly games against Algeria and Tunisia.

 

The Super Eagles of Nigeria lost by a solitary goal against Algeria and were held to a 1:1 draw by the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia on Tuesday in Austria. John Fashanu believes the head coach must accept criticisms if he wants to be successful, citing his refusal to activate his standby option that had Ramon Azeez when the trio of Oghenekharo Etebo, Joe Aribo and Wilfred Ndidi all pulled out.

 

Speaking to news men on Wednesday, John Fashanu berated the German coach for his rigidity with team selection, Rohr kept Semi Ajayi in the lineup as the holding midfielder, a role the Westbromich Albion defender struggled with, Fashanu wondered why Francis Onyeka wasn’t tried, since that’s his primary position.

 

In goal, Maduka Okoye may have impressed, but friendlies are unique opportunities to try new options, former under 17 star, Dele Alampasu or new boy, Matthew Yakubu could have been handed a debut instead of playing the Sparta Rotterdam shot stopper in the two games; Fashanu maintained that the international break was a missed opportunity to see more players and hope Gernot Rohr will accept criticisms and be better advised next time.