Coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr has played down fears that the Nigeria senior national team don’t have enough firepower in attack ahead of Sunday’s 2018 World Cup Qualifiers against Zambia.

In the build up to the game against Zambia, the local press in Nigeria have been complaining about the lack of a proper goal scoring striker for the team, but the coach has played it down.

With Brown Ideye the only recognised out and out foreign base striker in the team. Rohr appears to have devised a means of having other players contribute their own quota, when it comes to goal scoring.

Speaking to Owngoalnigeria.com after yesterday’s training session, the German coach said, the issue of goal scoring has been over blown in the media.

” We don’t need to have one striker who score goals. We need the entire team to be able to do so. There’s no panic when it comes to goal scoring, goal scoring problems? Not when you have Alex (Iwobi) and Kelechi (Iheanacho)” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

The coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has introduced new methods of training the players of the senior Nigeria national team to help them overcome the poor playing surface of the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, which was completed in 2012 has a natural grass playing turf. But the condition of the turf due to constant use has damaged a significant part of the playing surface.

In order to be able to overcome the bad surface, Rohr yesterday introduced a special session, which Owngoalnigeria.com won’t mention for technical reasons but the new method could see Moses Simon drop out of the starting eleven for Ahmed Musa.

Also, the team worked a lot on one aspect of their game that has troubled Nigeria in recent times but could be the joker for the tie in Zambia owing to the bad playing surface.

Yesterday’s session which lasted a little above 15 minutes was more of technical and tactical instructions by the manager, who is using his vast experience of Africa football to good effect.

With a little over 72 hours before taking on Nigeria in their first 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Zambia have appointed a new coach in David Kabwe to assist head coach Wedson Nyirenda.

Kabwe who presently handles Power Dynamos is not entirely new to the Zambian national team as he worked as assistant manager in 2001.

Highly respected due to his vast experience. He lead Zanaco to two Zambia league title and he presently works as a CAF instructor.

General secretary of Football Association Zambia Ponga Liwewe outlined the role Kabwe who had internship with Arsenal in 1999 will play to head coach Wedson Nyirenda.

“His role is purely to give an assessment and opinion to the coach, but he is not directly to be involved in the training or in the decision making around the team,” Liwewe said.

“That decision lies directly with the coach Mr Wedson Nyirenda.”

The Super Eagles of Nigeria secured a morale boosting 3-0 win over Plateau United courtesy of a brace from Arsenal whizkid Alex Iwobi and another from Anderson Esiti.

Owngoalnigeria.com correspondent who was at the National Stadium in Abuja rates the top five players on display for the Super Eagles.

Alex Iwobi:

The mercurial Arsenal forward covered himself in gold with his performance in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch. The brace he scored was not the true reflection of his performance which words can’t exactly describe as well.

He glide past his markers with ease, connected well with Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho and above all tracked back a lot to help out in defending. A trait he isn’t quite known for.

Moses Simon:

Twinkling dazzling toes, pint sized and deadly in possession. Made himself a nuisance to the Plateau United backline with his mesmerizing dribbling skills and brought the crowd to live as well. He added pace and his link up with Iheanacho and Iwobi made defenders of Plateau United dazed.

Kelechi Iheanacho:

Playing in a role just behind the main striker in Brown Ideye. The Manchester City forward who usually plays as a top striker for the Etihad outfit acquitted himself in the role he was assigned to by the coach. Still look deadly especially from set pieces.

Mikel Obi:

The Chelsea midfielder oozed class with his pass and marking abilities, twice came close to scoring with two well hit effort saved by Danladi Isah in goal for Plateau United. Mikel, a former player of the Jos based side thrice slice the defence of the opponent open with passes from deep to release the full backs who have moved on to occupy attacking positions.

Anderson Esiti:

A tough pick from the trio of Uche Agbo, Kenneth Omeruo and Carl Ikeme but Esiti earned his spot in the top five performers owing to his goal and performance for a lethargic team in the first half. Strong, good on the ball and duels, he certainly have played himself into the mind of the manager ahead of Sunday’s game against Zambia in Ndola.

Heartland FC and Plateau United have been sanctioned for various infractions of the rules which happened during their Match Day 38 fixture last Sunday in Jos.

The League Management Company (LMC) following a review of reports and video of the match issued separate Summary Jurisdiction Notices to the clubs.

In the case against Heartland, the LMC charged the club for breach of B13.26 in that they failed to continue with a match. Heartland was fined N3,000,000 and a forfeiture of the three points and three goals which were awarded to Plateau United.

It will be recalled that players of Heartland abandoned their match against Plateau United on the 75th minute following a dispute with the match referee’s call. Scores were 1-1 at the time but the decision meant Heartland lost the match 3-0.

It also officially confirms the relegation of the Owerri based club which also has the option of appearing before a commission within 48hours.

In the charge against Plateau United, their Supporters were cited for throwing objects on to the field of play which led to delay in the start of the second half, an act considered a breach of Rule B13.18.

For the breach, the LMC fined Plateau United N1,000,000 and the club has 48hours to submit to the ruling or elect to appear before a commission.

Former marketing director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Idris Adama says, the apex football house in Nigeria has enough funds to prosecute the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in Zambia despite claims to the contrary by the football house.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation made a plea to the government to intervene and save the broke football house, but Adama insist the football house has enough funds to prosecute the qualifiers.

“I decided not to talk since I was asked to leave the NFF early 2015 for no reason,” Adama wrote on this Facebook page.

“Up till this moment I was not given my letter of disengagement nor have I been paid my severance allowance, an organisation that I have worked for a decade.

“Despite consistent political and leadership crisis of the NFF coupled with lack of confidence on the leadership by the organised private sector, I generated for them N1.4billion, in addition to Euros 780,000.00 and $1million annually.

“My reward was to be sent out unceremoniously. It’s all well and good. I have moved on long time. But ask them, Emzor Pharmaceutical has paid N35million, Supersport has paid $1million and Globacom is owing which was due on the 7th July 2016 N382,500,000.00. Where are these monies?

“They are just being wicked to the society that engaged them to deliver positive results to the growth of our football. They will never like me because I am blunt. Good day Adama Idris. Former Director (Marketing) Nigeria Football Federation,” he signed off the statement.

“There are still lots more secret I will tell the public soon about the rot in the NFF.”

Contrary to speculations that the fitness of inactive Istanbul Basaksehir defender is a concern for the coaches of the Super Eagles ahead of the game against Zambia on Sunday in Ndola. Owngoalnigeria.com can confirm he was one of the star performers in the friendly win over Plateau United.

As a matter of fact, he was the only player to play over an hour in the encounter and for the time he spent on the pitch, he dominated the right role of the Super Eagles both in defence and attack.

He kept Plateau United pacy winger Sunday Ngbede at bay for the time he was on the pitch, he was also very quick in turning defence into attack for the Eagles.

In the second half although he struggled to deal with the direct approach play and physical nature of Godwin Obaje in the second half. He still deserve a mention among one of the players who were ontop for the Eagles in the tie.

The former captain of the Nigeria U-17 and 20 put in more crosses than any other player for both side, a sign of his contribution in the final third for the game.

He was replaced with about 15 minutes to go in the tie by Wilfred Ndidi despite the fact that the Eagles played two different teams in the game.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria secured a morale boosting 3-0 win over Plateau United in a test game, but not all players were at their best during the course of the game.

Owngoalnigeria.com was live at the Abuja National Stadium, venue of the game and we bring to you 5 players who failed to impress during the course of the tie.

Ahmed Musa:

The Leicester City big money buy was handed the captain band for the first half team but failed to lead like one. He lost possession more than any player in the first half and was guilty of twice over hitting crosses, that he ordinary should have executed without flaws. Clearly suffering from a lack of game time at Manchester City.

Shehu Abdullahi:

The Cypriot based Super Eagles star was lost in the middle where he was paired alongside Anderson Esiti with Nosa Igiebor in a more advanced role. Shehu failed to sufficiently shield the back four from pressure and most at times was guilty of not been on same wavelength with his midfield partner.

Nosa Igiebor:

He was very slow, didn’t do anything noticeable in the opponent’s final third despite playing in an advanced role just behind the striker. He was most at times caught in possession and his poor recovery rate twice gifted Plateau United a chance to play on the counter.

Jamiu Alimi:

The Kano Pillars man was suspect for the duration he was on the pitch. He failed to use his height to good effect by committing fouls during aerial duels. Alimi was also suspect with the ball at his feet unlike his partner Uche Agbo who was very calm on the ball.

Kingsley Madu:

His performance wasn’t anywhere near his best. The left full back used the ball very well when in possession but failed to keep Bright Silas of Plateau United in check for the 45 minutes he was on the pitch. Appears to be low on confidence and also gave away possession cheaply.

Manchester City teen wonder Kelechi Iheanacho has been handed a different role by the coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr, which is slightly different from his role at the Etihad.

Manager of Manchester City Pep Guardiola usually deploys the Nigerian in the striking role, using him as an alternative to star striker Sergio Kun Aguero.

Iheanacho impressed in the role during Aguero’s absence due to suspension and although he has failed to chalk up sufficient minutes since Aguero’s return. He distinguished himself with three goals and two assist in the Argentine’s absence.

However for the Nigeria senior national team, He plays just behind the main striker as witnessed in the game against Tanzania and yesterday’s test game against Plateau United.

He is part of a midfield three involving John Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi but he plays in a more advanced role for the team where he has so far excelled in games for Nigeria.