Oliseh Backs Rohr On Super Eagles Bad Display In March Friendlies: He Has To Try Players, Tactics

Former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh has refused to criticize the Super Eagles unimpressive display in last month's international friendlies, especially against Serbia in London, saying manager Gernot Rohr used both matches to perfect his tactics ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

Oliseh is on the same page as Super Eagles CHAN coach Salisu Yusuf who informed allnigeriasoccer.com minutes before the national team stepped out onto the Municipal Stadium Wroclaw turf that Joel Obi was preferred ahead of Onazi because the technical crew wanted to see whether or not the Torino midfielder can adapt to Rohr's system.

''Although people say friendly matches don't exist anymore but let us not read much into it, they are just friendly games,'' Oliseh told Austin Okon Akpan of Channels Sports.

''Friendly games are aimed for us as coaches to try out things even though the average fan wants us to win friendly games, I understand them as a Nigerian.

''The reality is that the coach has to try players, try tactics, try to see what player goes with the other.

''The important thing for us is the last friendly game before the World Cup, that is the most important because the bus is about to take off.''

In truth, the Super Eagles were second best against Poland on March 23 but managed to win 1-0 with Chelsea's Victor Moses scoring a disputed penalty, and four days later their frailties were exposed by Serbia after losing 2-0.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel