- Says no African country can win World Cup
Super Eagles former coach, Bonfere Jo, has said that national football team captain, Mikel Obi, should be benched if he fails to act according to the dictates of coach Gemot Rohr.
During a radio programme monitored in Lagos yesterday, the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games gold medalist said that it was important that all the players must play according to the pattern of the coach.
“It is pertinent that any player that failed to play according to the pattern of the coach should be dropped not minding who,” he stressed.
“If Mikel cannot play with other players, then he should be asked to stay on the bench and allow others who are ready to make the country proud play.
“I am not saying a particular player should play, but for me, if you asked Mikel Obi to do a particular thing and he failed to do so, then you should tell him to stay on the bench like every other player.
“Mikel has what it takes to perform at the World Cup, but if he cannot play with other players, then he should be asked to stay on the bench let other players play and do the country proud.”
Besides, the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Gold medalist said that no African country could win the World Cup.
According to him, African teams lack the experience to get far at the World Cup and it will take a while for them to make great impact at world football’s biggest stage.
He added: “They (African teams) cannot handle the pressure associated with the World Cup, they cannot handle the press and other things associated with the Mundial,
“You must have good control of everything, players must be kept under good control but we cannot do that.
“African teams can do a lot but they don’t have the experience and the team to make it from the group to the later stages of the Mundial. They need a strong people behind the team and without that they cannot make it far in Russia.”
Five countries – Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal – will be representing the continent in Russia and all will be looking forward to getting to the next round of the biggest footballing event around the world.