The Pitch, Long Balls Were Very Difficult To Play Well' - Gernot Rohr

The Pitch, Long Balls Were Very Difficult To Play Well' - Gernot Rohr

Akan Anwankwo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:41 PM

- Sierra Leone vs Nigeria ended 0-0 and Gernot Rohr believes the pitch and long balls affected his team's performance

- The match failed to produce a goal unlike the eight-goal thriller in the first leg at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin

- Nigeria stay top of Group L as Benin Republic occupy second spot with Sierra Leone and Lesotho in third and fourth positions respectively

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Sierra Leone vs Nigeria ended in a scoreless draw and Super Eagles handler Gernot Rohr has attributed bad pitch and the style of play of the Leone Stars as the reason for his side's bad performance.

The three-time African champions were unable to settle into the game due to the poor pitch at the Siaka Stevens Stadium.

And the home side also used long balls to further frustrate the Nigerian team who threw away a 4-0 lead in the first leg at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.

Sierra Leone vs Nigeria: 'Pitch, long balls were very difficult to play well' - Rohr
Sierra Leone vs Nigeria: 'Pitch, long balls were very difficult to play well' - Rohr. Photo by Visionhaus
Source: Getty Images

However, Rohr was satisfied with his team's performance and praised goalkeeper Maduka Okoye who kept a clean sheet.

“The squad did well especially our goalkeeper he had a very good match. The last time he conceded four goals which was not his fault and today he showed everyone what he can do.
“Our defence also did well but the pitch is very difficult to play good football and Sierra Leoneans were playing long balls.
“A point means we stay top of our group and I believe we are in the right direction.”

Nigeria remain top of Group L with eight points from four games as Benin are in second after playing a 0-0 scoreline with Lesotho.

The team will reassemble in March 2021 away at Benin as a win will ensure their qualification into AFCON 2022 in Cameroun.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that it was yet another night of disappointment as Gernot Rohr's men fail to fly at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown as hosts Sierra Leone were unlucky to win the game after it ended 0-0.

However after another 90 minutes of play, none of these two sides could claim three points - and here are five things we learnt during the second leg of the fixture.

We'll let Nigeria have just 1 goal in Freetown - Sierra Leone FA president tells Pinnick | Legit TV

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Akan Anwankwo
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Gernot RohrNigeria