Godwin Izilein says Kenneth Omeruo and Ogenyi Onazi must take blame for the Super Eagles poor performance

Godwin Izilein says Kenneth Omeruo and Ogenyi Onazi must take some blame for the Super Eagles’ poor defending in their  opening Russia  2018 World Cup Group B qualifier  against Zambia’s Chipolopolo at   Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia, on Sunday.
Nigeria won the encounter 2-1, with goals  from Premier League attacking duo Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho. Veteran  striker Collins Mbesuma capitalised on  Omeruo’s schoolboy defending to  score Zambia’s goal.
Gabon and Equatorial Guinea 2012 Africa Cup of Nations champions Chipolopolo put  the Eagles  under intense pressure for the majority of the match and    went close but some smart goalkeeping from Carl Ikeme helped  Nigeria  survive the  Southern Africans’ onslaught.
Former  Super Falcons coach Izilein, who hailed the Eagles  for picking  up maximum points  on the road, urged Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr to keep  his players on their toes.
He maintains Turkey-based defender Omeruo  conceded “a cheap goal” in the encounter – and his Turkish league colleague Onazi (defensive midfielder) put up a below-par performance.
“Omeruo conceded a cheap goal in the game,” the former national Under-17 team manager told our correspondent on the telephone on Monday.
“He should have cleared the ball off the box instead of gambling, because it was a fair one.
“Omeruo is a good defender, but he gambles a lot – and his gambling has cost us goals in the past.”
 The former Eagles winger added, “Onazi made the job difficult for Mikel (Obi)  because he was not in the game.The coach should go for players who are committed.”
Izilein hailed Manchester City’s rising star Iheanacho   for scoring “a classy goal” in the qualifier.
 Iheanacho went on a mazy run after a pass from Greece-based Brown Ideye,  leaving Chipolopolo defenders  chasing shadows  before he rounded  goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene in the 43rd minute  to put Nigeria 2-0 up.
Izilein  said, “An amateur player would have shot from such a tight angle. But Iheanacho moved calmly to score the goal.
“With regular matches at Man City and the national team, the player will transform into one of the most feared strikers in the world.”
The former Sharks coach praised Rohr’s formation for the encounter, saying Iheanacho’s combination with Iwobi in the attack should continue.
Izilein said, “The result of the game speaks for the coach. He has shown that he knows how to handle a rough side like Zambia.”
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