Greatest Of All Legends-Chapter 581 - 3rd National Appearance I

Chapter 581: 3rd National Appearance I

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The training session was soon underway, and it followed a basic preset.

The manager split the players into two teams of eleven players each, which totaled 22 players, and told them that they would do a training match against each other.

Since there were only 22 players called up, there wasn’t anyone left out.

The manager then told the two groups that only one of the two groups of the players would be the team that would be in the starting line-up.

There was a catch though.

If a player in the same position on the other team performed better, then the manager would swap the better performing player into the winning team.

Thus, the training session would consist of repeated matches against each other while the manager constantly swapped out the players till he picked out the players who performed best and worked best with each other.

The manager’s thoughts behind this training method were clear.

The fact that the players were here meant that they were already quality enough, but since they were all from different clubs, they needed to get used to playing with themselves first and foremost.

Doing that while picking out the best performers at the moment was hitting two birds with one stone.

That day and the day after was mostly spent at the training ground with the players battling it out for a space in the starting eleven.

On the evening of the 26th, the players were on the plane to Benin Republic where the first of the two AFCON qualifier matches for this break would be played.

**27th March 2021**

*4:37 pm*

At the Nigerian team locker room in the Felix Stadium in Benin, the Nigerian players were gearing up for the match after a warm-up.

The manager was not staying silent and was using the few minutes left before the players headed out to once again go through the game plan with the players.

“Like we already know, we will be playing in the 4-2-3-1 formation,” he began, pointing to the arranged formation on the board.

“Maduka is the goalkeeper,”

“Aina and Zaidu are wingbacks while Leon and Williams will be the center backs,”

“I expect you guys to work in tandem with each other when on the defensive. You four at the back should focus on your man and leave the marking to Ndidi and whichever one of you is free and near enough the ball,”

“Ndidi is going to be the anchor man and will operate here,” Rohr used his hand to circle the zone just outside the penalty box.

“When we are with the ball, he will move up and can help with keeping possession in the center,” he continued, using his hands to describe the game plan to the players who were listening attentively while kitting up.

“In the center, Jason will be in the center attacking midfield position while Etebo and Ndidi will aim to help him in the midfield,”

“Our plan of attack is through balls down either of the flanks, who would then aim to get the ball into the penalty box as soon as possible,”

“Iwobi and Musa, I expect you guys to always be on the shoulder of the last defender whenever we are on the attack and ready to make runs in behind,”

“Musa, I want you to make cutting in runs if possible, and Iwobi, you should make runs out wide,”

“When Musa makes cutting in runs, Aina, I want you to make overlapping runs on the outside so that you can support the attack if needed,”

“If we lose the ball, return to your post immediately,”

“Since Iwobi would be staying wide, Jason, I’m expecting you to drop into the space between him and Osimen that would be created, right here!” Rohr said to Jason while pointing out a spot on the board between the right back and the right center back.

“If you can receive the ball here, all that would be in your way will be this guy so it is up to you whether to dribble past him and go for goal, or to look for Osimen, or anyone else who can take a shot instead,”

“Osimen, your job would be to look alive. Make sure you’re always in a position to receive the ball whenever we’re on the attack. You’re the final man, make sure you’re able to make that final touch,”

“When we are not with the ball, your job will be to go on the press. Chase after the ball, don’t give them any breathing room and try to force the ball off them,”

“That should be done all over the pitch,”

“I want high pressure from each and everyone of you,”

“If you all do your jobs, then we should be able to end this match comfortably with a win,”

“Did you all get that?” Rohr asked the players.

“Yes coach,” all the players in the room said in unison.

“Ok, good luck out there then,” Rohr said and walked out of the room, leaving the players to finish getting ready.

The players were soon done and walked into the tunnel to begin the pre-match formalities.

***

At 5:00pm, the referee’s whistle went off and the AFCON qualifier match between Benin and Nigeria kicked off immediately.

Citizens of the two countries were at the stadium to support their national team, but without surprise, the Benin fans were more in attendance than the Nigerian fans.

Even before the match began, the fans were already cheering loudly, chanting, and singing songs to keep themselves entertained, but as soon as the match finally kicked off, they didn’t need to entertain themselves anymore as the match immediately got off to an entertaining start.

It was the Benin team that kicked off first and they began exchanging the ball among themselves, doing their best to avoid losing the ball immediately.

The Nigerian players on the other hand surged forward into the the Benin’s team half, fully intent on pressing hard and stealing the ball from their opponents.

The Benin team were alarmed at the Nigerian players fierce pressing and they tried to escape by pushing the ball further back, but the Nigerian players didn’t shy off and pushed forward.

The Benin team’s right back who received the ball suddenly noticed that the almost everyone except for the back four was pressing, and even Aina, the Nigerian right back was moving forward to join the press.

Seeing the space behind, he immediately thought of unleashing his teammates on the counter with a pass over the Nigerian players.