Chelsea fail to beat Sevilla at Stamford Bridge

On-form Israeli based Nigerian defender Sodiq Atanda has backed Super Eagles coach Gernort Rohr for a formidable team ahead of 2021 AFCON qualifiers.

The Hapoel Kfar Saba defender who has enjoyed an impressive form this season and has been rated as one of the outstanding center backs in the Israeli top league revealed his admiration for Super Eagles assistant coach, Joseph Yobo.

“When you talk about a formidable team in Africa, Nigeria has lots of talented players across the world, and that’s what the coach is doing by bringing players to prove themselves in the national team,” said Atanda.

“A coach like Rohr can give you three different first eleven because he has a good template to coach the Super Eagles team. He moves around to shop for players and that’s why the team is looking stronger now.”

“I watched Joseph Yobo during his playing days, he was always one of the most consistent Super Eagles players then and he’s such a guy that always gives it all on the pitch.”

With Champions League debutants Rennes and Krasnodar making up Group E, both sides were happy to settle for a point against what they will perceive as their toughest opponents in the section.

Chelsea’s defensive problems were exposed as they blew the lead twice to draw 3-3 for the second time in five Premier League games this season to Southampton on Saturday.

But with Edouard Mendy back from injury to take the place of the error-strewn Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, the Blues were far more solid against a Sevilla side that has lost just twice in their last 27 matches.

Mendy only had one serious save to make when Nemanja Gudelj’s header was deflected by Kurt Zouma and the Senegalese stopper had to react quickly to swat the ball to safety.

Sevilla were without highly-rated centre-back Jules Kounde, who attracted interest from Manchester City last month, due to a coronavirus infection.