HEAD coach of Nigeria, Gernot Rohr, believes the Lone Stars of Liberia will give the Super Eagles a fight today as both sides clash in a 2022 World Cup qualifier.
The group C game kicks off at 6:00 pm Nigeria time at Stade Ibn Batouta, Tangier, Morocco, and Rohr pointed out that the Liberians should not be written off.
A win today by the Super Eagles would earn them a berth in the playoff round of the qualifying series provided Cape Verde failed to beat the Central African Republic.
The Lone Stars having lost three of their four matches in the group needed a miracle to upset the star-studded three-time African champions on the turf of their adopted home ground in Morocco.
“We respect this team [Liberia] a lot, we saw already [what they played] in La- gos in the second half, they made a good match, it was not easy to beat them.
“And in the last game against Cape Verde, they deserved a draw so that’s why we believe it will be a tough game for us. We are not underrating them,” Rohr said at Thursday’s pre-match press conference.
Also, Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, said the game will be given the utmost attention it deserves.
“We don’t have to underrate any opponent. We saw the video of their games against Cape Verde, they were unlucky to lose both games. Even the game we played in Lagos they did well.
“We can’t say because it’s Liberia that underrates them. They have wonderful players and it’s going to be tough,” Musa who plays for Turkish Super Lig Club Fatih Karagumruk said.
Meanwhile, sources have revealed that Odion Ighalo’s late arrival in the camp was due to the rigours of complying with COVID-19 protocols.
Rohr had recalled the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 Golden Boot winner, Ighalo, from international retirement after two years, while the Al Shabab of Saudi striker could only join his teammates on Thursday in Morocco.
Sources revealed that Ighalo had an appointment for Wednesday to get a second COVID-19 jab which delayed his trip to Morocco.
The former Watford star would have been forced to go into quarantine on his return to Saudi Arabia after the international break had he failed to take the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Nigeria beat Liberia 2-0 in Lagos in the first meeting through a first half brace from Kelechi Iheanacho.