SUPER Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, on Tuesday stated that though Sunday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Chipolopolo of Zambia is a must-win for the Eagles, the Zambians are no pushovers.
Nigeria begins its quest for a place in the Russia 2018 World Cup away to Zambia in Ndola on Sunday, October 9.
Speaking with sports reporters on Tuesday, the Franco-German declared that no team is small in Nigeria’s group, which comprises Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia, adding that the Zambians would not be pushovers on Sunday.
He, however, expressed confidence that his charges are rearing to go, adding that the Eagles will give a good account of themselves against the Zambians on away ground.
“No small team in our group; we saw the Zambians against Kenya and they will not be pushovers on Sunday. We are going there to give a good account of ourselves,” he said.
Rohr stated that despite reports that the pitch in Ndola is bad, the Eagles will go all out for the three points at stake in the qualifier, saying he was impressed with the enthusiasm shown by the players so far.
He added that the players had been displaying a big solidarity since their arrival in Abuja to prepare for the World Cup qualifier, saying, however, that the Eagles ought to extend to the away encounter with a view to excelling in Ndola.
The Eagles technical adviser confirmed that Victor Moses, Leon Balogun and Odion Ighalo have been excused and their places taken over by players drawn from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Meanwhile, the full compliments of all the invited players, including last-minute invited leading NPFL goalscorers, Godwin Obaje and Chisom Egbuchunam, defied the rain to train at the National Stadium, on Tuesday.
The players had had a light training in the morning and trained under the rain in the evening under the supervision of Rohr and his lieutenants – head coach Salisu Yusuf, Imama Amapakabo, Alloy Agu and foreign assistant Jean Luc Royer and video analyst, Nabil Trabelsi.
The Eagles will this evening square up against NPFL side, Plateau United FC of Jos in a friendly match at the mainbowl of the National Stadium in preparation for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier.
PLAYERS IN CAMP: Captain Mikel John Obi, Brown Ideye, Ogenyi Onazi, Carl Ikeme, Kingsley Madu, Musa Muhammed, Emmanuel Daniel, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Elderson Echiejile, Nosa Igiebor, Abdullahi Shehu, William Paul Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Kenneth Omeruo, Anderson Esiti, Jamiu Alimi, Wilfred Ndidi, Chisom Egbuchunam, Uche Agbo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Brown Ideye and Nigeria League top scorer Godwin Obaje.
Discussion about this post