Nigeria coach, Gernot Rohr has said the Super Eagles are determined to send the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon packing today from the Africa Cup of Nations as both sides clash at the Alexandria Stadium, Egypt for a berth in the quarter-final.
”In our team, there is no problem, we know that we have to win this match [against Cameroon] whether it is 120 minutes, we are ready for it. I believe that fitness is very, very important in this tournament,” the German told the media in Alexandria.
The former Burkina Faso handler stated that the Eagles will approach today’s clash with a different mentality.
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”The Madagascar game was a little bit special because we could lose it and still qualify, we didn’t want to lose it of course.
”But the players, being qualified after two victories, perhaps in their mind even if you told them to be serious and be committed, it was not the same like the two first games.
”There were some individual mistakes and we have to forgive the players. We know Balogun made a mistake from Ogu John’s pass, we had a friendly against Senegal and Omeruo [Kenneth] made a mistake that led to the goal and then he scored the winner against Guinea,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rohr has ruled out John Obi Mikel from today’s AFCON round of 16.
The 2013 AFCON winner sustained an injury during the last group match against the Barea of Madagascar where the Super Eagles suffered a 0-2 defeat.
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Rohr also confirmed that Bursaspor’s Abdullahi Shehu won’t be fit for today’s battle for the quarter-final spot, while Jamilu Collins is available for selection having recovered from injury.
”About the injuries we have good news from Collins, he can play now, I don’t know yet if he can start or not but he’ll be on the bench with the group again.
”We have only the injury of our captain Obi Mikel, he will not be able to play this match tomorrow.
”Shehu is still receiving treatment, he has started training now but not able to play yet.”