Players in Nigeria’s senior national football team, Super Eagles have entered the tactical stage of their build-up programme towards this Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Benin Republic, megasportsarena.com reports.
Coach of the side, Gernot Rohr focused on recovery drills and physical development for the players during their first session at Teslim Balogun Stadium on Tuesday, but the Franco-German tactician changed his approach with Wednesday’s programme, which was staged behind closed doors.
The Super Eagles players did jogging, running and stretching exercises before wrapping up the session with a practice match, where the pitch was split into two, as Rohr got down to the brass tacks of team building for the three-time African champions.
As time runs out before the Eagles battle The Squirrels at Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto-Novo on Saturday, Rohr’s assistant-cum-shot-topper’s trainer, Alloy Agu is also running the rule over the three invitees – Emil Maduka Okoye, Francis Odinaka Uzoho and John Noble – who all took part in personalized sessions during the workout.
Rohr highlighted that The Squirrels are defensively strong and, while recalling how they sent Morocco packing in the round of 16 at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, the coach admitted he is also mindful that the Beninoise could prove to be tough, as they have not lost a home match in eight years.
He also noted that half of the players named by the hosts’ coach, Michel Dussuyer are France-based and they flew to Cotonou aboard a private jet, which Rohr acknowledged enhanced team bonding values in the squad and concluded that Saturday’s game will be tough.
“Benin have not lost a match since eight years at home, the last time they lost was in 2013 so you can imagine that we want to be the first team to win there in eight years.
“It will not be easy, they have a very good defence, they were quarterfinalist in the last AFCON, they eliminated Morocco.
“They have a private plane to help the French-based players, what we could not have unfortunately. They found the money to take private plane and to bring them back by charter. This was the condition to get the French players.”
