Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has revealed that his mind is fixed on another date in June, apart from two matches to kick-start the World Cup qualifiers, as his team would also get to know their group opponents at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Megasportsaena.com reports that the biggest focus for now for the Eagles are dates against Liberia and Central African Republic, but Rohr chipped in a bit of concern as well about the AFCON 2022 draw billed to hold on June 25.
The Eagles were unbeaten as they won Group L of the Cameron 2022 qualifiers with 14 points and two games to spare, while the second ticket will be decided between Benin Republic and Sierra Leone in the same month, after their clash was abandoned on Tuesday due to controversies over COVID-19 test results.
Rohr is already talking with enthusiasm about a better run for his team in Cameroon, after they finished third at the last edition in Egypt two years ago and heavy expectations are already pilling up that Nigeria should be seeded for the draw.
This is due to cumulative results and recent ratings going in favour of the Eagles, whose past feats and records in the continental soccer showpiece will be used to rank them and could then see them head one of the first round groups at the draw ceremony.
Alongside the Eagles, 22 other teams have so far qualified for the tournament that will run from January 9 to February 6, 2022, but the country Nigeria beat in the 2019 quarter-finals and 1996 champions, South Africa failed to make it, but the little island of Comoros and Mauritania will be the debutants.
Rohr also spoke about his booming relationship with Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Melvin Amaju Pinnick, with who he has now worked with for five years, following his appointment in November 2016.
Pinnick was first elected as NFF president in September 2014 and then won a second four-year term in 2018, and Rohr is happy to reveal that the NFF boss does not interfere with the list of players that the coach invites for Eagles’ camping.
Throwing more light on their relationship, Rohr added during a celebratory dinner organized for Pinnick at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, with all the Eagles’ players in attendance, except Everton of England midfielder, Alex Iwobi, that the NF supremo deserved his election into the executive council of world soccer governing body, FIFA.
Rohr further told HIP TV: “I’m working with him now since five years and there is complicity, there is confidence, trust and also for me it’s important that he lets me work in my independence. I can choose my players, I can do my list and I appreciate also his loyalty.”
