Rohr: We want to see what Eagles can do against Messi
Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr believes the national team’s friendly against Argentina on November 14 in Krasnodar will test his team’s true qualities ahead of the 2018 World Cup, and has hinted that a number of fringe players will get some minutes against the South American powerhouse.
Rohr thinks Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi still has a chance of featuring for La Albiceleste against Nigeria, but allnigeriasoccer.com understands that the number ten will return to Spain immediately after Saturday’s game against Russia.
“We only have two days to prepare because the game (against Algeria) is on Friday,” Rohr told the Nigeria Football Federation via Twitter.
“We will have an opportunity to see everybody in the second game, second game is fantastic also because Argentina is one of the best teams in the world, perhaps the best player in the world (Messi), so we can see what they are able to do against a South American team if we have them in our group in the World Cup.
“It is also an opportunity to see Russia and the atmosphere there and to see perhaps our base camp, so it is already a repeat preparation for the World Cup.”
On Saturday, the Nigerian team will fly aboard a chartered flight to Krasnodar, the Russian city that will host Tuesday’s international friendly against Argentina.
Also, Rohr has predicted that the Super Eagles will face a tough battle in their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria in Constantine, saying that the North Africans have a new coach in Rabah Madjer.
The German coach revealed that Leicester City duo Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani are the key Algerian players that can make a difference on Friday.
“It will be interesting to play in Algeria in these conditions,” Rohr said to the Nigeria Football Federation.
“They have changed the coach, they want to absolutely win the game, they didn’t do it yet, so they will be aggressive.
“I know this team, they have one of the best African players Mahrez, Slimani is the other one.
“It will be very, very interesting to see our players play for the first time, new players are arriving and to see they are good in our team.”
A Victor Moses brace and an additional tally from John Obi Mikel secured a win for the Super Eagles in their clash with the North Africans on match day two.