Rohr: We will not underrate Libya
Super Eagles’ Manager, Gernot Rohr, says his team will play to win and will not underrate Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The Franco-German tactician told newsmen in Uyo yesterday that the Libyans have a very strong team in spite of their position on FIFA ranking.
Rohr, who underscored the No-Option-To-Victory stance, instructed his charges to dig deep into their reserves and replicate what they did against African champions Cameroon in a similar fashion 11 months ago by earning a credible result on Saturday and going ahead to dig their feet into the ground in the return leg in Sfax on Tuesday.
In a Matchday 3 fixture of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series at the same venue, visiting Indomitable Lions (who had spectacularly won the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and featured at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia) were understandably installed as favourites against the Super Eagles.
Yet, Nigeria went ahead to spank Cameroon 4-0 and led for 75 minutes in the return leg in Yaounde few days later before the Lions equalized from the penalty spot.
“I believe we have the players here to earn a decent result and then go and give their all in Libya for another credible outcome. We need the points now; we cannot pretend about that. If we pick the points in these two games, we will be very close to the AFCON ticket.
“It was good winning in Seychelles the way we did. We got the result we needed and it should serve as a good motivation to continue winning when we play Libya.
“The players and the coach are working together to ensure victory. The players will not underrate the Libyan team, they have very strong defence and good goalkeeper.
“We have prepared very well to win, we will not look at FIFA ranking,” said Rohr who has 24 players in camp to choose from for the Saturday game.
Acting team captain Ahmed Musa said the players were in top form and would not take the game for granted.
The Mediterranean Knights are expected in Uyo today.
The Libyans are top of the group with four points, same as South Africa but with superior goal difference, while Super Eagles are third on the log with three points from two games.
The Super Eagles will need to win on Saturday to have any real chance of qualifying for AFCON 2019 in Cameroon.