Rohr expects tough Libya rematch as team land in Sfax
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr says he expects a challenging 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Libya today despite trouncing the North Africans at the weekend.
Odion Ighalo, the former Watford striker now at Chinese club Changchun Yatai, bagged a hat-trick as Nigeria thrashed Libya 4-0 in the southern town of Uyo on Saturday.
They will square up again in Sfax in Tunisia, the adopted home of war-ravaged Libya.
Rohr said he expected the Libyans to provide a stiffer challenge as they seek to avenge the heavy loss.
“We need a big fighting spirit to beat Libya again,” he insisted. “It will be a difficult game because after losing 4-0 in Uyo they will be aggressive, they want revenge.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian delegation to today’s match landed safely in the Tunisian city of Sfax yesterday evening.
The Max Air aircraft that took off from Uyo and had a stop -over in Kano to refuel touched down at the Sfax Airport at 4pm Tunisia time (same as Nigeria) and the players and team officials immediately headed to their Zeitouna Hotel abode for a short rest before the official training session.
The delegation, led by NFF 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, also included 2nd Vice President Shehu Dikko and Executive Board members Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Yusuf Ahmed ‘Fresh’ and immediate past NFF President, Alhaji Aminu.
Nigeria, 4-0 winners of the first leg encounter in Uyo on Saturday, trained for one hour at the Stade Taïeb Mhiri ahead of Tuesday’s big clash.
A win for Nigeria today would take the Super Eagles much closer to a place at the 2019 AFCON finals to be staged in Cameroon.
Nigeria lie second on the Group E table with six points, one less than leaders South Africa, ahead of Tuesday’s Matchday 4 battles. South Africa are also away, to Seychelles in Mahe Island on Tuesday.
Match officials for the encounter in Sfax are already in town for the game starting at 7pm Tunisia time (same time as Nigeria), with Botswanan official Joshua Bondo as the referee.