Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr believes that with quality preparations Nigeria can get to the semi final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Egypt this summer.
Interestingly Rohr does not think the Eagles are among the favourites to win the Championship as a result of the fact that they missed the last two editions.
“If we have good preparation in good conditions, Nigeria must aim for the semi-finals of AFCON 2019. We have a very young team that can do well,”Rohr stated in an interview with CAF’s website.
The three-time champions are making a return after missing the 2015 and 2017 editions.
The Eagles face Seychelles in the last group match of the AFCON qualifier and even though they have qualified, Rohr has stated he is not taking the match for granted.
To buttress his seriousness, the German retained the usual faces on the 23-man squad released last week for the match billed for Asaba on March 22. While Rohr has left out captain Mikel Obi and Kelechi Iheanacho, he extended an invitation to Denmark based Paul Onuachu whose inclusion he insisted was on merit.
On Mikel,“He has arrived in Middlesbrough recently. He told me he was not ready and needs to work after his knee injury in China. He did not play all winter either. He was not ruled out for the AFCON but could not make that match in Asaba. We will see for the future.”he added.
Rohr also provides update on the Victor Moses who retired from international football after the World Cup.
“I was against his international retirement and, if he changed his mind, he must tell me but I have no information about it. We’ll see.”he said.
On why he dropped Iheanacho, Rohr said the Leicester forward has struggled for playing time this season.
“Kelechi needs to play with his club. He also needs to take advantage of the international break to show his qualities to his new coach. I give him time but there is danger for the CAN for those who do not play regularly in their club. The final list for the AFCON far from being made for anyone. “he declared.
He defended the inclusion of Enyimba defender Valentine Ozornwafor who shone for the Flying Eagles at the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Niger.
“I expect this player to bring his freshness, his physical strength (1m97) and technical quality . It also offers us an additional option since we have a lot of right sided defenders. I saw him in Niger at the AFCON and I like his aerial game,”he added.