Test case for Gernot Rohr as Eagles face Cape Verde Tuesday
Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr will be without some key players as he confronts Cape Verde on Tuesday due to the UK’s red list palaver.
That by now is no longer news as many teams were affected and have had to prosecute some of the qualifiers already played with other players who stepped in to do the job.
Brazil for instance earned a lone goal victory over Chile on Thursday and Coach Tite blamed it on the absence of some key players but he achieved the needed result all the same, three points in the kitty.
It is during occasions like this that you know the technical readiness of any coach. Coming back home Rohr will be without ‘England Super Eagles legion ‘Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Oghenekaro Etebo, Emmanuel Dennis and William Troost-Ekong for the clash against the Blue Sharks on Tuesday.
Gingered by opening victory yesterday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium thanks to Kelechi Iheanacho’s brace,the three-time African champions take on Cape Verde at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde next and this will be a test case for Rohr to effectively deploy other players outside England legion to deliver.
Although Rohr who led Eagles to a third place finish at the last Nations cup in Egypt has expressed worry over the absence of so many first team players, on a good day Cape Verde should not pose a huge problem for the Eagles at least that is submissions of some soccer fans who spoke to Sportinglife.ng shortly after the Eagles versus Liberia match Friday.
Rohr according to them should get a descent result against Cape Verde absence of key players notwithstanding.
Speaking to the media after the win against Liberia, Rohr revealed the clash against Cape Verde would be difficult because of the absence of some key players.
“Nine players are leaving, and it’s not easy to build another team in only two days,” Rohr told Nigerian media on Friday evening.
The German tactician also expressed concerns over the playing surface in Cape Verde. The game will be played on a synthetic pitch, and Rohr believes it will be a huge challenge for the players to make a transition from a natural pitch to an astroturf.
“From a heavy grass to a very dry synthetic pitch, we have to show our solidarity and manage this position,” Rohr added.
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A win for Nigeria on Tuesday will put them in a commanding position in Group C. While the Red list palaver could draw some sympathy for coaches that are hard hit, it is equally behooves on the coaches so hit to dig deep using the legs available to do the needful and Eagles ranked 34 in the world should be able to overcome Cape Verde currently ranked 77.