AFCON 2022 Qualifiers: Gernot Rohr In Make Or Mar Tie
As Super Eagles seek Freetown redemption
In what many football commentators considers as a make or mar tie for Coach Gernot Rohr, Nigeria’s Super Eagles arrived Freetown, the Sierra Leonean capital on Monday afternoon for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against hosts, Leone Stars
The three-time African champions will be doing battle at the National Stadium Freetown this Tuesday night, seeking redemption for their disappointing 4-4 draw in Benin on Friday.
Coach Gernot Rohr’s men embarrassingly surrendered a four-goal lead that allowed Sierra Leone to pull off a remarkable comeback that had both countries sharing the spoils at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Despite the 4-4 draw, Nigeria remain Group L leaders with seven points after three games and victory over John Keister’s men would secure the country’s ticket for the continental showpiece slated for Cameroon in 2022.
For an encounter with the high pitched pressure, it is however not good news for the German-born Coach Rohr as injured Napoli striker Victor Osimhen failed to make the Freetown trip and is expected back in Italy to treat his dislocated shoulder.
Also, as the Eagles landed in Freetown, the trio of Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze; Rangers defender Leon Balogun; and Club Brugge’s Emmanuel Dennis were all facing a race against time to be fit for today’s match.
“The two players I took out [Balogun and Chukwuez] were injured,” Rohr said before the team’s departure.
“Balogun had a little knock but he is okay. He did a little training with the team, it’s not painless but he will be okay.
“Dennis had a little injury in the last training session, his ankle is swollen and he cannot play, he can only run, and Chukwueze has a pain in the groin and could only work in practice today but we hope to get him back for the next game.”
After Friday’s capitulation on home soil, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick reportedly set a target of goals for the Super Eagles as they seek to redeem their battered image in Freetown. – With Goal.com reports
