Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr reveals in this interview with Johnny Edward in Uyo how his team will approach the second leg fixture of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers against Libya in Sfax Tunisia on Tuesday. He also talks about the injury worries in his camp, and how delighted he is that Odion Ighalo proved his critics wrong in the big win against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.
Excerpts…..
On Injury worries ahead of the reverse fixture against Libya in Tunisia.
Abdullahi Shehu suffered a muscle contraption in the quadriceps on his right leg during the game. It was not a groin injury. He’s going to be out of action for the second game. We also lost Ogenyi Onazi who has an inflammation on his achiles. He won’t be traveling g with us to Tunisia. We have 22 players for the second game in Tunisia.
On Francis Uzoho’s performance
Uzoho didn’t concede a goal which was important. He also had some problems with his foot. You will notice that some of his balls were going out of the pitch . The grass was not so good. He put up a good performance again for the team. He’s only 19, don’t forget. But he can progress much more.
On the big win against Libya
We won the game because we scored four goals. We worked hard for the win and scored more goals. It’s good for the team. We deserved the victory against a side that played well against South Africa. Everyone was impressed. The early goal gave us good confidence at the start of the game.
On Samuel Kalu’s performance
Kalu did very well but sometimes he had a problem of integrating well into the team which is normal coming into a new team. He is playing better and better. He did very well. Playing in Nigeria for the first time in an important match like this he did well. I saw him play for Bordeaux and he’s was very good
There’s little more work for him (Kalu) to do in replacing Victor Moses. The door is still open for him to come back . If he’s fit, why not. Victor loves his fatherland that I know.
On Odion Ighalo’s hat-trick
I am very happy for Odion Ighalo because he has been unfairly criticised in the social media. I’m really happy that he gave a good response on the pitch. We also have new in Ahmed Musa who is leading the team in another style from John Mikel Obi, but he is younger and fresh. I think the team is on the right path.
This team will be happy to receive the experienced players back. The likes of Elderson Echiejile, Victor Moses and Mikel. The average age was 24. We missed key players in Moses and Mikel Obi. We had two new players in the team, Samuel Kalu and Jamilu Collins who did well.
On the reverse fixture against Libya I Sfax
We will approach the game differently and ensure we record another win.