The three-time African Champions now know their group stage opponents in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations following the conclusion of the draw, which took place in Yaounde on Tuesday night
Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr knows next year’s AFCON in Cameroon is his last opportunity to lead Nigeria to glory.
Rohr was appointed as Nigeria’s coach in 2016 and has led the team to two major tournaments with a game to spare.
However, Nigeria’s result in the two tournaments is a group stage exit at the 2018 World Cup and a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Rohr worked his magic again as Nigeria qualified for next year’s nations cup with a game to spare. But unlike the two previous tournaments, this is the German tactician’s last chance to win a trophy with Nigeria.
He already knows the challenge he faces as The Super Eagles have been drawn in Group D alongside Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria start their campaign against Egypt at the Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua, on January 11. Although the clash against the Pharaohs of Egypt will be a difficult opening match, Rohr has no excuse not to lead the Super Eagles out of the group stages.
On paper, Nigeria and Egypt will compete for the first two places, but Sudan will be a tricky opposition after they denied South Africa a place in the tournament.
Still, anything other than a top-two finish in the group will be a disaster, even though the four best third-place teams also qualify for the round of 16.
Rohr has been handed the challenge of winning the trophy for Nigeria next year. While many factors come into play in international tournaments, the former Burkina Faso coach, with the array of talents in the Super Eagles squad, should at least be aiming for a place in the final next year.
Rohr played down Nigeria’s chances in Egypt two years ago, saying the team was young. However, he can’t play that card next year.
Anything other than a final appearance at least could be the end of his time as Nigeria’s head coach.
This post was last modified on %s = human-readable time difference 8:17 am
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Sorry to say Sir Editor in Chief, your opinions here are very shallow. For Gernot Rohr to perform has allowances and salaries been settled?
Will the players have a condusive mind frame to prosecute the task.
People will read your writeup and put pressure on the coach unnecessarily when NFF should be the one to be called out here.
I wonder why editors don't apply same pressure on coaches with local clubs on continental assignment!! Is it because editors know the local system is not right and then suddenly feel Gernot Rohr will do magic with SE even though system are not in place!!!
Abeg Start to right objectively
Some of you don't even think. The writer is right. Rohr has no excuse. If he's not satisfied with the conditions, he shouldn't have signed a new deal.
I hope you don't have this kind of mentality in your day work.
Did the new contract stipulate that the players and the coaches will be owed? Is that how you sign your own job contract?