The German tactician was left bewildered after his men fell to the continental minnows on Thursday, but he is expecting better when the two sides meet again on Sunday
Head coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that Super Eagles players are aware of the importance of beating the Central African Republic and securing all three points in their matchday four clash scheduled for the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon.
The 124th-ranked CAR stunned the football world on October 3 when they defeated three-time African champions Nigeria 1-0 in Lagos, courtesy of Karl Namnganda’s 90th-minute effort.
Les Fauves’ victory was aided by many underwhelming performances from Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, among others, and an early injury to Kelechi Iheanacho.
Rohr and the Super Eagles arrived in Douala on Saturday morning and had their training later in the day, with the team poised to restore battered honour.
After the session, the German gaffer disclosed that he would rely on most of the players who started the matchday three clash against the Wild Beasts.
Rohr maintains that he will not change the team much, hinting at only two alterations to his last starting eleven.
However, he expressed the confidence that the return leg offers the Super Eagles the chance to exact their pound of flesh and get their qualification campaign back on track.
“We have to do a result,” Rohr told the Super Eagles Media Team.
“Everybody knows that now it is necessary to do this victory. We didn’t do it the other day. Three days later, we are here now, have the opportunity to make good rehabilitation.
“That’s why the team will not change so much. We will change a little bit but not too much, bringing two or three fresh players into the team, but the collective will be very strong, I hope.
“And tomorrow in this empty stadium, we also need good communication between us, so we are very confident that tomorrow will be a good game”.
A win for Nigeria will see the 2013 Afcon kings retain the top spot in Group C with nine points from four games, irrespective of the result in the other group tie between the Cape Verde Islands and Liberia.
NIGERIA players needs to be serious about this game of today
NIGERIA players needs to be serious about this game of today
NIGERIA players needs to be serious about this game of today because we don’t want disappointment