Despite missing some key players due to injury ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Bafana Bafana, Nigeria national team coach Gernot Rohr is confident they can still get a positive result at FNB Stadium today (3pm kick-off).
The Super Eagles are top of Group E with nine points and lead their counterparts, Bafana, by one – with two more games to go. A win or at least a draw will be enough to book them a ticket to the 2019 continental showpiece that will be held in Cameroon. However, they’ll have to do that with without key players –including the qualifiers’ top goal scorer Odion Ighalo – due to injuries.
“We are coming here not to play for a draw – which could be enough for us to qualify – but we’ll try to win because we have wonderful playing conditions and the players will enjoy,” Rohr said upon their arrival for training at the World Cup Stadium, yesterday. “We are missing four important players but I think the other players will do well and we’ll make a good match.”
The Super Eagles will also be hoping to avenge their 2 -0 home loss to Bafana in the qualifiers’ opener in Uyo, almost one-and-half year ago. It’s was Bafana first victory over the Nigerians since 2004. On the other hand, that’s still Rohr’s only loss as the Super Eagles’ coach in over two years at the helm.
“The loss is still in our mind and we’d like to get a better result," the 65-year-old coach said. “The match in Uyo was very special because it was in the summer break and I missed some of our best players. Now the situation is different because we have the experience of the World Cup."
Bafana will at least need a draw to keep their Afcon aspirations alive.