The former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr who is now occupying the same role with the national team of Benin Republic has once again aired his views about the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Rohr’s team are in the same group with the Super Eagles, Lesotho, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and South Africa for a spot in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States of America.
Explaining what will be an emotional clash against Nigeria, the Franco-German coach said players of both teams will no doubt treat the game as a derby game, aside the fact that it could also decide who makes it to the world soccer fiesta.
” Players of the two teams know what the game is all about because of the closeness of both countries. It’s a derby game which can also decide the ticket to the world cup for either team. It is that sort of game that you don’t need to say much to the players other than ask them to fight”, the coach told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
Speaking on his knowledge of the Nigerian team given that he was at the helm for five years and led them to the 2018 World Cup, before his controversial departure just before the World Cup playoff defeat against Ghana, Rohr said big games answers to players with strong mentality.
” All the games in the qualifiers are big games. You need a strong mentality to prosecute them. Nigeria have got players with qualities, who are always there in the big games. Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen and Kenneth Omeruo. The three players are very strong character, then there is Balogun (Leon)”, he rounded up saying.
Osas Mahawi
