When the 63-year-old took over Nigeria in August last year, the Super Eagles had just failed to qualify for a second CAF Africa Cup of Nations in a row. The disappointment was palpable in the football-mad west African country, having come shortly after lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2013 and competing with distinction at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil
Rohr was thus given a clear directive: ensure the Super Eagles qualify for Russia 2018. Achieving that feat will mean overcoming the so-called ‘Group of Death’ with Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia standing in the way. The former defender, who became an iconic figure at Bordeaux during his playing days, got off to a winning start with Nigeria, beating Tanzania 1-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier that had already been rendered meaningless after Egypt secured the lone qualifying berth from Group G.
More importantly though, Rohr got the Super Eagles off to a winning start in their World Cup qualifiers, recording a tough 2-1 win in Zambia. Nigeria then collected a confident 3-1 victory at home against Algeria. The six points, coupled with some surprising results in the other games, leaves Nigeria with an early four-point lead.
“Winning our first two matches was a great start, but we will not play again until the end of August and early September, when we face Cameroon,” said Rohr. “They of course are African champions and will be highly motivated to take the form from Gabon into the World Cup qualifiers.
“I do not get carried away. It is a very tough group and nothing has been decided. But I admit that, at the moment, we have a small advantage and if we win our two matches at home against Cameroon and Zambia, we will qualify.”
Like many of his counterparts throughout Africa, Rohr can call up a host of players plying their trade throughout Europe. But unlike most, Rohr has an array of players who appear regularly in one of the world’s toughest leagues: the English Premier League. “As the team and the country had been deeply affected by failing to qualify for the finals in Gabon, I wanted to bring in some younger players into the squad. This, of course, is without closing the door on anyone.”
Rohr handed a first call-up to Isaac Success and also included youngsters like Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho. But the German did not put all his faith into talented youngsters, he included experienced campaigners like Elderson Echiejile, John Ogu and captain John Obi Mikel in his squad.
Culled from fifa.com
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