AFCON
AFCON GROUP B: NOT AN EASY ONE, SAYS GERNOT ROHR
Despite being drawn in a group that has two debutants at the Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr, who saw the draw live behind the Giza Pyramids has remarked that the Nigerian group was not an easy one.
Nigeria are in Group B along with Burundi, Madagascar and Guinea. “It is a tough group and we have to be at our best and our fittest” Rohr said in a media release by the Nigeria Football federation.
According to the coach, “Guinea has a young, tough team and we will have to be at our best against them.
“Burundi eliminated Gabon even with their Pierre Aubameyang. Madagascar was the first team to qualify. It would be a great showpiece of football but it is important for our players to avoid injuries as the season heads towards the end.”
On his part, Super Eagles’ captain Ahmed Musa said: “I think it is a tough group for the Super Eagles. It is important for us to stay fit and avoid injuries so that everyone would be in great shape in Egypt.
“We have a young team who have played at the World Cup but have not played at the AFCON. For me, we are ready for any country in Egypt. It would be an interesting experience,” the media release from the NFF quoted the stand-in skipper as saying.
The two top –placed teams in each group, as well as the best four third –placed teams, will qualify for the knock-out rounds.