Gernot Rohr outlines early plans for Super Eagles nations cup campaign

Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has revealed his tentative outline of plans for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, ahead of which he disclosed that he would love to have his players fully in camp ten days before kick-off, BSNSports.com.ng reports. Although he still has two matches to execute in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers this month, and then think of the final round knockout playoff game, Rohr is already thinking about how to storm Cameroon in style come January. The Franco-German tactician is, however, wary of the possibility that he may not be able to get the core of his players based in England and Scotland as early as he would desire at the start of next year. He admitted as much while pointing out that he has already received a call from Glasgow Rangers of Scotland, who he disclosed are seeking for the late release of Joe Aribo, Leon Aderemi Balogun and Calvin Bassey for the Eagles’ AFCON quest in Cameroon. The Eagles’ gaffer added that The Gers hope to have all three players available for The Old Firm Derby against Celtic on January 2, following which they will depart for international assignment that will start later that month. Aribo and Balogun are established players in Nigeria’s fold and they have been invited for their 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde on November 13 and 16 respectively, but they may arrive late in the next camp of the Eagles. The three-time champions, who finished third at the last AFCON, will play in Group D with Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau, with their quest for a fourth continental title starting against The Pharaohs on January 11, ahead of which Rohr is already making plans for all his matches. Rohr told Scottish Sun newspaper: “We need good preparation, we need the players at least 10 days before but like you know in the UK, they play. “Somebody called me from Glasgow already. They have the derby Rangers vs Celtic on the second day of January and asked if we can let the players play. “We have a lot of problems to prepare the team, but I think we will have most of our players at least 10 days before.”