Nigeria vs Libya: Rohr in selection dilemma

Nigeria vs Libya: Rohr in selection dilemma Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr, is growing grey hairs over his starting lineup for the Africa Nations Cup qualifier with the Mediterranean Stars of Libya with the return of old reliables in the team. The coming back of Shehu Abdulahi, Alex Iwobi, Isaac Success and Moses Simon who were not present at the Eagles last match against Seychelles is given him a selection headache ahead of the double-header against Libya. The quartet missed the Super Eagles’ last game against Seychelles due to injuries. “We have a big choice to make with the return of Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon and Isaac Success. “It’s going to be tough as only 11 players can play and 18 can be dressed for the game from the pool of 24. “But we will see after the tactical sessions – we will have from tomorrow (Friday) to see the fittest ones to start,” Rohr said. Rohr is calling on stand –in skipper Ahmed Musa and the rest of the squad to earn a credible result on Saturday and go ahead to dig their feet into the ground in the return in Sfax on Tuesday. “I believe we have the players here to earn a decent result and then go and give their all in Libya for another credible outcome. We need the points now; we cannot pretend about that. If we pick the points in these two games, we will be very close to the AFCON ticket. “It was good winning in Seychelles the way we did. We got the result we needed and it should serve as a good motivation to continue winning when we play Libya.” Rohr declared that Libya would pose a tough test for his side when they face off in their first of two meetings in four days with Saturday’s clash in Uyo. To this end, the German gaffer warns Nigerians to avoid any celebration following the resignation of Adel Amruoche as Libya’s coach, just four days before they battle in Nigeria as he believes the visi-tors will be tougher without him. Rohr reckoned that the exit of Amrouche means the Libyan players will be fully determined to make instant impressions under the new man in charge, in order to cement their spots in the team. The 65-year-old coach stated further that the new man in charge of The Mediterranean Knights for Saturday’s match had been an assistant to Amrouche all along, which means he will follow the same philosophy of the Algerian tactician, who resigned from his job on Tuesday. “We should not be celebrating the resignation of the coach, because players are usually more determined to play better under a new coach, in order to impress the new man and cement a place in the team. “You should, therefore, expect Libya to be tougher in Uyo without Amrouche, because the players will want to make good impressions under the new man in charge. Rohr stated further in a press briefing monitored by Mega Sports that he is expecting the visitors to line out at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium with tactics built on a strong defence and fast counter attacks. He added: “At the same time, the new man has been an assistant under Amrouche, which means he will play just the same way, and the team will continue in the same manner we saw from them against South Africa. “They will be strong in defence and try to surprise us with counter attacks; so we have to prepare very well for them; which is what we are doing. “I am happy that we first trained on the pitch on Wednesday, and it was very exciting. It’s a good pitch, and helped us start well. All the players are happy, I am also happy. We hope to do well on a good pitch.” Rohr also spoke on the prospect of playing under rainy conditions in Uyo on Saturday. “We have lots of European players in the team, only one playing in Nigeria. And they are used to playing under such conditions the training pitch is good and I believe the turf also is in good condition. “I want to thank the governor of Akwa Ibom State Emmanuel Udom for receiving us again. Uyo is our home. We have good feeling with the fans,” the German added.