President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has challenged the Super Eagles to stay focused on winning a fourth Africa Cup of Nations to title in Egypt.
The Super Eagles arrived in into Egypt’s second largest city, Alexandria on Monday evening as the countdown to the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations hit the home stretch.
Pinnick visited the team during their first training session at the Arab Academy for Science, Technlogy and Maritime Transport in the port city on Tuesday and tasked the players to bring the the trophy home.
“Do not take any team for granted. Easy groups exist only on paper; things are different on the pitch. The NFF will ensure you get all that is due to you. This is a very important tournament and Nigerians are fully behind you. You should do your very best not to disappoint them,” Pinnick was quoted by NFF.com.
“The NFF is happy about the situation in camp; the commitment, discipline and dedication of each and everyone of you. You have all the quality of a champion team and everything about you is positive.”
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Responding, Captain Mikel John Obi thanked Pinnick for exemplary care for the national team and promised that the three–time African champions will be very professional on and off the pitch and do all they can to make the country proud.
“Mr. President, we thank you for all that you have done for this team over the years, as the head of Nigerian Football. We appreciate your honest approach to all issues that concern our welfare.
“We all are aware of what is at stake. This tournament will not be child’s play or a stroll in the park, but we are ready. It will be tough but when it gets tough, we will get tougher.”
The Super Eagles will start their Group A campaign against the Swallows of Burundi on Saturday June 22 in Alexandria. They will clash with the Syli Nationale of Guinea on June 26 before confronting the Barea of Madagascar in their last group game on June 30.
COMMENTS
Rohr added:
”I also expect a lot from this tournament. But it is not good to put pressure on a young team. Let work, fight and do their best. I can only promise that every training session and match will be at the highest level.
“And sometimes, we need the help of the “God of football”, and sometimes, the referee decisions too, as we saw in Russia, can affect a team. This is a charm in football that we have to accept.”
Rohr’s men head to the match against Burundi following their 1-0 defeat Senegal last Sunday in their last pre-warm up friendly encounter.
my opinion is that only an idiot cannot see that oga rohr lacks winning confidence.
low level small time manager. watch out if nigeria manage to hit the semi final our manager rohr would bottle it simply cos it feels to him like the trophy already by arriving the last 4. he will celebrate by his usually and multiple time said that my young team quote. we will be watch them very keenly.
Well said brother, I have always said it on this forum that this coach is not a winner. He was sack by both niger republic and Gabon, there you have it. God help us the eagles win the trophy, it will be inspite of him.
I am optimistic that the eagles will surely carry the cup. Am seeing Ahmed Musa in d picture I thought they said he was sick, God purnish . all the best super eagles
God purnish devil i say
And you are that idiot. isn’t it true that the team is young? so because he has not been boasting this and that is what is making you to always cry? abeg save your tears. Do you think the man will not want to win the cup himself? He is only been humble and try to take it one Step at time. Equally trying to show his opponent respect as well. Ex players like Efe Ambrose said it today as well that they should not put pressure on the team
You are a big fool tayo and you are totally blind plus you don’t know any thing for siding this olodo coach of a coach who doesn’t have anything on his Head .this idiot silly coach said that semifinals is fine to him cause if he manages to reach semifinals its a trophy to him.
I was watching one of the press conference held for the super eagles, and when ahmed musa was quizzed, he said somthing “The coach always tell us to keep our heads low and do our work on the pitch” what am i saying?….. That Rohr does not talk tough does not mean he lacks a winning mentality. Pls let stop insulting the coach and give the team all our support. if he said semi final was fine, that does not mean he will not do well when he gets to the Finals. Everybody wants to be a winner. Understand your coach he prefer to talk less and allow his players do the talking on the pitch. After all, who talking epp. Pls let respect the coach and stop insulting him. Let also stop insulting one another.
I just can’t understand why some people can’t refrain from insults when making comments. Why call Rohr an IDIOT SILLY coach? That man is in his late 60s. Do we have no respect for elders anymore? If he was not doing a good job, surely you can criticize him without insulting him. However, can we really say Rohr has not done well thus far? Look at what he has achieved. Other coaches keep talking and boasting. Rohr doesn’t talk, yet we found ourselves at the world cup in 2018, and here we are getting ready for our first Afcon game since 2013, 6 years ago! Yet, they say he is a IDIOT SILLY coach. If this is idiocy and silliness, long may it continue! I don’t ever want Rohr to stop been idiotic and silly! Never!!!
NFF President has challenged a team that has Akpeyi and that unconvincing technical and technical coach to delivered what they couldn’t have? Are you kidding me Mr. President?
What a big joke? Is like asking jennet Jackson to sing Fuji garbage or Lagbaja omo baba mukomuko song?
Ahahaha. Mr. Amaju, don’t start a war you can win o.
For me, I wish our beloved Super Eagles best of luck but I don’t rely on them. I’m rooting for mama Africa, that is our lovely Super Falcons I’m talking about. If Super Eagles wins the tournament with unconvincing performance, that is unacceptable.
Since that Super Eagles is unreliable team, let’s support our Super Falcons because, what the Super Eagles refused to do in Russia, let’s pray that Super Falcons, so that they can get the job done for us.
I believed that Super Falcons will sail through by God’s grace. Argentina 3 and Australia 3 wich favoured Nigeria. We almost there. Oh God have mercy on us. We still have a lot to prove to the world in this competition in France. Super Eagles, good luck o. God bless Nigeria!!!