Gernot Rohr will be looking to secure his 22nd win as the chief coach of the Super Eagles when Nigeria confront the Swallows of Burundi today (Saturday) in their first Group B game of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Completesports.com reports
The German tactician who during Friday’s press conference highlighted how Saturday’s result against Olivier Niyungeko’s men will be crucial to the Eagles’ campaign in Egypt, has so far done quite well for Nigeria.
Since becoming the Super Eagles boss about three years ago, precisely on 9 August 2016, Rohr has won 21 out of 37 matches, drawing nine and losing seven which gives him a win ratio of 56.76 per cent which is not bad.
Rohr now hopes for a win against AFCON finals debutants, Burundi, in order to boost the team’s confidence at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
The three-time African champions will lock horns with the Central African nation for the first time in an international outing, in their Group B opener at the Alexandria Stadium today.
Burundi and Madagascar are the two AFCON finals newcomers in Group B and Rohr says the Super Eagles are looking to make a statement in the group with good results.
“Beating Burundi in the first game will help stabilise the team,” Rohr said in his pre-match press conference.
“But we are aware that at this point, every team wants to establish its supremacy in the first game and so Burundi will not be an easy task.
“We are ready to face any opponent in Egypt. My major target now is to get the team to work as a unit and be psychologically prepared to win the first game against Burundi.
“Winning the first game is very important for the Eagles because it would instil more confidence in the players.”
After today’s clash against the Swallows, the Super Eagles will clash with the Syli Nationale of Guinea in their next group game on Wednesday, June 26. They will round off their Group B campaign with the game against the Barea of Madagascar on June 30.
By Oluyemi Ogunseyin
