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'Eagles now too confident to be intimidated'

By Daily Sports on December 22, 2016

Like a general preparing his army for a final onslaught on a stubborn fortress, Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr will be headed to the Africa Cup of Nations in January to formulate the final draft of his war tactics.

No, the Super Eagles will not be at Gabon 2017, but two of Nigeria’s rivals in Group B of the final leg of the 2018 Fifa World Cup will be among the party when Africa’s elite footballers gather.

The plan is simple; get as much information you can about Algeria and Cameroon and use it to your advantage. The main focus will be of course the Indomitable Lions who are Nigeria’s next opponents on Match Day three.

With Nigeria sitting pretty on top of the group with maximum points, Cameroon with two points, four adrift of Nigeria, know they can’t afford to slip up again which makes the game in Uyo next year more interesting.

Cameroon have been Nigeria's bogey team for a long time in games that count for much. The Lions have always had the better of Nigeria in crucial games with the AFCON 2000 loss [below] still fresh in memory.

Rohr will look to cancel out Cameroon on match day as he has already pinpointed the physical approach used by the Cameroonians as an obstacle that will be surmounted.

He (Rohr) having identified one leg of the problem will now set his focus on Cameroon’s campaign in Gabon which will give him an up close look on the Cameroonian side.

Known for their physicality, the Indomitable Lions are adding a bit of flair to their side with the likes of Clinton Njie, Sébastien Siani and Karl Toko Ekambi the newbies in Hugo Broos’s team.

The odds might also be tilting in Nigeria’s favour as some players who Rohr has pencilled down to be added to the Lions have elected against joining up with the squad and this might spill into the World Cup qualifiers.

Broos’s plan to fortify the Lions defence with Liverpool's Joel Matip has already hit a brick wall as the centre back has elected to continue his odyssey in the international wilderness.

Six other players namely France-based Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa of Marseille, West Brom’s Allan Nyom, Andre Onana (Ajax Amsterdam), Maxime Poundje (Girondins Bordeaux), Ibrahim Amadou (Lille) and Guy N’dy Assembe have turned down call-ups by Broos.

They were all named in Cameroon’s provisional squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations but they have turned down the invitations, which has not gone down well with the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT).

Poundje, who is considered one of Cameroon’s exciting prospects, wants to play for France while Anguissa, Onana, Nyom and Amadou say they want to stay with their clubs for the duration of the Nations Cup.

With all the turmoil in the Cameroon camp, Rohr will be rubbing his palms with glee even as he casts his gaze at the Indomitable Lions build-up and eventual showing at Gabon 2017.

Rohr has already stated he is ready for Cameroon’s ‘rub the green’ approach but he will also relish sitting in a lighthouse watching as his rivals Cameroon go to war.

That vintage position will give him a good view of how Cameroon go about their business, which, in turn, will help him neutralise whatever Hugo Broos has to offer come August. (supersport.com)

•Photo shows Super Eagles in training

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 22, 2016