Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr says his players must be at their best against a quick and defensive Cape Verde team, reports Completesports.com.
The three-time African champions will take on the Blue Sharks on Wednesday (today) in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying matchday two fixture at the Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena, Mindelo.
“They like to play quickly in the attack, they have wonderful players like Mendes, they have players in France and they have offensive players,” Rohr stated.
“They like to set up with three at the back and we know they like to defend, but we have our idea and we have our tactics to score goals and win the game.
“I know it won’t be easy with our situation, but we are a super commando, and we have to show our fighting spirit.”
Rohr will be without some of his key players for the game after the United Kingdon-based players returned to base following the unchanged stance of UK authorities concerning protocols and guidelines that must be observed by anyone returning to the country after visiting a country on their COVID-19 red label, of which Cape Verde is one.
The game will also be played on an artificial pitch which the players are not used to.
Read Also: 2022 WCQ: Super Eagles Seek To Consolidate Winning Start Vs Cape Verde (See Match Details Inside)
“It’s a different pitch because and we are not used to playing on a synthetic pitch, some of our players have played on this pitch before when they were playing in Nigeria, but they are now in Europe,” he explained.
“We trained in Lagos on a synthetic pitch, but this one is softer and this is better to play on.
“It will be hot (on match day), but we have to adapt and give our best.
“We have to change the team, we have only 19 players available for this game and we have some problems and it’s a challenge.”
Rohr further said the home team want to win after they drew their opening qualifying match against Central African Republic.
“Cape Verde want to win because they drew their first game,” he said.
“We have been preparing since we were in Lagos, but Cape Verde had more days to recover.
“It will be a physical challenge, but we will be ready.”
The post Rohr Speaks On ‘Defensive’ Cape Verde, Playng On Artificial Turf, Missing Key Players appeared first on Complete Sports.
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