Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr says his team’s resilient spirit made the different in their 2-1 away win against the Chipolopolo of Zambia in their first Group B match of the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Sunday in Ndola.
While appraising the game during a post match press conference in Ndola, Rohr submits it was a game of two halves – Nigeria dominating the first and scoring two goal therein while Zambia controlled the second but failed to stop the highly spirited Super Eagles.
“The result today is a reflection of what happened in the match. What happened in the first half was what we expected. We played well and we scored,” Rohr remarks.
He sums up: “In the second half Zambia was the better team. They pushed and pushed and they almost made it 2-2, but the spirit of our team was very good, so we managed to defend until the end.”
With the win, Nigeria presently top Group B with three points. Cameroon and Algeria come in the second and third positions with a point apiece following their 1-1 draw in Blida on Sunday. Zambia, without a point after match-day one, bring up the rear.
For the forthcoming match-day two, the Super Eagles will host Algeria at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo on November 12, while Cameroon will welcome Zambia at Limbe Omnisports Stadium in Limbe.
