Nigeria coach predicts Africa Cup of Nations winner

ABUJA

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr said he expects that after a demanding season in Europe, plus the heat in Egypt, will mean the fittest team will be crowned African champions.

The Africa Cup of Nations will be played from June 21 to July 19 in Egypt.

"We have to work hard," Franco-German coach Rohr said at his team's training camp in the southern Nigerian town of Asaba. "We have to be fit because only the fittest team have the chance to win the Nations Cup."

Three-time champions Nigeria are staging a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after they failed to qualify for the last tournaments.

"It will be very hot and there will be more games (with the expanded format of the tournament) to be played after a tough, long season for many of the players," he added. "And so we have to be fit, we want to be ready.”

Nigeria are drawn in Group D, along debutants Burundi and Madagascar as well as Guinea.

Rohr, who qualified the Super Eagles to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, also admitted he will be faced with selection headaches, as he has to drop two players from the provisional squad of 25 players at the weekend.

"Everybody wants to be in Egypt and, at the same time, we have to drop two players," he said.

"It will be difficult for me and my staff to choose the final 23, because everybody is doing so well."

The coach has downplayed the injury of Leon Balogun, saying the Brighton and Hove Albion defender is only suffering from foot blisters, and that was why he has trained apart from the main squad.

nation.co.ke

Comments

Court Convicts Son, Mother, Girlfriend for $902,935 Internet Fraud in Asaba

Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State on Thursday, July 22 convicted and sentenced Gift Kenneth, Dora Animam and Spice Chimzi Dandy Igwe to prison for internet-related fraud. Kenneth, his biological mother, Animam and girlfriend, Igwe were arraigned on one count charge each by the Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for offences bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences. They were said to have conspired to defraud an American lady, Lucinda Ann Garnes Henrichson of an aggregate sum of $902,935 The charge against Gift Kenneth reads: "that you Gift Kenneth (a.k.a Raymond Carl Eric ) on or about the year 2018 and 2019 at Agbor within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate the identity of one Raymond Carl Eric by which you propose an Infrastructural Investment Project to one Lucinda Ann Garnes Henrichson living in Texas, United States of America and thereby indu

Eden Hazard: 'I would consider Real Madrid offer'

Chelsea forward Eden Hazard has admitted that he would have to listen if Real Madrid were to come forward with a bid for him. The Belgium international was a key figure as the Blues won the Premier League title in 2016-17, scoring 16 goals in 36 games. Hazard, who has regularly been linked with a move to the Bernabeu, was asked by Sky Sports News about his thoughts on a potential move to Los Blancos. He replied: "Of course, I would consider it if Madrid made an offer. I am keen to win trophies. It would be great to win the Champions League. But Chelsea's goal is to win the Champions League as well. Honestly, I do not know what will happen. "I only know that I still have a contract with Chelsea for three seasons and that we just had an amazing 2016-17 campaign. We want to continue on this path and want to build on this in the Champions League. "I am feeling very well at Chelsea. But you never know what will happen. I have not met with the board yet to discuss a new

Shocking video shows angry father beating teenage daughter in Ebonyi State after he caught her having sex with lover

Disturbing video emerged on social media which shows an angry father beating his daughter, a high school student after he caught her having sex with a man in their home. He even gave people around permission to film the scene. The incident reportedly happened yesterday, July 28 in Uburu, Ohaozara, Ebonyi state. I'm sharing the photos because you can't tell who they are from looking at the photos. See them after the cut...

Bini Times

Search This Blog