Super Eagles Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has warned that Saturday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Chipolopolo will be very difficult, adding that the 3-time African Champions will not underrate the exciting Zambian team who beat Algeria home and away in the last two Match Days to bounce back to reckoning in Group B of the qualifiers.
A win for the Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio International stadium on Saturday, will guarantee Rohr’s side a 6th World Cup appearance at the expense of Zambia, who will boost they chances of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia with either a draw or a unlikely win over Nigeria.
Speaking in Uyo, the Franco-German tactician also admitted that the Zambians have immensely improved since losing 2-1 to the Eagles in the reverse fixture last November in Ndola.
“We are looking at making the decision in our group. Of course, if we win this game on Saturday, you know that we are qualified (for the World Cup), everybody wants to do it,” the 64-year old said.
“But we know also that Zambia is a good team. They are champions of under20 in Africa; they have a different team now from the one they had in Ndola. So we must not underrate this team. We have a lot of respect for this Zambian team. They beat Algeria twice.
“We know it would not be easy. I think it would be even more difficult than the Cameroon game,” Rohr stated.
Nigeria who lead Group B with 10points, three more than Saturday’s opponents, Zambia, will qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with any manner of win against the South Africans on Saturday.
The other teams in the group, Cameroon (with 3pts) and Algeria (with 1 point) are out of contention for a place at the global showpiece.
