Following the draw for Africa’s second round 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr and midfielder Wilfred Ndidi believe that the Super Eagles have a tough test ahead of them.
The West African heavyweights were placed in Group C alongside Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic and Liberia.
Only the top team in each of the 10 groups will qualify for the final playoff round and though there are tougher draws in the field – Cameroon and Ivory Coast are both in Group D, for example – Nigeria will have to bring its ‘A Game’ to ensure progression to the next phase.
“We’ve three tricky opponents in Group C,” coach Rohr told the Super Eagles Twitter page, @NGSuperEagles.
“A few years ago, Cape Verde were Africa’s best FIFA ranked team, CAR have some good players in Europe and we played a friendly in Liberia recently that wasn’t easy…we’ve [got] to be at our best against them.”
Leicester City midfielder Ndidi echoed his national team coach’s sentiments, also via the Super Eagles Twitter feed.
“This is the World Cup, no room for complacency. Every game must be taken seriously,” explained Ndidi.
“Our first game is going to be the most important as well as all our home games, and even away games. We must make it to the third round.”
Nigeria have qualified for six of the last seven World Cup tournaments, only missing out on the 2006 edition in Germany.
