Nigeria coach Rohr targets 2019 AFCON ticket

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Thursday Oct 12, 2017. 11:00

Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr has set his sights on qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

The German tactician recently guided the Super Eagles to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals following a 1-0 win over Zambia in Uyo, Nigeria last weekend.

Rohr, who was appointed Nigeria head coach in August, 2016, is pleased to have led the West African nation to the prestigious global tournament.

“I am very excited to be working with this team," Rohr told the official website of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

"A blend of the experienced and the young and ambitious ones. They are a delight to be with at all times, and I believe we are onto great things.

Nigeria, who are three-time African champions, were stunned 2-0 by South Africa in their first match in the 2019 AFCON Qualification Group E in Uyo last June.

“At the beginning of the qualifying series, many people said we were going to be chasing it. But we sat down together and we promised ourselves that we would go all out and get the ticket," he added.

“That match was a big wake –up call for us. Now that we have the World Cup ticket, we will go all out for the AFCON ticket and get it.

“When you have a team that has so much self –belief, a lot of things are possible. Age is but a number. I feel young and able and willing to go on working with this group."

The Super Eagles will take on Seychelles away in their next AFCON qualifier in March, 2018.