Gernot Rohr commends NFF for World Cup success

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Nov 13, 2017. 10:30

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has commended the country’s Football Federations (NFF) for their professional approach to the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Super Eagles enjoyed a superb ‘Road to Russia’, going unbeaten through the ‘group of death’ and becoming Africa’s first qualifier for the 2018 finals.

Rohr and his players merit praise for their superb performance, but the German coach has also credited the NFF for their work behind the scenes.

“For sure, we must commend the NFF for the role they played right from that game in Ndola against Zambia to last Friday’s game in Constantine, Algeria,” said Rohr, as quoted by Allnigeriasoccer.

“Apart from putting together excellent arrangements for our games at home, they ensured we travelled in comfort to all our away games and the fact that our away travels were always direct on chartered flights made sure we had very good recovery period between games.

“This also helped to manage the few days we usually have because of the congested and very small number of the FIFA international days.”

The German added, “From the time the draw was made for the group series of the qualifiers, we know that in a difficult group like the one we were in, the difference between success and failure could be down to little things that most people would take for granted, but I am happy that the NFF were very professional, passionate and committed to the cause.

“Their great planning and arrangements made the players to focus on the football only, so we got the best out of them.

“Now we cannot rest on our oars because there is a bigger challenge ahead of us. We have to prepare better and focus even more as we get set for the World Cup next year,” Rohr concluded.

Nigeria will line-up tomorrow evening for a friendly clash against Argentina in Krasnodar, Russia.