Rohr not happy with fixture schedule

by Staff Reporter

Friday Nov 01, 2019. 08:00

Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr has voiced his disapproval at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers fixture schedule for this month.

The Super Eagles face Benin at home on the 13th of November before travelling south to Maseru to take on Lesotho four days later in their second Group L clash.

“Our players from Europe will only get to us a day or two before the first game, so there is no time for adaptation to the African conditions,” Rohr is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

“After that game on Thursday we travel to Lesotho away on Friday to play on an artificial surface on Sunday. This is not ideal and proper for any team.

“We’ve spoken to Caf about this but nothing has been done.”

The 66-year-old has named a strong squad, boosted by the return of Ahmed Musa, Kenneth Omeruo, Ola Aina, Samuel Kalu and Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

Nigeria will be aiming to build on their showing at the Afcon tournament in Egypt this year, where they won the bronze medal, as well as their encouraging display in recently friendlies against Ukraine and Brazil.