Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr on Saturday declared that celebrations should be put on hold as there are still more matches to play in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying race.
The Super Eagles enacted a virtuoso performance to earn a commanding 3-1 victory over Algeria’s Fennecs on Saturday and take full control of Group B of Africa’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying race.
Chelsea of England ace Victor Moses weighed in with a brace, and Captain Mikel John Obi, also of the same English Premiership club, scored the other few minutes before half time.
The Franco-German spoke at the post-match press conference, after his charges dismantled Algeria’s Fennecs 3-1 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
In the same pragmatic manner he reacted after the win over Zambia in Ndola last month, Rohr said: “We played a good match and got three points, but I want to say that there are more matches to play and we have to keep our focus.
Nigeria look solid at the top of Group B with six points, with second –placed Cameroon, which Nigeria next play in August 2017, four points behind.
“We have a friendly against Egypt in Dubai in January, which will enable me to look at the home–based players, but I will continue to monitor the Europe–based players and we will see how we get matches for them on FIFA free dates.”
The win earned Rohr, who was signed on by Nigeria August this year, three wins out of three matches.
“I praise the players for their spirit, for their dedication and for their discipline. They all did very well and I am happy at their output.”
Meanwhile, President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Amaju Pinnick celebrated three precious points but insisted that the Eagles will continue to take the 2018 World Cup qualifying race one match at a time.
“This victory is very, very sweet. But as I said after the match in Zambia, this is a marathon. We have now won two matches out of six, and as a result of the draw between Cameroon and Zambia, we are looking very good on top.
“The best approach is to keep focus, to know that we are not there yet but that we surely will be there by putting more effort in each of our next four matches.”
The Super Eagles next play Cameroon home and away within a week in the third quarter of next year, and Pinnick insists those two games will be tough.
“Cameroon have drawn their first two matches of the series and will play us hard in both legs, but we have to play them even harder.”