‘Drawing Germany would be very nice’ - Nigeria’s Rohr anticipates difficult Russia 2018 World Cup draw

Tolu Olasoji

‘Drawing Germany would be very nice’ - Nigeria’s Rohr anticipates difficult Russia 2018 World Cup draw image
Nigeria in the same group as reigning world champions Germany ‘would be very nice’, according to coach Gernot Rohr.

Rohr, a German, would like to face his country at the Russia 2018 World Cup as he believes their ‘difficulties’ against African sides would likely give his Super Eagles team an edge.

En route clinching the prestigious trophy at the last edition in Brazil, Joachim Low’s side struggled against African oppositions. Against Ghana, Miroslav Klose came off the bench to secure a 2-2 draw for Die Mannschaft while an extra-time was needed to progress past a resilient Algeria in the Round of 16.

"I know Germany very well and sometimes they have difficulties against African teams," he told BBC Sport.

"Drawing Germany would be very nice but for my mother it would be difficult - because she is for Germany!"

Despite posting an impressive qualifying series - becoming the first African side to qualify for the tournament, a difficult draw await Nigeria who are placed in Pot 4.

"We are now paying the bill for the bad results two years ago," he continued.

"Since I arrived, I think we have moved up 17-18 places so we have a better Fifa ranking now. All the teams in our group will be good because they have a higher level in Fifa.

"We will have a difficult group because we are in the last pot and we are supposed to have big teams with us. We are realistic, we wait for the draw and afterwards, we will organise our planning and our friendly games.

"We will do our best and it will be a wonderful adventure in any case."

With the situation quite tedious than it was in 2014, Rohr, 64, has distanced himself from talks of a glamorous finish at the finals.

"The minimum target is to have a good performance and have a good attitude," he said.

"It would be wonderful if we could get out of the group and then from there, we are outsiders - but we are ambitious also. We would like to do very well, win some points and qualify for the last 16.

"They did it in 2014 and lost against France but last time they were in Pot 3 and now we are Pot 4, so it will be more difficult.

"But let's try. We already made a good surprise in our qualifiers and now we would like to do another surprise."

Nigeria will know their foes in Friday's Russia 2018 draw billed for the State Kremlin Palace, Parliament of the Russian Federation.

 

Tolu Olasoji