The team to progress from Group C to the final 2022 World Cup playoffs will be decided tomorrow when Super Eagles welcome Cape Verde at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos and coach Gernot Rohr said he welcomes the pressure that will accompany this tie.
Nigeria tops the group with 12 points and needs only a point to reach the playoffs to be staged in March next year.
However, visiting Cape Verde, who are on 10 points, could upset most predictions should they win in Lagos as they will then proceed to the knockout rounds ahead of the star-studded Eagles.
“It’s good to play with pressure if there is pressure to honour the match more,” reasoned Rohr. “We can’t lose the final game, we have to make a result on Tuesday.”
Striker Odion Ighalo, who has been pulled out of retirement, was not listed for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Liberia in Morocco.
However, Rohr said he hopes the former Manchester United ace “will help us a little”.
The coach praised the Lone Star of Liberia for making a better contest than when both teams first clashed in Lagos in September.
“They gave us a big fight, in the air and on the ground,” he remarked.
“It wasn’t easy and that’s why we’re happy about this victory and that we didn’t concede a goal.”
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