The team to progress from Group C to the final 2022 World Cup playoffs will be decided Tuesday when Super Eagles welcome Cape Verde in Lagos and coach Gernot Rohr said he welcomes the pressure that will accompany this tie.
Nigeria top the group with 12 points and need 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 today’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 today’s match 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.”
Liberia coach, Peter Butler, said he was proud of his players.
“We played against a very good and experienced team,” he acknowledged.
“We’re in a rebuilding process and don’t have the luxury of the finance teams like Egypt and Nigeria have.
“I’m proud of their efforts, they gave me everything and I won’t sit here and make excuses.”
