Gernot Rohr has assured his Super Eagles will be ready to take on seven-time champions Egypt, who will parade “fantastic” Mohamed Salah, when they get their 2021 AFCON campaign underway on January 11 in Garoua.
Nigeria could not have hoped for a tougher test than coming face-to-face with the most successful team of the AFCON in their opening Group D game.
However, Rohr said the Eagles will play as a team to stop the Pharaohs and their Liverpool talisman Salah.
“It’s a big challenge to play against Egypt in the first game and a player like Mohamed Salah,” Rohr told ESPN
“It is a big challenge for all our defence and also for all our team.
“We will defend collectively against him of course, and we are growing together since a few years now and I believe our defence is able to be efficient against such a fantastic player.”
“We will be very, very well prepared,” he added.
“We need to be ready for this first match against Egypt in Garoua.”
Rohr described Group D, which also has Sudan and Guinea Bissau, as “tough”, saying Sudan came through a difficult qualifying group, while Guinea Bissau will be no pushovers.
