Football
Colin Udoh, Special to ESPN 5y

Nigeria's Rohr braced for Libya reaction

Nigeria's Gernot Rohr is bracing for a reaction from Libya in the return leg of their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday after the Mediterranean Knights suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat against the Super Eagles.

A hat-trick from Odion Ighalo, and Samuel Kalu's first international goal handed Nigeria a big victory and put them in front of the Libyans on the log.

However, with the return leg in just three days, Rohr is already preparing for a significant response from the North Africans.

"It will be more difficult in two days, because this team lost 4-0," he told journalists. "When you lose 4-0 and you have the chance to play three days later, you want to show that you are better than 4-0.

"That is why this is a dangerous result, because it is not a humiliation for them but they really want to show that they are better than this 4-0."

Rohr also disclosed that defender Shehu Abdullahi, who had to go off early with an injury, suffered a muscle strain and was taken off as a precaution.

However, the right-back will not travel with the squad to Tunisia, where Libya will host the reverse fixture.

"We already lost Ogenyi Onazi this week," Rohr continued. "He suffered an inflammation in his achilles and he will not travel with us to Tunisia.

"Shehu also had a muscle injury and we took him off so that it does not become a bigger injury, but he will not be part of the team to Tunisia.

"So we go with only 22 players."

Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho also came in for praise for his good performance, although Rohr conceded that he would need to improve on his footwork.

"He didn't concede a goal, which is important," the coach concluded. "He has to do some progress with the foot, but he made a good performance for him and the team.

"He is only 19 don't forget."

Nigeria depart for Tunisia on Monday morning and play the return fixture in Sfax on Tuesday.

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