By Jon Essien
Gernot Rohr has revealed that his players ‘are well motivated’ ahead of their double-header international friendlies against Cameroon.
The three-time African champions will first take on the Indomitable Lions on Friday before squaring off again next week Tuesday as both encounters will be played at the Stadion Wiener Neustadt in Austria.
Four newly invited players will be in contention to make their senior international debut and Rohr has simply deemed it as an avenue to test new players after several members of his squad opted out through injuries.
In this regard, Rohr added that the players available are ready to make the squad for the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers that will begin in September.
“The players are well motivated. They want to do well. The training sessions have been good. They are happy to come together again,” Rohr told the Super Eagles media.
“The last time we played was in March. We have two victories against Benin and Lesotho. Now we are in June. This is the last preparations for us. We have the Afcon draw at the end of June.
“Then in September, October and November, we have the World Cup qualifiers. So this is the preparation before the World Cup which is very important.
“The players want to do well to be in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers.”
The number of the players in camp swelled to 21 after Slovakian-based defender, Izuchukwu Anthony was handed a late call up on Wednesday, while the duo of Paul Onuachu and Ahmed Musa arrived 24 hours earlier.
Nigeria are unbeaten in their last three outings against Cameroon under Rohr. They knocked the Indomitable Lions out of the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers followed by eliminating them from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in the Round of 16.
The last time the Super Eagles lost to Cameroon was in the final of the 2000 AFCON tournament played in Lagos as the Indomitable Lions won the title for the third time after beating Nigeria 4–3 on penalties.
