Bafana

Nigeria Coach Singles Out One Bafana Player

14 Nov 18, 2018 - 09:00 am

By Soccer Laduma

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has singled out one player who will be key to helping Bafana Bafana get a result against Libya.

Read: Mothiba Rescues Bafana, Nigeria Qualify For Afcon

Nigeria booked their spot at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier after drawing 1-1 with Bafana on Saturday afternoon.

As a result, Stuart Baxter's charges only need a point to secure qualification and Rohr feels if Percy Tau performs, Bafana will have a good chance of qualifying.

“It is going to be a big battle. We were also in Tunisia, Sfax to play against a good team of Libya. They saw already here that it’s not easy to beat them. But I think if South Africa play against Libya like they played today, with this kind of movement Percy Tau who’s a wonderful player, they will win it also. Even a draw will be enough I think they will be with us in the next Afcon in Cameroon,” he said.

Rohr admitted the he adopted a more cautios approach against the South Africans, knowing a point would be enough to meet their objective.

“We expected this much [resistance] because we know that South Africa is a good team. They never conceded a goal and the challenge today was to score against this very good goalkeeper he added.

"We knew it was going to be a difficult game, it was very hot. Long traveling, only arriving yesterday morning without sleeping in the night.

“The second half was very difficult but we started the match very well. We scored the first goal and then our tactic was okay. They had to come against our defensive block, it was difficult for South Africa.

“We tried to score the second goal of course. We always play to win. We’ve won the other four matches before that’s why we wanted to win. But we didn’t want to take any risks because we knew that a draw is just like a victory.”