Every word Rohr said on Super Eagles players & fitness, synthetic pitch, Cape Verde stars and more

The Super Eagles had a feel of the Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena on Monday evening in preparation for their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde.

Gernot Rohr was on media duties for about four minutes immediately after his team's final training session this month.

The Super Eagles manager was quizzed on a range of topics including the reaction from his players during the training session, preparations for the game, Cape Verde national team players and the weather conditions over there in Mindelo.

Here's every word said during the briefing :

Coach you've had a feel of the turf, in view of tomorrow's match, what is the reaction from your players?

"It's a different pitch because we are not used to playing on synthetic pitch. Some of the players with their clubs there is no synthetic pitch, but we could already use in Lagos a synthetic pitch but not exactly the same one, this one is softer.

"I think it's good to play football, it is better to play football on this pitch than in the second half in Lagos in the last game. We will try to play football, we have to change the team.

"Like you know, ten players are not here, there are only 19 because we had these problems with UK players and Covid. It is a challenge, we want to win this game.

"With this team I trust in these boys who will play perhaps for the first time with the Super Eagles but if they are here they deserve, they are good.

"We'll see what can happen in this match because you know that Cape Verde also have to win it, they could draw only in the first match.

"We are ready for this match, it was difficult traveling in the night. I missed a little bit the physical presence from some players because they are still a bit tired but after a good night I think they will be ready tomorrow."

Coach apparently this is going to be one of your most difficult games considering the situation. How are you prepared for this?

"We prepared in Lagos with only three training sessions but the training sessions went well. The other team had two days more for recovery after the first game which they played in Douala. They played on Wednesday, we played only on Friday plus the traveling so it will be a physical challenge.

"That's why the training session was not too long today and we will be ready because I see that physically my players have still something to bring. Another night to recover and tomorrow afternoon they will be fit."

We are looking at Cape Verde, coach what do you know about Cape Verde? In our history, we've only met them once in a friendly in Faro in 2013, what do you know about them?

"They like to play quickly forward, they have very good strikers, they have this wonderful player Mendes and Tavares, who played in France also, so we know them. They have very good offensive players.

"They are playing very often with three in the back, we know that they like to come back to be sure that they don't concede but we have our tactics to score a goal and to win the match.

"That is what we want to do, we know that it is not easy especially with this handicap of ten players missing and two days less of recovery but it will be a challenge.

"We have to show fighting spirit with a good technical football like we always."

The weather seems to be very good here?

"Today is good, tomorrow they announced that it will be hot. We have to adapt, we will manage also the weather."

Ifeanyi Emmanuel