Rohr: We can’t beat Mexico with home-based players

The Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has said it will be impossible to play and defeat Mexico in the upcoming friendly using home-based players. 25 players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) have been called up for the match billed to hold at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum USA, on July […]

The Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has said it will be impossible to play and defeat Mexico in the upcoming friendly using home-based players.

25 players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) have been called up for the match billed to hold at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum USA, on July 4.

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Speaking after yesterday’s training session at the Goal Project inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, the Franco-German tactician said “I am watching the training as I am not the coach of this team.

“The players seem to be fit and have now the rhythm of the competition. Again, I saw some players who are already in my team and it is always good to see them again. They seem to be in great form.

“They are playing on natural grass and two or three players are missing because they have a match to play but will arrive after the game. I will see if there is anyone I can invite to the ‘A’ team.

“You cannot play against Mexico and say you will win it with these home-based players. It is not our A team and it will not count for FIFA rankings. The most important thing is not the results but to test the players and discover new players and evolve new tactics,” he said.

Rohr said that the team will be coached by Austin Eguavoen who is the technical director at the NFF and his deputy, Paul Aigbogun.

He also said he will be there to watch the players and see if he can pick some of them for the A team.