Ahead of the Super Eagles' crucial game against the Cheetahs of Benin, Nigeria coach Finidi George has revealed a tactical approach aimed at turning Gernot Rohr's familiarity with the squad into an advantage for Nigeria.
Rohr, it will be recalled, was appointed the manager of the Super Eagles in 2016 and remained at the helm until 2021 when he was relieved of his position.
It is worth mentioning that eight of the players that started Nigeria's AFCON final earlier this year, and two of the five substitutes, were handed their debuts while Rohr was manager.
Despite this, Finidi has insisted that Rohr's knowledge of the Nigeria national team will count for nothing in Monday's meeting at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.
Finidi George dismisses Rohr's inside knowledge ahead of crucial qualifier
In a post-match presser after Nigeria's stalemate with South Africa, Finidi dismissed the notion that Rohr's familiarity with the Super Eagles would give the Cheetahs an advantage.
The former Enyimba manager confidently stressed that the quality and resilience of the Nigerian squad would prevail, regardless of Rohr's inside knowledge.
“That doesn't change anything. If he knows the players, doesn’t know the players, it’s Benin, the players that he had before are still around; that means he should be fearful,” Finidi said.
“If he knows the players so well and he has coached them, he should know they are a bunch of good players that we have in the national team.”
The Cheetahs are third in Group C with four points, while the Super Eagles are fifth with three points and have yet to record a win after three games.
Rohr's legacy: debuts and key players shaped during tenure as Nigeria boss
During his tenure as Nigeria's manager, Rohr handed debuts to Semi Ajayi, Paul Onuachu, Samuel Chukwueze, Terem Moffi, Frank Onyeka, Chidozie Awaziem, and Maduka Okoye.
The former Bayern Munich defender also took key players Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Alex Iwobi to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and had Ademola Lookman on his radar before he was relieved of his duties.
