Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has expressed his delight with his team’s defending against Algeria on Saturday.
The West Africans recorded an impressive 3-1 victory over the Desert Foxes in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Aside a long range strike from Tottenham’s Nabil Bentaleb, the visitors struggled to penetrate the Eagles makeshift back-four which had Kenneth Omeruo at right-back.
And Rohr was left amazed by the composure of his defence in shutting out a very attacking and tactically gifted Algerian team.
“We had to defend well. We suffered so much in the beginning of the second half (especially) after Algeria scored,” the Franco-German told SuperSport.
“But we kept cool heads and none of my players was nervous; they were really professional which led to our third goal.
“The players who came on (as substitutes) in the second half brought in something (positive) and helped us with counter-attacks and that led to our third goal.
“We defended well and had a good organisation on (Riyad) Mahrez and (Islam) Slimani; everyone knows (these two) are very dangerous players,” Rohr said.
The win sees Nigeria remain at the summit of Group B with six points from their opening two games.
Nigeria’s cause to qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals was also helped on Saturday when the other game in the group between Cameroon and Zambia in Limbe finished in a 1-1 draw.
It means that Nigeria is now four points clear of second-placed Cameroon with four rounds of matches to go but Rohr says everyone must stay calm if set objectives are to be met.
“I have told the players that it (qualification race to Russia) is not finished; there is still a long way to go.
“There are still another 12 points (to fight for). We have started well by winning our first two matches.
“We still have another four games to play and these are extremely difficult games.
“We still have to go to Algeria and Cameroon and Zambia will also come to our place. These are extremely difficult games,” he said.
Nigeria’s next game in 2018 World Cup qualifying is nine months away when they face Cameroon at home on August 28.
