AFCON
It’s going to be tough, Rwanda’s German coach, Spittler warns ahead of clash with Nigeria
Ahead of this afternoon’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying duel with Nigeria in Kigali, Rwanda head coach Torsten Frank Spittler has admitted that the Super Eagles will give his side a hard time.
The German coach is aware of the talent that the Super Eagles have at their disposal but he trusts his men to live up to their expectations while playing before their home supporters.
“It is going to be a tough game. We are going to play against a world class squad with quality players. Our training has been good and I am positive we will get something out of the encounter,” Rwanda’s lead newspaper, New Times quoted Spittler as saying at a s in a pre-match press conference.
This is going to be Spittler’s eighth match in charge of Rwanda. The team has recorded three wins, three draws and one defeat in their last seven matches under the German gaffer in all competitions.
Asked about the team’s progress since taking charge of the team in November 2023, Spittler said that it is a gradual process and they will only get better.
“We are in transition; it is a process. What we learn here is different from what they learn at club level. This is our fourth camping and the players are so far improving in everyday’s training,” he said.
Nigeria head coach Augustine Eguavoen has the likes of star striker Victor Osimhen and Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman who can change the game at anytime. Despite his squad rich in top talent, he is aware that football has evolved and reserves respect for Rwanda.
According to Libya’s news outlets, there are palpable fears in the Libya national team which faces successive crises and trying to avoid early elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
The team which faces the Super Eagles this week has been plagued with players’ absences occasioned by injuries and boycotts.
The coach recently appointed has revealed the names of players refusing to represent the national team.
In a press conference held on Saturday, Coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri remarked that the absence of several players were due to real injuries.
In that class are Ahmed Al-Tarbi, a defender of Ahli Tripoli; Mohammed Al-Tabbal of Al-Nasr club and Ali Youssef who also suffered the injury while playing with Tunisia’s Club Africaine.
If the Libyan national team sticks to plans, the players are expected to have arrived in Nigeria ahead of their Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying duel in Uyo.
With most players drawn from the domestic league, the national team had daily training sessions in Tripoli under coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri and his assistants Akram Al-Hammami and Abu Bakr Al-Hark.
However, according to media sources in Libya, the team faces injury worries even though the absence of Victor Osimhen in the Nigerian squad is being celebrated.
Even though it did not mention the injured Libyan players, Libya Al-Ahrar Channel reports that replacements were found in Al-Tahadi FC defender, Mohammed Khalil and Al-Nasr midfielder, Abdullah Abdul Rahim as well as Al-Akhdar winger, Faraj Ghaidhan. They take the places of the absent regular players.
Franck Mawuena who recently renewed his contract with Remo Stars has received a call-up to the Togolese squad for this week’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. He had previously featured in the Belgian League.
He was part of the Remo Stars squad that finished second in the Nigeria Premier league last season. He scored six goals.
Togo will be away to Algeria on Thursday before hosting the reversed fixture on 14 October.
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