Rohr happy with Eagles’ AFCON draw in Freetown

Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr has said his side improved greatly in their second game against the Sierra Leonean counterparts, Leone Stars.

The Eagles were forced to a goalless draw by the hosts, Leone Stars in Tuesday’s reverse fixture of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at the Siaka Steven Stadium in Freetown.

Both West African sides played a pulsating 4-4 draw in the first fixture clash decided on Friday, November 13 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo state.

Rohr said the draw kept his side at the summit of the group and on tract to qualifying for the finals in the Central African state of Cameroon.

“The team improved in today’s (Tuesday) game compared with their performance in the first fixture in Benin City on Friday.

“The result kept us on top of the group on eight points, I think we are on track to qualifying for the finals in Cameroun.

“I came here (Freetown) with the aim of picking the whole three points but a point was not totally bad.

“The performance of the players was okay we will continue to work hard in the remaining matches on the calendar,” said the Franco-German tactician.

Rohr poured encomium on the Eagles’ matchday 4 clash goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye for a five-star performance in the match.

“Okoye gave in four goals in the first fixture clash in Benin City though not his fault but today (Tuesday) he showed the stuff he is made of.

“Great performance he put up in today’s match and that showed the quality in him.

“He has proved critics wrong with today’s performance, he has quality and I’m happy to have him around,” said Rohr.

The Eagles are still at the summit of Group L on eight points after four qualifying matches one above closest challengers, Benin Republic on seven points while Sierra Leone have three points in the third spot. Lesotho are at the bottom on the log on paltry one point. There are two more matches on the calendar for each team to conclude the qualification race.