Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr believes their October date against Zambia will pit Africa’s top two teams on current form in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
“The two best teams in Africa now are Nigeria and Zambia. It will be an interesting but difficult game against Zambia, who we beat 2-1 in Ndola, but they have changed and succeeded,” Rohr told local Nigerian TV.
“It’s an important game and we have it in our hands to win. If we have our players fit, we will be at the World Cup. I hope we repeat what we did against Cameroon.”
Nigeria and Zambia meet on October 7 in Uyo in a make-or-break Group B showdown.
Leaders Nigeria are just three points ahead of 2nd placed Zambia on 10 and 7 points respectively with two Group B matches left to play.
Nigeria are unbeaten in Group B with three wins and a draw.
Zambia have kicked into form since losing 2-1 in their opening Group B qualifier at home to Nigeria last October.
Wedson Nyirenda’s side rebounded with a 1-1 away draw against
Cameroon last November before collecting 3-1 home and 1-0 away wins over Algeria this month.
Nigeria flattened Cameroon 4-0 in Uyo on September 1 before drawing 1-1 on September 4 in Yaounde.
