Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has for the first time asserted that the aspiration of the three-time Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON champions in Egypt is to win the title, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

Rohr who spoke in the wake of 2-0 humiliating defeat against debutants Madagascar in the last Group B encounter on Sunday and also looked up to the team’s expected opponents after today’s matches, appealed to Nigerians not to write off the Super Eagles yet as their target remains to win the trophy.

The disclosure is coming despite the coach at various fora and interviews stated that the team are not favourites to win the tournament. At some other times, he was quoted as saying that Nigerians should not expect much from the team because they are young players for the future.

However, it appears that after much criticisms following the team’s unenviable performance in the tournament where they scored only two goals and conceded same number in three matches and unconfirmed report that the Nigeria Football Federation are planning to sack him no matter the outcome of the team’s participation in the tournament, has made him to speak from both sides of his mouth.

The Super Eagles were shocked 2-0 by Madagascar at Alexandria Stadium, due to goals from Lalaina Nomenjanahary and Carolus Andriamatsinoro.

Nigeria had been hot favourites heading into the tie, with many tipping them to win the competition for the fourth time in their history.

However, debutants Madagascar produced an energetic display to overrun Rohr’s side who finished as Group B’s runners-up.

“I’m very confident because everybody is now fit, only Shehu [Abdullahi] perhaps who is not fit yet,” Rohr told Goal.

“We recovered [Jamilu] Collins our left back and we would be able to draft Ndidi into the middle after getting 45 minutes of rest [against Madagascar].

“Iwobi is also fit and with Ighalo and Musa, we’ll have more rhythm in the offensive department.”

Nigeria will next meet Group F’s runners-up in the Round of 16.

“For now, we are waiting for our opponents and we don’t know yet but we’ll prepare very well for the next match,” said Rohr.

“I’m very confident because we have a team who can play very much better than we did against [Madagascar].”

“But we have to analyse our defeat and also look at how we can be better in the future. I will plead with Nigerians not to write us off yet as our target remains the title.”