Rohr Reveals Iwobi Passed Fitness Test After Suffering Training Ground Injury

Published: June 16, 2018

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr faced the cameras minutes before the national team's World Cup opener against Croatia at the Kaliningrad Stadium and spilled the beans regarding the fitness of Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi.

The Hale End Academy product suffered a training ground injury prior to today's clash but has been passed fit to start the game along with Brighton & Hove defender Leon Balogun.

''We are feeling confident, we have a wonderful atmosphere in our team, everybody is happy to be here, we will try to be happy after the match,'' Rohr said.

When quizzed on the fitness of Leon Balogun, the German replied : ''The test was very good in the training, he is fit, he can start the game.

''We had another little injury in the last training session but it's also okay for Alex Iwobi. So we have 23 players who are fit which is a very good sign for us.''

Nigeria have never lost or drawn an opening game of the World Cup against European opposition since their first appearance in the tournament in 1994.

Confirmed Nigeria Starting XI : Uzoho; Abdullahi, Ekong, Balogun, Idowu; Etebo, Ndidi, Mikel; Moses, Iwobi, Ighalo

Confirmed Croatia Starting XI : Subasic; Vrsaljko, Strinic, Lovren, Vida; Rakitic, Modric; Perisic, Kramaric, Rebic; Mandzukic

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : Twitter.com/AlexIwobi