According to Rohr, Mikel Obi is important to the national team, whether or not he is on the pitch.
The midfielder has not featured since he suffered a knee injury against Madagascar in the final Group B game.
He is unlikely to return to the starting line-up vs Algeria, as Alex Iwobi is now ahead of him in the pecking order.
“The coaching and playing career are similar, I tell them to enjoy the time they are players because it goes so quickly and what you will do after you stop football.
“The best moment is when you are a player and they have to enjoy this moment. Play as long as possible, I tell them we have Obi Mikel here with us.
“Even if he is not starting the game, he is doing a good job as a captain, he’s a guide for the young players.
“Some of you believed, in Nigeria especially, that Obi Mikel coming back and not starting the games, we will have a problem.
“There is no problem and we have two captains, Mikel and Ahmed Musa, who is also a very important African player,” Rohr told reporters at Saturday’s pre-match press conference.
