An explanation behind the decision by coach of the senior Nigeria national team Gernot Rohr to call up CSKA Moscow Aaron Samuel and Standard Liege Uche Agbo has been given by the media officer of the team Toyin Ibitoye.
The two players were originally on the standby list but were drafted into the main squad by Rohr for the upcoming back to back games against Cameroon on the 1st and 4th of September in Uyo and Yaounde respectively.
Samuel will take the place of Alex Iwobi who withdrew from the squad after picking up a thigh injury, but Ibitoye suggested the decision to call the duo is independent of the recent injury suffered by Iwobi.
” They were invited to the team because the coach feels they will be needed if any player withdraws due to injury. Beyond the injury to Alex Iwobi they have been on the mind of the coach”, Ibitoye told Owngoalnigeria.com.
The duo are now expected to join the rest of the squad on Monday when training resumes for the clash that could determine the leadership of the group, with Nigeria on six points currently leading second placed Cameroon by four points.
Michael James
