The highly anticipated senior national team debut of Villarreal teen wonder Samuel Chukwueze didn’t happen against South Africa in the AFCON 2019 Qualifiers as expected by many.
Chukwueze was listed among the substitutes for the game but the 19 year old was an unused substitute for the game even though at a point during the game he was seen warming up with other substitutes who were later introduced by coach Gernot Rohr.
Rohr used up his three substitutions by bringing in Henry Onyekuru, Isaac Success and Semi Ajayi has Nigeria hanged on for a 1-1 draw to seal their spot at next year Africa Cup of Nations.
During the post match conference Rohr was asked the reason why he made the substitutions he did and the Franco-German coach explained that the front two needed a bit of rest due to their formation and Ajayi was introduced as Alex Iwobi was visibly tired.
” When you play the 3-5-2 formation you have your front two (Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho) running all game and they get tired most times, so we have to take them off and introduce players who can offer us same upfront “, Rohr explained.
” Iwobi was also tired and Ajayi came in to protect the result for us. In our next game we will try some players who didn’t get to play and also those who didn’t make the bench”, he concluded.
