Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr will add as many as five new players to his squad to the recently concluded 2019 Africa Cup of Nations when the list of players for their next game is released, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
Majority of the players who played at the AFCON are expected to keep their spot in the team when they regroup for their next engagement but the coach will call up other players to push them for a spot in the team.
Owngoalnigeria.com reliably gathered that the coach has five players in mind to call up as replacement for players who have quit the team like John Obi Mikel and Odion Ighalo while players who fail to make the cut at the 2019 AFCON will also be dropped.
We take a look at the players who are certain to be included in the team when the next list of call up is announced by the Franco-German coach of the senior national team of Nigeria.
1. Mikel Agu – Mikel Obi’s retirement from the national team has placed him top of the list of players who will be called up when the team regroup but that is also subject to his form at his new Portuguese side Vitoria Setubal.
2. Azubuike Okechukwu – The Istanbul Basaksehir midfielder will be given a chance to prove his mettle with the team with John Ogu favorite to be dropped for the Nigeria U23 captain as part of the efforts by Rohr to freshen up his squad.
3. Valentine Ozornwafor – Impressed Rohr mightily when he trained with the Super Eagles and he followed it up with another strong showing for the U23 in the Olympic Qualifiers. His spot in the team will most likely come at the expense of Leon Balogun.
4. Olufemi Kayode – Rohr has heard a lot about the shot stopper who just moved to Enyimba one week ago from Lobi Stars. He is presently among the goalkeepers the coach want to use as alternative to the goalkeepers he has at the moment.
5. Tyrone Ebuehi – His inclusion is a no brainer as he was mentioned as one of the players the team badly missed at the AFCON by Rohr. His return to full fitness plus the games he has played in pre season so far means he is battle ready for the right back spot of the Super Eagles.
