The reasons behind the decision to recall the duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Leon Balogun have been made known to Owngoalnigeria.com by coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr.
Iheanacho is back in the team after missing out in the squad for the last round of qualifiers, same as Balogun who was also omitted from the squad that played in the last round of games.
Beyond the fact that the duo are now enjoying regular run of games at their respective sides with Balogun dropping a level to the English Championship to get regular run of games following his inability to break into the team of Brighton and Hove Albion.
Iheanacho on his part has gotten his career back on track at Leicester City with string of back to back performance in the English Premier League and other competitions after forcing his way into the plans of coach Brendan Rodgers.
According to Rohr they were handed recall due to their usefulness as part of the team before the difficulties they encountered at club level ” Iheanacho and Balogun are two players who have been with the team for years and are part of the family. They know how we want to play on the pitch and how to act off the pitch”, Rohr told Owngoalnigeria.com.
” We left them out to help them focus on their club career and they are having a nice time. Their experience will be very crucial for the team when we play Sierra Leone. It’s good to have them back in the team to compete with the others”.
