Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr yesterday made his list of players for the upcoming AFCON 2021 qualifiers against Sierra Leone public:
The coach called up 24 players with seven others placed on standby for the back to back qualifiers game which Nigeria need four points from a possible six to seal progress to the tournament proper.
Owngoalnigeria.com takes a look at the list with interest on players who should have been in the squad and those who were included despite their obvious struggle since the start of the new football season.
Goalkeepers –
Matthew Yakubu – The SKF Sered shot stopper is for now the only Nigerian goalkeeper who is a regular for a team in Europe. He holds the record of having kept goal In more games than any other Nigerian goalkeeper since the resumption of football.
Rohr spoke highly of the former U20 shot stopper and even talked about giving him a chance in one of their two friendly games but he backtracked on his words. Omitting him for Daniel Akpeyi shows the coach hasn’t quite move away from the old order and has little or no plans for the future.
Worst still he didn’t even consider him among the standby options as he went for the returning Francis Uzoho and Ikechukwu Ezenwa who hasn’t played a minute of competitive football in seven months.
Defenders –
The list which has ten defenders can’t be said to be perfect and it’s hard to fault the coach if any player is omitted. However the coach should have been brave enough to sacrifice one among the six central defenders in the squad.
Although Semi Ajayi is likely to play in midfield. It still leave him with five players in an area where four would have been the wisest number to go with.
Midfielders :
Kelechi Nwakali- He is yet to light it up in Spain with Huesca but he has what it takes to be a part of the squad now considering the level he is playing at the moment. Rohr knows too well about his abilities to open up defences with well weighted passes.
Placed on the stand by list. It’s clear to see that he is in the plans of Rohr but if he is not considered for a game like this against Ike of the minnows in Africa then when will his chance come.
Attackers –
Terem Moffi, Josh Maja – With the avalanche of options available to Rohr, the coach picked only one out and out striker in Victor Osimhen with Paul Onuachu on the standby list.
Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho are expected to make up for the numbers in that department but many who have followed the progress of Nigerian players in Europe this season will make a case for the duo of Terem Moffi of Lorient and Josh Maja of Bordeaux.
Both players have no doubt proved that they can be alternative to Osimhen with their style of play which is in sharp contrast to that of the Napoli man.
