The senior national team of Nigeria could easily have had three highly rated players in the Bundesliga in their ranks if not for certain circumstances according to one of the coaches who worked with former coach Gernot Rohr.
Rohr was very active in the recruitment of players with dual nationality to switch nationality to Nigeria. He handed senior debut to almost ten players who have represented other countries at youth levels.
However he missed out on Bayern Munich duo of Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise, Karim Adeyemi of Borussia Dortmund was another who slipped away from the German coach according to one of his former assistants.
” Rohr wanted Musiala at 17 to play for Nigeria, but at 18 he was fast tracked to the German first team as they also had to hold off England who he represented at youth level. I think the appointment of Hansi Flick as the coach of Germany also played a huge role because he gave him his breakthrough at Bayern”, he explained.
” As for Olise , he got his first call up while at Reading in the English Championship, but I must admit we didn’t do a proper job in getting his assurance and also making him know what our project was all about. The moment he moved a step higher to the Crystal Palace in the English Premier League his idea changed.
” Adeyemi’s case is funny because the month we were tipped about his rise was when Germany too invited him. Three different circumstances and it could have gone our way but you can’t say Rohr didn’t make any attempt. It just that it wasn’t enough and you have to respect the wishes and desire of the players as well”.
