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Onyekuru: Club Form Not Guarantee For Eagles Call-up, Rohr Knows His 1st Eleven

Onyekuru: Club Form Not Guarantee For Eagles Call-up, Rohr Knows His 1st Eleven

Nigeria striker Henry Onyekuru says playing well with his club is no guarantee of a call-up to the Super Eagles.

“I don’t think the national team is based just on performances at the club, the coach knows his first eleven,” he explained.

“He (Gernot Rohr) is the type of coach who doesn’t change when everything is going well. I’m there to contribute but hopefully I will get the chance someday.”

Onyekuru says he is however determined to prove his doubters wrong after a stuttering start to his professional career.

Now at French club AS Monaco, work permit issues meant that he did not play a single competitive game for his former club Everton.

Despite that setback Onyekuru is still determined to fulfil his ‘boyhood dream’ of playing in the English premier league.

“We have our plans but then life brings its own plans, but I am still working on it, and hopefully I will be back soon, maybe not with Everton but surely in the Premier League,” he insisted.

Also Read: Mainz Want To Re-Sign Awoniyi On Loan From Liverpool

Onyekuru first hit the headlines in the 2016-17 season when aged 20, he scored 22 goals for Belgian top-flight team KAS Eupen.

Since then the 23-year-old has signed two long-term deals, firstly with English side Everton in 2017 and then last year at French club AS Monaco, with both teams sending him out on loan.

In January he was loaned, for a second time, to Turkish giants Galatasaray, where he spent the 2018-19 season while on the books of Everton.

With his second spell at Galatasaray now at an end Onyekuru is now looking forward to taking his chances at Monaco alongside the likes of Senegal’s Keita Balde and Spanish World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas.

“I have been with players like Keita Balde from my days at the Aspire Academy, Cesc Fabregas is a top guy, who welcomed me when I arrived at the club, it’s like going back home,” he said.

“Monaco are a big club they know how to work with their players when it comes to transfers, just look at Anthony Martial.

“I hope to make a good season or two and hopefully the future will be bright.”

He also insisted that his move to Everton in 2017, which came as he decided not to join French giants Paris St-Germain despite completing a medical, did not come too early in his career.

The English club immediately loaned him to Belgian club Anderlecht, where his time was interrupted by injury.

“It didn’t work out because of the work permit, we African players need 75% appearances in the national team to play in the Premier League,” he explained.

“A lot of people might think I am not good enough (to earn enough caps), and don’t know it had a lot to do with my injury, but that’s what it is, I just have to keep working hard.”


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COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 43
  • GLORY 4 years ago

    You are still young and can be the very best amongst the best both for club n country. The secret is spending loads of hours on individual work out. Practice practice practice…is it. Practice free kicks, practice tight space dribbling, practice shooting and hitting the four angles perfectly, practice getting used to your scoring positions, practice jumping/timing your jump to head etc. This is why you guys are being paid huge sums. Ronaldo practices scoring 100 free kicks without missing one and when he misses a single one he starts all over again to complete 100 without missing one. This is what separate star players from every other. Sad to say African players put too much confidence on superstition instead of practicing, they make so much money and waste so much time patronising all the “ACUNACUNAS” instead of devoting their time to improve themselves.

    • GLORY 4 years ago

      Meant ” can” be the best.

    • Chima E Samuels 4 years ago

      100 for 1 missed free kick yet he misses alot of freekicks, Ronaldo can lie o. Good advice to Onyekuru and let him let his goals talk and not the Media.

      • GLORY 4 years ago

        No be small lie my brother. Lolz. Honestly I ran into someone very close to him. He told me lots of secret about Ronaldo. Some of these guys believe in superstition like our players you know? but they take their football really really serious, they employ personal trainers for free kick taking, personal trainers for goal scoring n many more. When he said Ronaldo practices 100 free kicks, I totally refused to believe that but Ronaldo scoring most of his free kicks then, just got me accepting everything he said, if at all saying that can help push our players into understanding they have to wake up and start setting targets for themselves as to improve their skills set. Sometimes it’s really frustrating watching some of our players as they constantly fail to take their games to the next level. Very frustrating,that one can only wish he was born in this generation of footballers, whereby there are begging opportunities to play, train, improve etc.

    • KangA 4 years ago

      Oga Glory, abeg no wess time. Go get your coaching badges. When you begin face bank with smiles for your face remember mo oooooh. Chai! You be proper coach, with this kind advice. 

      • GLORY 4 years ago

        Hahahaha…Broda man @ Kanga A. Passion is knowhow is discovery. I m so driven by passion for football, just too many other responsibilities at the moment. Hopefully some day and God willing we will cross the Ts n dot the Is. God bless brother man.

    • RulerOfMen 4 years ago

      Well said sir. Enjoyed every bit of this counsel. Onyekuru! Where you at?

  • Chima E Samuels 4 years ago

    @Drey I heard Owngoalnigeria has gone on recession that they can’t even afford petrol to power their broken generator. The last time they broke a copy and paste news was on the 9th of july. Do well to send them some money gram if you have been paid your salary.

  • Elijah Samson 4 years ago

    The Onyekuru I saw played for Galatasaray few weeks ago before his main club called him back was a total waste and disgrace. The guy could not mark, dribble. Look at him look at goal he could not even score. About two to three chances he wanted. If a player refused to mark, who did he now expect to do the marking? If everyone is playing the same way with I don’t care attitude, who will get the work done? As for me, I see this guy as someone who is not ready to improve. If you decide to improve, good luck and if you choose not to fine. SE is too loaded now for players like you to come and be giving others burden by not marking your opponent.

  • Chairmanfemi 4 years ago

    It is this your MINDSET(Onyekuru) that will keep putting you on the bench if you eventually make it to the Super Eagles again.

    GERNOT ROHR has his first eleven in mind…Ok. How do we now explain how Joe Aribo, Jamilu Collins broke into the First eleven?? Joe Aribo’s own the most glaring. Who would have thought despite Etebo’s good track record for the Super Eagles that a certain youngster in Aribo would place him on the bench? It is simply due to a Right mindset and hard-work from him. Recently, we see Awaziem and Semi Ajayi giving Coach Rohr a hard time about keeping them on the bench. Infact, Ajayi is gradually breaking into the First 11. I’d advise you just focus on the latter part of your statement that emphasizes on HARD work and give yourself the right mindset.

    Probably you have the talents..I don’t know. But what I noticed about this Onyekuru guy is that he has a large fanbase kind of and he is just Overhyped. Am yet to be convinced

  • nnamdi 4 years ago

    onye kwuru im becoming more disapointed in u by ur statement that rohr has aready know who his first eleven are let me tell you if u continue with this mindset u may not even make it to the bench take a look at kalu ejuke dennis ejaria chukwueze simon aribo ndidi osiemen aina desser ehizbue probably eze and many still on pipeline and so the question is do they have this ur mindset the answer is NO believ me the earlier u start reasoning as a starter both for ur club and country the better for ur footbal carrier if not u re approaching a level hard i know

    • Chairmanfemi 4 years ago

      Thank you my brother. Take a look at Dessers. He has not even played a single game for the Super Eagles yet his positivity(thinking) is like he is ready to either put Oshimen on the bench or pair him. He is not talking like someone who is coming to warm the bench at all at both Club and Country! It is also showing in his hard work. Take a look at his debut for his new club, he banged a goal and hit the cross bar. Tell me how Onuachu and Odey won’t warm the bench for him when the new season kicks off.

      Onyekuru should better wake up and stop blaming Coaches here and there. He had issues with his coach at Anderlecht, he accused the former Monaco coach of preferring to start some players to him, now he’s on Coach Rohr. Ok sit down there

  • Mercy 4 years ago

    If I were Rohr this guy will never smell eagles camp again. GR has his first eleven yet, he dropped mikel(captain) to the bench, drop his nos 1 goalkeeper at the WC to the bench, dropped, balogun to the bench. I have said on this forum not quite long ago, if care is not taking Henry will destroy his own career before he knows. By that time, he will think is witchcraft. The guy just has toxic attitude.

  • Gideon S 4 years ago

    Henry bro, I don’t know what you think, but I have let you know SE is your from..

    I’m happy for Sime promotion seri”A” and New boi Sanusi to porto..

    https://www.owngoalnigeria.com/2020/07/23/exclusive-rohrs-leftback-target-zaidu-sanusi-agrees-five-year-deal-to-join-fc-porto-from-santa-clara/

  • Omo9ja 4 years ago

    “I don’t think the national team is based just on performances at the club, the coach knows his first eleven,” he explained.

    “He (Gernot Rohr) is the type of coach who doesn’t change when everything is going well. I’m there to contribute but hopefully I will get the chance someday.”

    I noticed that too. Don’t worry Onyekuru, Oga Rohr days are numbered. With his first eleven, he failed woefully at the world cup and Afcon.

    Can you imagine benching Onyekuru for no reason and even, he preferred Akpeyi to others goalies. I have no time to talk now. GOd bless Nigeria!!!

    • RulerOfMen 4 years ago

      Lmao. If you believe everything you just wrote, then I have to say I’m grateful to God that you’re nowhere near our football terrain. My God! How can you say Rhor failed at the world cup? We played against eventual champions Croatia and barely lost to Argentina. My guy, Argentina oh! You better put this SE team back on the ground where they belong before you use overhype to disappoint yourself any further. We’ve improved significantly from where we were before Mr. Rhor took over. Now, that’s the truth and nothing but the truth. 

      • Please which world cup did you watch that Croatia won the world cup. Abi na my own TV no work. Why didn’t the ones working hard and doing well at there clubs didn’t defeat Croatia and Argentina, isn’t why they were selected to beat there opponent. Please free the guy, there is more to what he is saying. Since he was in camp and not you and i

    • This is an insider speaking of what is going on with the eagles. Some people keep saying work hard, work harder, how do you know he doesn’t work hard. Are you part of his daily life. When he was in camp, was his training different from others. My guy please focus on your career, not everyone will get the chance to play for the Eagles.

  • Chima E Samuels 4 years ago

    Who else realized that Owngoalnigeria is back with more rumors after two weeks offline news, e b like say their oga don answer me.

    • Goal ⚽️ 4 years ago

      Chima no be lie oh. lol 

    • Chairmanfemi 4 years ago

      Lolll! But let’s just calm down and see. Like 70% do turn out to be true. So let’s wait and see. Especially the Sanusi’s own. I’ll be glad if it true

    • Dr. Drey 4 years ago

      Owngoal publishes lies…owngoal publishes rumours…yet you cannot pass a day without visiting owngoal….LMAO. Who is the bigger lair…? Keep on fooling yourself. I copied 20 of their latest headlines here for you to tell us which one of them was a lie or rumour…you still havent succeeded in identifying one…LMAO..your brain still dey boot. We are still waiting for you to tell us which of their news pieces was ever a lie. Just 1 week you didnt get updates from owngoal, you came to CSN to start cursing and insulting CSN for giving you stale news…LMAO…insulting Oga Mumuni Alao and people who have been in the business of journalism when you were still bathing in the mud in your hamlet. You say Owngoal is a quack site, but they break news 4 to 6 days before CSN can smell it and you start showing withdraw symptoms if you dont get a piece of owngoal in a day. It is not you I pity….its whoever calls you father I pity…..What a tragedy…!

    • Dem don dey debunk CSN story that he had a medical. So which one is accurate now

  • Goal ⚽️ 4 years ago

    Many are castigating onyekuru here,  whereas he has a point.

    For super eagles to be a force to be reckoned with there must be serious competition.

    It’s right time coach Rohr works on himself and reduce his conservativeness , we want an open minded coach, a conqueror as our gaffer.

    My people there’s no smoke without fire ooh!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • RulerOfMen 4 years ago

      Yea,open minded gaffers like the ones you had in the past that reduced our darling SE to SC. Loll.

      • Dr. Drey 4 years ago

        Rohr has to call up and field 11 different players all the time because he wants to promote competition…LMAO. At the last afcon 22 out of 23 players got gametime….i’m not sure that has ever happened before in the history of the SE…yet there is no serious competition in the SE.
        Teach 11 people something today, next week teach another set of 11 same thing, upper week teach another set of 11 same thing and see if you will ever move forward.

        • Goal ⚽️ 4 years ago

          When a coach is very predictable ( you can easily know his lineups and who comes in later)what do you call that?

          Someone who is inside is telling you what’s happening of which we the progressives knows already and you are  here saying it’s a lie, ok ooh  I don’t talk my own.

          • NA ME TALK AM 4 years ago

            @ Goal ⚽️ ….. Most teams lineup and subs are very predictable such as BARCELONA , LIVERPOOL , MAN- CITY , MADRID , BAYERN , DORTMUND , PSG and other teams .

            Are you trying to say their coach are failures aswell for using the same lineup and subs ?

            Does a predictable lineup and sub implies the Coach is a failure ?

            Are you trying to say a Coach should change is lineup for every game ?

            NB:

            – National teams rarely play any competitive match in a year compare to Club teams that play every weekdays / weekends , Yet most Club-sides lineup and subs are very predictable .

            Waiting to read your response

            GOD bless Nigeria

          • Adisboy 4 years ago

            @Goal,This your predictable theory no make sense. Cohesion comes with a predictable line up. Onyekuru, has a bit of soar grapes here. I am 100% sure if he starts performing for Monaco, he’ll definitely get a look in. Saying playing regularly for your clubside doesn’t matter to Rohr makes zero sense. I guarantee you that if we had a match today, Sanusi, making his debut, will start ahead of Collins. Onyekuru has stiff competition for his position. Have you not noticed that the captain Musa has started from the bench in the last 2 matches. Abeg stop being sentimental.

          • Goal ⚽️ 4 years ago

            @NA ME TALK AM 1  the point is that when you make a player thats already in the team to feel relax, that he will play no matter what that’s not building cohesion in the team instead you wouldn’t get the best from these players.

            I don’t see the reason to invite a player without giving such a player a look in .

            No need to extend this matter until our next game and others to follow, who knows we may see some changes from the gaffer.

            My point is that onyekuru has some point even though he himself contributed to his exit in the national team.

          • Dr. Drey 4 years ago

            Kindly tell us 1 football team…just 1 football team anywhere in the world that doesnt have a standing 1st 11…..Just one team…pls tell us.
            They must criticize Rohr for everything….even for having a 1st 11….LMAO. Ndi Progressive Regressives…LMAO.

            By saying club form does not guarantee call up…Onyekuru told a BIG FAT LIE there. There’s not 1 player in the SE today who is not in a tip top shape for his club. Those who have not been invited yet have not been invited because you cant have more than 18 players on the team or maximum of 23. So many players have been dropped from the SE because they werent featuring regularly for their clubs. Uzoho lost his place to Akpeyi due for not playing regularly for his club….Shehu has lost his place since the world cup to players like Awaziem, Aina and more likely Ehizube. Brian Idowu has been ignored because he’s not playing regularly for Lokomotive Moscow….same for the likes of Mikel Agu, John Ogu, Onazi etc.

            Onyekuru should give us another excuse. How about I cant break into the SE 1st XI because I dont track back to help in the defensive phase of games like Moses Simon and Sam Kalu always do…?

          • NA ME TALK AM 4 years ago

            @Goal ⚽️ … onyekuru did play in the past AFCON and you can’t deny that he played so badly and poorly in the tournament . Infact the tournament was so poor for Onyekuru and Onuachu as both players played very badly in the tournament .

            I’m not saying both Onyekuru and Onuachu are bad players but you can’t fault the coach for their poor performances at the tournament as he did give them a chance to prove themselves .

            You made a good and valid point with the statement ” No need to extend this matter until our next game and others to follow, who knows we may see some changes from the gaffer & Onyekuru himself contributed to his exit in the national team ”

            Everybody want the best for our SUPER EAGLES and that is why we share our views about every topic .

            Nevertheless we need to be calm until our next match ( friendly or qualifiers ) before we can decide to applaud or judge the Coach and his technical crew .

            Until them .. Onyekuru need to work on himself because in reality if he doesn’t step up his games , we have many players on standby that would knock him out totally from the national team . Players like Chidera Ejuke , Ademola Lookman , Bright Osayi-Samuel , Bobby Adekanye , Peter Olayinka and others

            GOD bless Nigeria

          • Dr. Drey 4 years ago

            Predictability my foot…Jurgen Klopp’s starting 11 this season at liverpool has consistently been Alisson, Van Dijk, Gomez, Arnold, Robertson, Chamberlain/Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Mane, Salah, Firmino…it still did not stop them from winning 31 and drawing 3 out of 37 games

            Line-ups of our SE’s last 5 matches

            Vs Lesotho (4-2 win)
            Akpeyi, Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Aina, Awaziem , Iwobi, Ndidi, Simon, Aribo, Chukwueze , Osimhen SUBS, Azeez, Musa, Kalu

            Vs Benin (2-1 win)
            Akpeyi, Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Aina, Collins, Iwobi, Ndidi, Aribo, Chukwueze, Kalu, Osimhen SUBS Musa, Awaziem, Simon

            Vs Brazil (1-1 draw)
            Uzoho, Awaziem, Troost-Ekong, Ajayi, Collins, Aribo, Ndidi, Chukwueze, Iwobi, Simon, Osimhen SUBS Olayinka, Dennis, Okoye, Azeez, Shehu, Onuachu

            Vs Ukraine (2-2 draw)
            Uzoho, Aina, Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Collins, Aribo, Etebo, Chukwueze, Iwobi, Kalu, Osimhen SUBS Simon, Awaziem, Esiti, Maja, Dennis

            Vs Tunisia (1-0 win)
            Uzoho, Aina, Troost-Ekong, Omeruo, Collins, Etebo, Ndidi, Iwobi, Musa,Chukwueze Ighalo. SUBS Simon, Kalu, Osimhen

            In no 2 games have we had exact same starting lineups. In no game has 1 set of 11 from a previous line up repeated itself. But 11 different players must start different matches to accommodate all 450 Nigerian professional footballers in Europe, to have “competition” in the team.

            Whoever is not ready to work hard to give us better than what any of the above players are giving us (or cannot give us) should not honour Rohr’s invitation when next they are invited. Finis and Klaar….!

  • De Star 4 years ago

    Just passing by , enjoying your analysis on Henry . Everyone are right depending on the angle at which you viewed his comment 

  • Dr. Drey 4 years ago

    Every football coach everywhere has his 1st XI…the onus is on you to work hard and break into that 1st 11 by offering what those in the first XI cannot offer. You are not cristiano messi, so dont expect a starting shirt to be thrown at you for free. You met some people in the SE, displace them and you too will be in that elite club of starting XIs. Before it was monaco coach the refused to play you in “your prefered left wing”….now it is Rohr that “knows his starting XI”. I pray God helps you to learn some humility and change your attitude.

    • Omo9ja 4 years ago

      Dr. Drey, what do you know about football if I may ask? When we are talking about football on this forum, I will advise you to buy a notebook and start writing the information down.

      Akpeyi that always shaking like Fuji garbage at the goal post is the one that deserves in Oga Rohr first 11 eleven abi?

      Look young man, you said Our great Onyekuru is not Messi and C.Ronald ba? but when it was matter most against Algeria, our world class coach introduced the talented, reliable, dependable, one of the most very skillful player in that tournament, hmm… team player, the great Onyekuru was introduced lately in that match and he tried his best.

      So, you knew more than Onyekuru himself? You was there when the issue started ba?

      Drey, be careful. I won’t say more than that. If you guys believe coach Rohr is untouchable, that is the big joke of the year.

      Onyekuru is free to say whatever he noticed in camp to all Nigerians because he, Onyekuru is a Nigerian like you and I Mr. Omo9ja.

      Permit me to use Mr in my name because if I don’t respect myself, nobody will.

      For that reason, Onyekuru, Simy and Musa Muhammad deserves some respect from you and coach Rohr. Remember section 5050, we hire and we fire. Mr. Rohr can not do just anyhow in that team. Super Eagles belong to all Nigerians and he should stop giving our best players little time to play because less than 5 minutes of action is nothing but failure.

      This is why I said you still have a your colleagues on this platform because nobody knows it all. Take care of yourself Doctor. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!

      • Dr. Drey 4 years ago

        Shut your trap Mr. I no sabi football…I gree….you wey sabi wetin you don use am help your destiny…? As you sabi football pass everyone name 1 Nigerian goalkeeper anywhere in the world that has better stats than Akpeyi this season. If the south african league goalkeeper of the season in waiting is not good enough to man the post go bring your osage or fatai alashe come man am na. Onyekuru is free to say whatever he likes, but he is not a Cristiano Messi…neither is he a tad better than all his co competitors in the eagles camp. He is not a better dribbler than Kalu, not a better marker than Simon and does not have more flair than chukwueze. Since he knows the coach already has his 1st 11…tell him not to honour any further invitation extended to him if he’s too lazy to compete for a starters shirt. If Rohr already has his starting XI…how did Aribo break into it…??? How did Chukwueze break into it…??? How did Ajayi break into it…??? How did Ola Aina break into it after missing the world cup…How did Uzoho break into it b4 the WC???
        THE MOST GLARING POLICY OF ROHR’S TENURE IS THAT IF YOU ARE NOT PERFORMING FOR YOUR CLUB YOU DONT COME NEAR THE SUPER EAGLES…….so when next you see Onyekuru, tell him I said he is a BOLD FACED LAIR…..!!! Awon Opuro jati jati…!!!

  • Gideon S 4 years ago

    Another good news to SE fan’s..
    I’m very happy for him,
    Never say never..

    https://www.owngoalnigeria.com/2020/07/24/exclusive-leon-balogun-joins-scottish-rangers-on-free-transfer-from-wigan-athletic/

    I wanna see him still active more 3 seasons

  • Hanif 4 years ago

    Dis omo 9ja no just get *****,, imagine wot a grown up man is saying…

    Onyekuru is an insider very gud,,
    Now bcoa he is an insider evrytin he said is true.

    If truly club side performance is not d basic rohr is using for his selection den Wot is he using?

    Aw come he tells d players to find a club where Dey can be seeing play time and all dos Dat listen are enjoying it…

    Which stats prove Onyekuru to be beta Dan dos rohr are using in his stead????

    Onyekuru one season man,, he Neva marks and he hold on ball like Neymar

  • Hanif 4 years ago

    Iheanacho used to be d highest goal scorer for rohr wen he first took ova, he preferred Iheanacho ,he actually dropped him for onuachu wen onuachu had a beta stats…

    Onyekuru ax not proven anytin to deserve dis mouth making

  • daniel 4 years ago

    One problem with African players is juju, juju have exparing date, thats why Africa players lose focus, you shine this season but next season you fail, no consistancy

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