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Rohr Drops Iheanacho, Ajayi From Super Eagles 23-Man AFCON 2019 Squad

Rohr Drops Iheanacho, Ajayi From Super Eagles 23-Man AFCON  2019 Squad

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has axed the duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Semi Ajayi from his final 23-man squad to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Completesports.com reports.

Iheanacho struggled for regular playing time at English Premier League outfit Leicester City in the 2018-19 season and failed to convince Rohr he is worthy of a place in the final team for the competition.

Ajayi was a standout performer for Rotherham United in the Sky Bet Championship but was up against more experienced players who play at bigger clubs.

The Super Eagles were held to a 0-0 draw by the Warriors of Zimbabwe in a friendly encounter at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Saturday.

The 23 players and their officials are expected to fly to Ismaila on Sunday for the final lap of their preparations for the competition.

The three-time African champions will face the Terangha Lions of Lions in their final friendly match on June 16.

SUPER EAGLES FINAL AFCON 2019 SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany)

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Middlesbrough FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar FC, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China); Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain)


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COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 82
  • Chairmanfemi 5 years ago

    Awww…I feel so bad for Semi Ajayi. He had such a great season and he’s not a bad player. Rohr dropping am sure is not cuz he’s not up to task but because he has so many experienced and established players in that Department. For Ihenacho, I wish him safe trip to his village(cuz am sure he would want to visit his family first before leaving for England) and then safe trip back to Leceister as well.

    For the GERNOT ROHR ADDENT CRITICS IN @OMO9JA and his followers, please come out and tell us he has collect bribe now oo and who should have been dropped cuz you people will surely have something to say. Yeye

    All the best to the Super Eagles. They played a great match yesterday. The fluency of their game and cohesion is top-notch. Thanks to the truthful and hardworking Coaching crew and the talented players.

    Happy New week CSN fam

    • Omo9ja 5 years ago

      Thank you o Oga Femi. You said “I feel so bad for Semi Ajayi”? But why?
      This is telling Nigerians that the manager is not a sound coach according to your statement.

      You even wrote my name with
      capital letters abi lol. You also said I have followers like coach Rohr abi no be so? Continue……

      I don’t have followers. You can’t have followers when you are speaking the truth. “Oloto ilu, ni ika ilu”.

      Meaning, An honest person is a bad person in front of bad people.

      Those you called my followers were not but were the 1% patriotic Nigerians. They don’t celebrate failure because they loved their Country more than you think. Sorry, I’m among them though lol. God bless Nigeria!!!

  • MANDELA 5 years ago

    Why ajayi?
    What is awaziem doing on that team?
    Iheanacho exclusion is quite understandable and commendable, but semi ajayi exclusion is a shocker to me.

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      Deal wit it….!

    • Jones 5 years ago

      Semi Ajayi is not a fantastic player he was lucky to go on a goalscoring run which is huge for a DMF/CB. though I would have liked him to go to Afcon because he’s a Utility player can play in different positions. I was expecting Moses Simon to be axed. Good list nonetheless.

      • Jones 5 years ago

        Semi Ajayi is not a fantastic player he was lucky to go on a goalscoring run which is huge for a DMF/CB. though I would have liked him to go to Afcon because he’s a Utility player can play in different positions. I was expecting Moses Simon to be axed. Good list nonetheless. Semi Ajayi is a good player don’t get me wrong.

  • A wake-up call for kelechi, hard work over talent any time any day, talent and hard work takes you higher, that’s what happens here, for Semi, nothing to regret, he was just up against more experience and accomplish midfielders in the team. Both are still part of the team, they just need to keep working hard and positive, it not the end of the world, sometimes you fall but it doesn’t mean you are out, at least not until you fail to stand up again and start trying again. Wish everyone a good outing out there in Egypt.

    • Aleks 5 years ago

      Great selection!
      Kelechi’s case is sad, but by far the right decision. Hopefully he’ll take it in good faith and work hard to regain his form and confidence.
      As for Semi Ajayi, his place in the team was up once Mikel decided to return to the team. It was no more in his hands… someone else had to mess up big time before he could have a place in the team. But I have this feeling that his case was not decided until after the Zimbabwe game, and I suspect that it’s actually Ola Aina that played Semi out of the team…How???….
      Shehu has been Rohr’s first choice Right Full Back for a 4-3-3 formation, but not a very effective one in recent times. For 3-5-2 formation he has always struggled. I guess if Ola Aina had brought his ‘A’ game in the 4-3-3 formation against Zimbabwe, Shehu would have ended up as the guy taking the chop. If Ola had proven effective in a 4-3-3 formation, Rohr would have felt confident enough to drop Shehu and leave the utility Semi in the team.
      But all in all, I believe this is the very best selection that we can present at this time.
      Kelechi and Semi still have a great future in the team. 

  • PapaFem 5 years ago

    I’ve always clamoured for wing play to open up tight defences, and when you have very fast, skillful players like Chukwueze, Onyekuru, Musa, Kalu, and Simeon Moses, then you can go to sleep believing goals will surely come if our centre forwards and midfielders can pick passes and crosses.

    Our midfield looks so robust now with the return of Mikel, because already on ground, we have Ogu, Etebo, Ndidi, and Iwobi. The leadership and the push provided yesterday by Obi was superb. Though sometimes, it looked like the hard tackling Zimbabweans would snatch the ball away from him in dangerous positions. But they never really did; our captain was ever tenacious!

    In the attack , Osimhen and Onuachu have added a fresh layer of pressure on Iheanacho and Ighalo, so much so that it now that Iheanacho isn’t in the AFCON team.

    In the match against Zimbabwe, Balogun remained ever green and of course, Ekong did great too, even with his troubled knee which was provoked in the early minutes of the second half. Awaziem, who replaced Ola, was very strong in tackle, though offered less going forward. But to me, he shouldn’t be dropped.

    The form of Omeruo could force Rohr to revert to 3-5-3, because the guy is unplayable at the moment. Then with the form Balogun and Ekong brought to camp, it would be a waste of resources if any of them is dropped to bench in the cause of any match.

    Our coach should begin to look at how Kalu and Simeon could be utilized as wing backs in a match where goals are needed with 3-5-3, while Jamilu Collins and Ola Aina should groomed for 4-4-2 system.

    For Semi Ajayi, I never saw him making the final list. The quality we have in the middle of the pack and even defence is simply enough to take us anywhere.

    The three keepers for the competition are obvious already, but right now, Uzoho’s confidence is so low. The coach should focus more on Ezenwa and Akpeyi until he sees any reasonable improvement in Francis.

    In the match against the Zimbabweans,I love the cohesion, desire, the movement on and off the ball and the hunger to fight. These are the things friendly matches are meant to test. Again, the quality and variety in the team would allow the coach to have at least three tactical formations even for a single match! It’s that good right now. The ball is Rohr’s court, and this is about the best opportunity he has to prove to us his tactical prowess.

    This team is good, very good, better than the WC team. I see them going far in Egypt, but they should pay attention to those “small teams” in their group. Any underated river can definitely make a victim out of any pompous swimmer. Wishing them all the best.

  • Chima E Samuels 5 years ago

    Sad to see Kelechi dropped I hope he takes it in good faith and prove doubters wrong by turning a new leaf, embrace a new healthy lifestyle and take the new season by storm.

    This message also goes to Success Isaac I feel horrible I don’t know if I’m the only one who feels dropping multi role Ajayi was a bad decision???

    • MANDELA 5 years ago

      Am with you on this one!!!

    • Pompei 5 years ago

      I’m also gutted that Ajayi was dropped. The lad has been so committed to the cause. Dropping him now seems unfair. However, it would be worse to take Ajayi along, and leave a player who is better than him! So, let’s give Rohr the benefit of the doubt. Someone should call Ajayi aside and let him know that although he was dropped, he remains a Super Eagle, and his time will come in future with hard work. As for Iheanacho, the stone that was rejected remains rejected. Na wa. It is now time for him to go back to the drawing board.

  • Ikeben 5 years ago

    Finally the list is out. I knew Kelechi was already a concluded case, no wonder Rohr changed his mind on playing him yesterday, so he will not be under pressure to take him if he impresses. But for Ajay, i really thought he should have been included because he showed his arial prowess. Being the only midfielder or defender that scored up to 5 goals. Knowing we hardly make use of our conner kicks.

    Well we still have a very good team and in all i support the coach and the team and very hopeful for a beautiful AFCON. Go super Eagles.

  • The problem with Iheanacho is the same problem with Daniel Sturidge of Liverpool (He has left the club now) These players want to play main striking position but there are other players quicker and/or stronger playing those positions. So there are stiff competitions for that role. He needs to just restart his career by switching to a No 10 that he started with and player for a smaller top league club in Europe.

    • Tsembelee 5 years ago

      That’s the truth my brother

    • Kingsley 5 years ago

      Very Simple and precise bro

    • luckylee 5 years ago

      funny enough kelechi is never a 10 but an 8 modern left him long time and he never adapt to 4-3-3, he was born into 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 playing behind d main striker or pairing him…he lacks speed not a dribbler nor a passer of d ball he just a composed finisher (which he is becoming lazy at nowadays),if i were him i will totally reflect on my position n ponder where should be my new position on d field of play,i wish him d best…

  • @Chima me too. One who could take a long distance shot like Ogu

  • 23 players going to Egypt, i hope Rhor does not win the cup for us with only 11 or 12 players, or get knocked out at the round 16 for late, in orrect , or no changes (substitutions).
    Rhor is damn too conservative.
    Good selection anyway.
    Good luck to the SE .

  • PeePee 5 years ago

    Coach Rohr was fair in his final selection. But am beginning to be afraid for Kelechi Iheanacho because, now, it could go downwards from here if not properly managed. No doubt his confidence is at its lowest; but he brought this upon himself. This is a player full of promises, who has not only refused to step up his game but has pressed the downward button to get to where he is today. This is certainly not the Iheanacho I saw in Manchester City under Coach Pellegrini, certainly not the player I saw in the friendly win against Argentina(which remains his best in Super eagles jersey) and also not the player I saw in the Lusaka against Zambia in the world cup qualifiers.
    Luckily for him, Brendan Rodgers has agreed to give him another chance next season and he must grab it. Last time, the coach talked about the probability of sending him on loan to a ‘smaller ‘ club in the EPL in order to regain his confidence and I think that’s the best for him. Whether Iheanacho likes it or not, next season will determine a lot in his career; he must either stand and fight or chicken out.

  • Mr Hush 5 years ago

    A good list..
    Couldn’t be better..

    I guess we all expected Iheanacho to be dropped mainly due to other competition for that role being better,in term of present form.
    He should take it as a motivating factor to build himself and get back to what we expect of him.

    As for Semi Ajayi;that one is tough but the reason for his exclusion is not far fetched.
    I think it is more of positioning.

    We know his place was between him and Awaziem.
    But I think Awaziem was picked because he can play in a CB role as well as right back.
    One could argue that Ajayi can as well play the CB,DM,CMF and RB roles .but there lays the answer.
    We already got people in all those positions that are better than Ajayi.and we can only take that many as required.
    Mikel,Ogu,Etebo,Ndidi got the midfield covered.
    Leon,EKong,Omeruo got the CB covered.
    Shehu,Aina for the right back.
    Collins,Aina(lol) for the left back.
    So Ajayi is out..
    My believe is that Rohr would use Aina as a back up left back to Collins.
    And Awaziem as back up right back to Shehu.
    And there lies the problem for Ajayi.
    If we are going to pick between Ajayi and Awaziem for right back role..I think Rohr (and myself) feels Awaziem is a better right back compared to Ajayi .

    • Jones 5 years ago

      A Torino(Italy) player as back up to a division 2 player. Arusi

      • Macdon 5 years ago

        waiting you smoke Mr Hush … Aina to Awaziem … you are saying this because of the bad pitch in Asaba ,

        • Mr Hush 5 years ago

          Clarification 

          MY statement above on the list and backup ,as it relates to Aina and Shehu shouldn’t be misconstrued.
          I don’t know who the gaffer would use as his starter in the Right back position; but both can be interchangeable..
          Yes. Aina is the better player compared to Shehu;
          But I think his best position was in the LB role or LwB role ,where he played well(atleast in quarter of the season) for Torino .

          So I believe Aina can be backup to Collins in the Lb role, as well play right back if he is chosen..
          But my humble opinion is ,Rohr choice for Awaziem is to be cover for Shehu in the RB role ,because in he knows fully well that Aina can as well deputize as a LB if needed.
          And that’s why Ajayi miss out.

          I don’t know about you,but I certainly believe Rohr would always start with shehu in Rb over anyone.even if we all know Aina is a better player..

          And I don’t think we need to smoke anything to know that .. @Macdon,
          But don’t mind sharing a drink with you and Jones 

      • Domwi!! 5 years ago

        Point of correction, Collins is now a bundesliga player. He was arguably the best left back in the bundesliga 2 this past season. Deal with it!

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      My brother, that’s the problem with being known as an ‘utility’ player. When specialists are counted, you are often not mentioned. Ajayi still has lots of years ahead of him to properly stamp his feet and get accustomed to the SE set up. Fine player no doubt, but currently, the only thing many of us knows he brings o the SE is just the fact that he can play CB or DM. In the SE, Ajayi is no 4th position in CB and maybe another no 4th position in the midfield at the moment, he cant really displace any of those ahead of him currently, so his time in the Eagles will definitely come. He should take a cue from Ola Aina who missed the WC because there where enough options ahead of him in the SE but now is AFCON bound. But having not yet garnered enough experience in the team, nay African football like the rest in his position, i think his exclusion can be taken in in good fate.

  • Omo9ja 5 years ago

    If I’m doing the talking now, you guys will say I hate coach Rohr. I can’t hate human beings like me because it is an abomination to do so.

    Why dropping Ajayi? Ajayi who can play in different positions? Is this a coach?

    Iheanacho and Chidozie Awaziem were the two players to be dropped. This coach is a sit down there coach.

    Since you have satisfied your boss NFF, I don’t want to here excuses. No more my team is young o, chai.

    According to you coach Rohr, this is your best team and your best team should be able to give what Nigeria has been demanding for.

    Anything less than good football in Egypt should be a straight red card. You really have to convinced us this time around that you are the right coach. With this kind of players you have, we should all be proud that we going to Egypt to win our 4th title. But, enough is enough of this pretenders. We hire, we fire.

    However, I have using Iroko oluwere (tree) as an example but coach Rohr and his followers says omo9ja, leave us alone it’s our time but failing to realized that no long thing.

    Also, I used my simple arithmetic 1+1=2 for these people again, you people turned it down. No wahala.

    With this squard we should be able to do wonders in Egypt with exceptions of the goalkeepers and coach Rohr.

    Hmmm… truth is hurt. The ability of the coach is not up to the tasks ahead and it going to hurt this team.

    Among the three goalkeepers we have in the team, who is good enough to face the pressure?

    We should all remember that what of if we meet the host nation Egypt with their home supporters, can these goalkeepers cool their nerves?

    How about Salah, Mane of Senegal and the rest? Are these goalkeepers having what it takes to man the post?

    We can see now that I don’t hate the coach instead, I am asking him to do the meaningful things.

    I have three categories of people that I’m going to face if this team fails.
    No1, Senior Cabals NFF
    No2, Coach Rohr
    No3 Flying Cabals on this forum.

    These are the three main problems of our football. They knew themselves.

    Dropping Ajayi in this team is a politics game. We have dictators, godfathers who are doing this to favouring their wishes.

    I’m pretty sure this team is a battle ready like in Russia but this coach will letting the team down again 100% guaranteed.

    The coach doesn’t have the power to move the team beyond where they are. He can’t give what he doesn’t have. This is not about vision. I’m not a prophet. Based on what I saw in Russia, Oga Rohr is not capable.

    However, it’s my Country, I wish the coach and the entire team good luck. God bless Nigeria!!!

    • Omo9ja 5 years ago

      Hear excuses.

      • Omo9ja is right on this one jare. Imagine rohr can be a good ambasador gor diplomacy. He is not a rugged coach and africa players need ruggedity to survive. If he was smart like late keshi or the ghana coach he could have descover kalu and onyekuru even this unuachu and jamilu before the world cup not after. he is verry slow in his discovery. I dont like his substitution policies. Nigeria should go for italian coach becos italy is the only team in europe that play similarly to naija football. Wish starts slowly from the midfield and increases in attack they also believe in quick lunches like naija midfielders too. An italian gafar will do us proud. Or africa coaches too not necesarily naija. But naija can not cope with german style of play which depends on dead balls to arm an oponent. How many corners have we scored with the head under rohr. Only simeon nwakwo. He need to be bold enough to tell some our players to improve their crosses. This is why ighalo complain in the attack.he doesnt get good and decisive crosses from flanks but from a coach who have been for four years and ur players cannot cross the ball and head its poor. Please rohr bring back my cup to me oooh if not patrick obayangbon english na go dye ur hair to black

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      Among the three goalkeepers we have in the team, who is good enough to face the pressure?We should all remember that what of if we meet the host nation Egypt with their home supporters, can these goalkeepers cool their nerves?How about Salah, Mane of Senegal and the rest? Are these goalkeepers having what it takes to man the post?”
      .
      .
      Bad belle…pls when we met Cameroun in Yaounde, who was in goal…? Fabian bartez abi..? What of when we met Algeria in Algeirs…i guess it was Gordon Banks… LMAO. When we came up against Libya in Tunisia and SA in Jo’burg it was you Arsenal U18 goalkeeper and Fortuna Dusseldorf B team goalkeeper that was in goal…LMAO
      .
      .
      “How about Salah, Mane of Senegal and the rest? Are these goalkeepers having what it takes to man the post?”
      .
      Who has been facing Mane, Mahrez, Aboubakar, Njie, Trezeguet, Zidan etc all these while…??? Lolz.
      .
      .
      “This coach is a sit down there coach.”
      Thank you, we like am like that….all your “stand up here” coaches that you have been prasisng on this forum…like Anrouche, Dennerby, Tanzania U17 coach, Baxter and the rest…abeg wia dem dey today…???
      .
      .
      “The coach doesn’t have the power to move the team beyond where they are”
      .
      .
      Are you kidding me..? Abi u get high fever…? The same coach that has taken us from No 14 position in Africa to No 3 in 3 yrs. From below no 60 in the world to no 42 that we are now. I recalled Onazi couldn’t complete is transfer to Birmingham city in England 2-3 years ago just because Nigeria was outside the to 60 nations on the fifa ranking as at then. Young man pls go and take your medicine….your hatred is giving you ako-iba.
      .
      .
      “Anything less than good football in Egypt should be a straight red card”
      LMAO….as if they have been playing bad football before now.
      .
      According to Chief Ebenezer Obey….”Gbogbo eyin olote…oju yin a ja”
      I dey laugh oooo…!!!

      • Omo9ja 5 years ago

        Dr. Drey, I like you as a person. You are such an intelligent person but learn how to be humbled.

        I could remembered when I was your age, I don’t talked like this. Respect is a reciprocal.

        It’s good be vocal but in a good way. You children of now are days hmm, afi su uru o.

        Like I said to you few days ago, if you continue like this, I won’t replying you no more. Last warning!

        A word is enough for the wise!! Ire o. God bless us all. God bless Nigeria!!!

        • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

          “I could remembered when I was your age…”
          .
          Hahahahahahaha. I like you too as a person man and I hope you’ld have had sense by the time you get to my age. You don’t need tell me your age…your write ups tell a lot about that.

          • Oakfield 5 years ago

            @drey, u Don give am pepper him com dy bring age and respect into the matter. Abeg, omo9Ja, no bring age and respect into ur senseless Posts, we need facts just as drey has done. No come here dy blab like person wey smoke expired weed biko. I been wan reply you but oga drey has done the job already.

          • If Iheanacho remains in Leicester for the next season, he would have kissed his career as a footballer good bye.

            He MUST move away from his present predicament to seek playing time in another club, just like Osimhen and Musa did last season and are now better off.

            So also MUST Kelechi Nwakili if he hopes to salvage his career.

            Sometimes I wonder why no family member is telling them some home made truth.

  • Sintali 5 years ago

    These are the best we have in the country for now. However, the only lapse we have is the Coach, it depends on how he intends to use the players and at the right time during a game. All the best to the entire team.

  • @omo 9ja stop posting nonsense

  • The team list is out, if we like we can cry from now till the tournament starts nothing will change. Good list though because that’s the best we have.
    My only problem is the area of set pieces, which i feel we are doing badly, in fact oga Rohr have failed woefully on that department, no team can win a tournament without utilizing their set-pieces, so Rohr should bring time and practice, let the best take it because I’m tired seeing etebo wasting our set pieces all the time.

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      Please how many of our SE plays or scores set pieces in their clubs…? Is it in the senior national team players start learning to play/ score set pieces..? You cant teach an old dog new tricks. If the players have not been taking time to train on their own on how to be precise with that aspect of their games….its not the national team coach that will teach them that.

      • It’s not a must to score direct free kicks, only few individual players does that, but practice they say makes perfect, Iceland don’t have much individual talent but deadly when it comes to set pieces, super eagles under late Stephen Keshi scores goal through set-pieces in 2013 AFCON and so on. So don’t tell me is not the duty of the coach. If he is incompetent in that area let him look for help simple!

        • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

          Its a good thing you pointed out our inability to make you use of set pieces, but even indirect set pieces take lots of talent to execute to perfection. Not all footballers can put in a pin-point cross (a la Finito George)…not all are precise with their headers (a la Mutiu the head master)….not all can throw long throws (a la Oyemachara or Okocha)….not all pack enough bullets in their feet (a la taiye taiwo or oliseh) not all are bulls eye specialists ( a la chris ohenhen or Jay jay Okocha). How many current super eagles’ players can you map the above qualities to…? I asked you earlier…name one SE player who plays or scores set-pieces in their clubs. Only Ola Aina takes long throws at his club,and we see him do that in the SE too. It is not in the national team camp players start learning to be set piece experts….its something individuals develop on their own. No coach teaches such…not at club or at national levels. Its either you have it or have players who can execute it to perfection or you dont have. It is when you have such players that you as a coach can start mapping out strategies to take advantage of it…. its not stuff that is taught at national team level. The last time i checked, we scored from a corner against Cameroun and Kelechi iheanacho also scored a free kick against Argentina. Was it Rohr that taught them in those matches…???

          • Ndubuisi 5 years ago

            On point sir love reading your write up. You see things the way it is not fault finders

      • By the way it seems you are employed to always defend oga Rohr where he fails

        • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

          …while it also seems you are being paid to discredit him even when the opportunity doesnt present itself.

    • freddy 5 years ago

      I used TO see Moses Simon taking nice free kicks.

  • walex 5 years ago

    why droping semi ajayi instead of awaziem or abdulahi,Ithink this is a football politics,semi ajayi is agreat natural talented footballer

  • @omo 9ja the coach cant invite what we dont have.name one or two kepers that are better than what we hav nown?.uzoho was in goal agaist messi when we lost only 1-2 agist argentina and your here talkin about sala and mane.no keper is above mistake de gea. Loris are world class but they do mistakes.

  • Dr. Larry 5 years ago

    @ Omo9ja, your analysis is apt & objective.
    Dropping Ajayi for Awaziem seems to me like a wrong decision.The outcome of AFCON 2019 will justify Rohr’s fate in SE.

  • Larry 5 years ago

    Dropping Semi for Awaziem is a terrible decision that comes with a consequence.

  • @omo 9ja i can see that you dont know anything about football

  • Olusegun. B 5 years ago

    Well I understand the issue of Ajayi. He’s a player of the future and I believe his time will come. He just need to work harder . I have issues with one selection Francis udoho. A selection that I believe wasn’t cool to me right from last year . A young man who went jittery on goal at most times and yet you place him as number one . The look at a keeper bases on height but not on experience . I would have loved Dele Ajiboye to be in the team with ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi because they were at the youth competitions and have experience one way or the other. I have nothing against Francis except that I don’t think he’s ready yet…
    I wish Rohr and SE the best

  • The list is trimmed down to the final 23 and it’s time for a brief SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, threat) analysis.

    Strength: If properly utilised, Rohr has some of the most lethal wide players Africa can boast of at the moment. A squad of Onyekuru, Chukwueze, Kalu, Iwobi, Musa and Simon is one with pace and power aplenty.

    Weaknesses: Although I am a fan of Akpeyi and Omeruo, these are players who have the odd mistakes or two in them. It is not wide off the mark to expect occasional lapses of concentration from both.

    Opportunities: There are chances for Nigeria to reach the second round which a squad rich in talents like one.

    Threats: Propensity for lapses in concentration from players like Omeruo could prove costly in key matches.

    – Who do we miss?

    No one really (in my view) . I can’t think of any big-name-player that is not here.

    Victor Moses has retired while Iheanacho is regressing. Isaac Success’ game is tipid at the moment while Simmy Nwankwo found a rich vein of form much late in the day.

    Who should not be in the list?

    Tough question. Akpeyi may be error prone but his experience is undeniable. Etebo doesn’t pull down trees but he is hard working. Uzoho hasn’t played much football of late but he has world cup experience under his belt. Awaziem is not everyone’s cup of tea but Rohr believes in him.

    • CORRECTION

      Opportunities: There are chances for Nigeria to reach the semi finals with a squad rich in talents like one.

  • _Players to look out for_

    Here is a selection of 5 players to look out for in Egypt:

    Etebo: the stoke city ace will be hungry for action in Egypt. Yet to establish himself as a midfielder with an enduring legacy, Etebo might just come to his own in Egypt.

    Ighalo: the China-based bad-ass striker will be keen to make this a more memorable tournament than the World Cup last year. If his team mates feed him, Ighalo will soar.

    Collins: make no mistake about it, Jamilu wants to make that left back position is personal property. He has a chance to do this in Egypt, I get the sense he will not blow it.

    Akpeyi: it does appear that (finally) the South African based entertainer has reclaimed his number one slot after events conspired against Uzoho. If this stays like, he will be hoping to post performances that will shut others out.

    Chukwueze: how is it that the expectations of an entire nation rests in the feet of a 20 year old? After his breakthrough season in Spain a lot will be expected of this youngster in Egypt and something tells me that he will not fail to deliver.

  • Jacob 5 years ago

    Wow!I’m satisfied with the selection. But Coach please make right substitution at the right time. Don’t wait till 90minutes before you make use of your substitutes like you did in World cup Russia 2018 when you waited for 90minutes before bringing in Alex Iwobi in a match you needed to win against Argentina. All the arsenals are before you how well you use them is left for you. Nigerians won’t celebrate excuse but the cup. All the best!

    • Footballfanatic 5 years ago

      You are right my brother. Effective substitutions and closing of the game if it has to be closed. For example, Nig vs Argentina. When you are leading a team that has one one of the two top marksmen in our era, you should park the bus and leave one man upfront in those dying minutes. If I’m not wrong Argentina equalized in the 80th min or so..

  • For dropping Kelechi Iheanacho, I think the coach knows what he is doing for now. As for Kelechi Iheanacho, he should stop taking drugs. He look so unkempt. That’s a likely sign of someone on substance. The pressure is too much. His greatest mistake was to join MC. Well well well. Iheanacho’s father should be blamed for everything that is happening to this young man.

  • Omo9ja 5 years ago

    I asked myself this question and I will like to ask you people too. Is semis befitting us Nigerians?

    If ideally managed, Rohr has some of the most fantastic squad Africa can boast of at the moment. Meaning that Oga Rohr may have a good team but tactically and technically he is not there abi?

    Is this way forward? Many of us doesn’t have confidence in coach Rohr. They are just pretending.

    Some of us here also believed that omo9ja is talking just any how.

    Like I said before, I know your name one by one and I will make sure that everyone of you realized that Nigeria is bigger than anybody.

    Continue misleading Nigerians. One thing is certain, if this coach fails to impresses in Egypt, that is the end of the road.

    If NFF are reading our comments today, they should be able to realized that we don’t have a coach who can taking the team to the promised land.

    Continue your rantings on omo9ja. It’s your time which doesn’t long enough. This month to the next month would be the end. Ah, it’s going to be fun to pinpoint my points then. Many of you would be humbled by then. God bless Nigeria!!!

    • Oakfield 5 years ago

      So, in ur own expert view, who is the coach that will take us to the promised land? Pls, I’d like u to come up with names and facts to back them up. Otherwise, u may just have to shut up until Jesus comes.

    • knet32 5 years ago

      Spot on, this coach lacks the technical input to give us the nations cup title, during the qualifiers our best match was the ones we had less of the ball.

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      “his month to the next month would be the end. Ah, it’s going to be fun to pinpoint my points then. Many of you would be humbled by then. God bless Nigeria”
      .
      .
      See Badbelle people wishing the SE ill-luck so that they can be happy about Nigeria’s failure. LMAO
      The same way you wished the team ill luck against libya….we nak dem home and away….you wished us ill luck against SA it took the ref to cancel 2 clear goals for the match to end in a draw. The falcons that you were wishing goodluck and praising dennerby to high heavens just to smite G.Rohr…dem nak them akpako….
      If a were to be a coach and Omo9ja wishes me goodluck, i will quickly go and dip myself in river jordan 7 times…..LMAO. All the coaches he heaps praises on always end up as failures…(Amrouche, Baxter, Tanzania U17 coach, Denerby etc) the only one he has been wishing badluck always comes out victorious. LMAO

  • mmasi 5 years ago

    so after all the ‘iheanacho is serious now,we are happy with him’ praise that Mr Rohr was singing;he still dropped him. I expected it actually.

  • If Iheanacho remains in Leicester for the next season, he would have kissed his career as a footballer good bye.

    He MUST move away from his present predicament to seek playing time in another club, just like Osimhen and Musa did last season and are now better off.

    So also MUST Kelechi Nwakili if he hopes to salvage his career.

    Sometimes I wonder why no family member is telling them some home made truth.

  • Super eagles goalkeeper going forward after afcon, Dele alampasu and Akpan udoh of golden eaglet 2015. Mr rohr over to you. Thanks

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      Dont worry…even our national U15 goalkeepers Danladi Mainama and Kamoru Ajanlekoko will be moved to the SE after AFCON too.

  • Jensen Josh 5 years ago

    Would have love to see Semi mafe the list ahead of Awaziem..
    Only God knows why Awaziem was picked ahead of the tall man that can convert set pieces

  • Asoko Emmanuel 5 years ago

    Omo9ja,nha wa for u ooo.You sincerely need to stop wat u r doing cos ur hatred for anything good is eating u up,so much so that ur comment is laden with lots of unforgivable errors.Iam sure even u can’t read and understand wat u wrote.Pls take is easy and clear ur mind before typing.

  • Abdulaziz 5 years ago

    Nice decision Rohr is good as you drop iheanacho he got no vision and very soon he will join the release list of Leicester city.

  • Abdulaziz 5 years ago

    19 year Old Uzoho is part of the squad!!

  • Joker 5 years ago

    I’m not 100% satisfied with this list. The coach should have included Nnamdi Oduamadi, uche nwofor, Michael uchebo and Michael Babatunde in our attack. These are the best set of attack SE can boast of for now. Also in the defense we should have atleast Azubike Egweke and Juwon oshaniwa, this guys are better than the present defenders we have around in pecking order. Also our midfield still need the creativity of Sunday MBA and Gabriel Ruben. This would have been a big plus for us. So sad rohr could not even consider these amazing football talents…

    • Churchill 5 years ago

      Don’t wanna talk since… But who is this clown here. Calling Nokia Xpress Music kinda players. U are outdated man. Ur brain need update. Sign up on Google Play Store. Mtcheeeeew….

    • Pompei 5 years ago

      Joker, na joke you dey, abi you dey serious? These players you mentioned are very, very good players. I used to really like Michael Uchebo and Sunday Mba. Don’t know why these guys never really fulfilled their potentials. You forgot other stars like Sly Igboun, Ejike Uzoenyi, Henry Uche, Fengor Ogude, and the incredible Chigozie Agbim, a goalkeeper in the Akpeyesque mode (although I added a slice of respect to Akpeyi’s account following his exploits against the Zim team). Looks like your brain is frozen circa 2012-2013. You need to click on your REFRESH BUTTON to update your data files 🙂 🙂 🙂

  • Stevens O. Johnson 5 years ago

    Great Decision by Rohr…. Go and win the trophy

  • Ndubuisi 5 years ago

    @Omo9ja remember we missed the last 2 editions and if we make it to semi finals don’t consider it as a failure though we expect them to win. Mind you too we are playing in north Africa and you and I know its not going to be easy. Nigeria is one of the favorites but we have other favorites. If Egypt, Senegal, Morocco eliminate us at the semi finals cos they are all favorites what would you suggest,? Sack underachiever Rohr? Granted he made some errors at the world cup and I feel he has learnt his lessons. Attacking him in all your post is not necessary. For the fact he has not invited your favorites does not mean he isn’t a good coach. Look at his records since he took over. How many matches has he lost excluding inconsequential friendly matches? Nigeria will play to win in this nations cup but if anything goes wrong heaven will not fall after all is football and you don’t win all the time. Senegal has about the best team in Africa for sometime now how many nation cups have they won. If a coach got 22 right selection maybe according to you only one wrong selection will it stop them from doing well? How are u sure Ajayi or even awaziem will get playing time at afcon. The team and the coaches need our supports not condemnation or praying for doom and if it happens you come here to taunt us you told us Rohr will fail. Messi has not won any thing for Argentina senior team yet nobody has died. Please I plead with you to change your mindset and start seeing things in a positive way.

    • Mr. Nice 5 years ago

      Thank you very much jare, you know omo9ja is an old Yoruba man who believes people must prostrate to them before decisions are made. someone like him would have jumped to high heavens if an onigbide is employed to coach the super eagles and he releases a list of 100 players 3 months to a competition. People should just ignore that irritant, he needs to grow up!

  • Oludayo Joel 5 years ago

    Everyone should drop this Ajayi and Nacho argument/protest, apparently the two were dropped because in African tournament if you must shine a player must have the capacity to bully, outplay strong and aggressive on the ball, Now Mr Rohr simply know they (Nacho, Ajayi) cannot bring that to play.
    Take a look at their various departments who can they withstand head to head with these qualities stated? Please both player are not outcasts, of course they have a brighter future with Eagles

  • This is not time to blame the coach the list is good.the problem is to select the best xi.etebo.ekong must not start every game my starting xi 4-3-3 formation ezenwa. Aina. omeruo. Balogun. Colins.mikel. ndidi. iwobi. Onyekuru. ighalo. musa.

    • luckylee 5 years ago

      @ stan lol i will not watch any match with that ur starting 11,thank God its rohr picking d list n not u…now i want u to sit down again and read ur teamlist urself and with all d experience u ve watching epl n laliga n euro n worldcup and reason can this 11 actually be the 1st 11 of afcon champion (maybe a third match after qualification which will not still be possible cos u will ve to rest mikel,ighalo,musa n balogun )

  • @ joker. e be like sey e dey pain me sey EJIKE UZOENYI and IFEANYI UDEZE ( Collins back up) no dey for this list. kobahakaba/ oburo ezi okwu

  • Oge erugo mgbe anyi ga akwu n’azu ndia ROHR roputara. Mmeri bu nke anyi. SUPER EAGLES carry go

  • luckylee 5 years ago

    @omo9ja,i think when it comes to soccer i ve two teams i can go any miles to watch and defend Arsenal and of course Super Eagles n i know SE very well as far back as clemence westerhorf era from italia 90 qualification match we lost on d last round to d total rebuild of that squad to algiers 90 when we were whitewashed in our 1st match to reaching the finals to still lost one nil to d host nation;now to main reason of writing this piece i ve read most of ur comments and i can categorically say here that rohr is by far our most technical coach i ve seen handle the SE (maybe closely followed by bonfere jo) Y? SE have always been a formation team to any tournament we go to 4-4-2 in U.S.A 94 to 4-3-3 used by others but rohr ve inculcate more than one formation to SE from 3-4-3 to 3-5-2 n 4-3-3 and eagles play any of those formation with ease not just that he is not afraid to shuffle d team if a player is not in tune he gets drop period where are d likes of elderson,egweke even idowu… mind u i want u to rmbr that rohr said his aim is to get eagles ready for 2022 wc and with what i ve seen from his rebuilding process i think he is well on course (and i tell u this cos i am very very very good at analysis teams;which is y i give credit to u @dr dreyfor ur insight u are well vast with SE )though i hope dr drey is right about u and maybe u spite eagles intentionally knowing inside u that if u support SE openingly they will bottle it so i won’t bug cos i rmbr reading u praising dennerby of S falcons nd belittling rohr in terms of preparation n i rmbr dr drey telling u about d quality of friendily matches been played by falcons..
    To me semi final is minimum by SE and anything we get get there we take doh north africa have always been a good hunting ground for SE when it comes to afcon, my fear is that n.africans can do anything to win a match on there soil thats y they always win locally n not international…So omo9ja rohr needs ur support n not ur negatives even d best of d best coaches make mistakes n loss so ?

  • mutum 5 years ago

    for the very first time rohr is doing something good…by dropping a kelechi iheanacho shows he is really following each players club involvement etc…kelechi is what asamoah gyan is to Ghana at the moment… imagine kwesi apiah dropping gyan,hmmm! kudos to the coach for this singular decision. he has won %30 of my love for him back

  • @mutum point of corection kwesi apia did not drop gyan he is in the 23 man list.

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