Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr says the Super Eagles played a very good game against the Warriors of Zimbabwe despite the fact that the international friendly match ended goalless, Completesports.com reports.
Nigeria played out a 0-0 draw with the Warriors of Zimbabwe in an international friendly match which took place at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State on Saturday.
The game which saw both sides matching each other man to man was played under a heavy downpour as the heavens opened up some hours before the match started, and it kept on raining all through the duration of the encounter.
Rohr used the game as an opportunity to hand out useful game time to a number of fringe players as well as a few others who have not played regularly for their European clubs.
During the post-match press conference, Rohr said: “I can tell you that my team played very well despite the game ending goalless. Mikel especially showed that he is back for the team.
“And ahead of the Nations Cup in Egypt, I am very sure that my players will perform very well. The fact that Kelechi Iheanacho did not play does not mean anything.”
Rohr added: “I have not yet reached a conclusion on Kelechi and as a matter of fact, his confidence is coming back to him alongside his new-found seriousness on the pitch and in the camp.”
Gernot Rohr is expected to unveil Super Eagles 23-man squad for AFCON 2019 anytime from today.
The Eagles’ last pre-tournament friendly is against fellow West African country, Senegal and the match is billed for the Ismailia Stadium on June 16.
The AFCON 2019 is billed to take place in Egypt from the 21st of June to the 19th of July. Nigeria will do battle with Burundi, Madagascar and Guinea in Group B.
By Oluyemi Ogunseyin in Asaba
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COMMENTS
I concur sir your boys played well and are good to go
I think Zim were of good competation to the boys.
Breaking news Ihenacho and sheyi dropped. I think Rohr got it right
Semi Ajayi
Our boys played very well
Two English-Based Players Axed As Rohr Announces Nigeria’s Final 23-Man AFCON Squad
Published: June 09, 2019
Two English-Based Players Axed As Rohr Announces Nigeria’s Final 23-Man AFCON Squad
Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has announced his final 23-man roster for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations which begins in Egypt on June 21.
The 23 players selected come from the 25-man provisional roster earlier invited to attend a training camp in the Delta State capital Asaba.
Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho and Rotherham United central defender Semi Ajayi are the players axed by the German football tactician.
There was a hint that both English-based players were not in the plans of Rohr after they were not handed a run-out in the goalless draw against Zimbabwe on Saturday.
John Obi Mikel, Chelsea duo Kenneth Omeruo and Ola Aina, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa and eighteen other players will be on the plane to Ismailia this afternoon.
The Super Eagles players and officials were due to depart Asaba this morning but there was a sudden change of travel plans and they will now depart at 1500 hours.
The players have just arrived the Stephen Keshi Stadium for a recovery session ahead of their trip to Egypt.
Nigeria’s 23-Man Africa Cup of Nations Roster
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)
Semi Ajayi, truly a very good player but really sadly the quality up on there in d defence n midfield was always gonna make it difficult. He surely would have been d 24th player if countries are allowed to take 24 players. Ajayi know this, loads of Nigerian fans love you n trust you to come back much stronger.
Ihenacbo lost his expected form and also lost his chance to be included in the super eagles team..
A great lesson indeed.
Expecting so much from the Villarreal player Samual Chukwueze..
wow, for the first time in viewing nigeria football, this is d only time that I can say the team is purely non sentimental, purely and completely Gernort Rorh own doing and not some influence from some external forces nay the NFF or the so called technical committee. Kudos am greatly impress. its purely on merit and current form. more of this. Thanks
Ajasco?I agree with you.
but to be frank if we should talk about form sammy ajayi is more inform compared to leo balogun dat did not play up to ten matches all through the season so i sence der is partial der so i i biliv balogun got dat nod ahead of ajayi base on age n last nation cup and for sami ajayi he got lot of years ahead of him in the team so he should keep calm n work toward next edition so i wish the team all d best n gud luck guyz
Nigeria will win this tournament