Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr is facing a selection headache ahead of the team’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double header against Sierra Leone next month, Completesports.com reports.
And the area the Franco-German tactician has major problem is in the attack where as many as eleven forward players are presently shining for their respective clubs.
The likes of Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho, Josh Maja, Samuel Kalu, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Dennis, Cyril Dessers and Henry Onyekuru are doing well.
Osimhen has been in the form of his life since joining Lille from Sporting Charleroi of Belgium last summer, netting 18 goals and making six assists in 36 games in all competitions.
In all competitions, Simon has hit the back of the net on nine occasions while setting up eight other goals in 28 appearances for Nantes where he is currently on loan from Levante.
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Iheanacho has a tally of three goals and four assists in ten league appearances this season while he has eight goals in 15 games across all competitions for Leicester City.
So far during the 2019/20 season, 20-year-old Chukwueze has netted three times and rendered as many assists after making 24 Spanish top-flight appearances for Villareal.
Super Eagles will play against fellow West African country, Sierra Leone on March 27 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State.
Rohr who finished third with the Super Eagles at the 2019 AFCON which took place in Egypt has disclosed he will work hard to make his squad list ready by the first week of March.
The Super Eagles are leading Group L with six points after securing victory against the pair of Republic of Benin and Lesotho.
By Oluyemi Ogunseyin
13 Comments
Copy and paste. Lazy people @csn. This news has been on allnigeria soccer since 2 days ago. Pls, try and learn to be professional with ur work. U could have at least rephrased the caption but u guys just munched everything verbatim
Erm Ahmed Musa is doing well where? If you add all the goals for Ahmed Musa, Henry Onyekuru, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze and Samuel Kalu (6 goals combined) and compare you will find that Chidera Ejuke of Heerenveen (8 goals)in the Netherlands premier league has more goals and assists than ALL OF THEM COMBINED.
Ahmed Musa 0 goals in Saudi Arabia, Samuel Kalu 1 goal in France, Onyekuru 1 goal in Turkey, Alex Iwobi 1 goal in England. I’d like to know the definition that CS used in their assessment of “doing well”. I was hoping to say “Fantabulous” when I read the headline, however, the other catchphraie Ooin is more appropriate
Well the norm is usually to pick the best from the lots.The likes of Maja who has played sparingly shouldn’t be considered for selection.Bonaventure has done well enough to be on the list.
In my opinion the best seven attackers on current form to prosecute the qualifiers next month are STRIKERS POSITION Kelechi Iheanacho,Cyril Dessers,Victor Osimhen.RIGHT WINGERS POSITION Samuel Chukwueze,Emmanuel Denis Bonaventure.LEFT WINGERS POSITION Moses Simon,Chidera Ejike.
However,based on experience the likes of Samuel Kalu despite injury-plagued season may get the nod ahead of Chidera Ejike who has displayed good skills in Holland,as well captain Musa who plays in a less fancied league to bring the numbers of attackers to eight.
I believe there is a standing rule on players selection. The likes of Balogun and Iheanacho are some of those affected by the rules. Balogun is our best defender but had to be left out due to lack of action. Kalu has not been playing and the last time he played he was one of the worst players.
This is a good test for Rohr’s. Is he going to change the rules on players selection to satisfy some players ?
I look forward to the list.
Larry,don’t pay much attention to All Nigerian Scorer write-ups. I watched Kalu’s last game live against PSG & he was one Bordeux player that troubled the PSG defense for NINETY minutes!! I was amazed by that write-up. It seems there’s a hidden agenda there.
I usually don’t believe the rating of some of our journalist. I can boldly say I watch more matches involving SE players than many of them. The poor rating they have to Samuel Kalu in his last club match against psg was uncalled for. The guy did very well, no wonder he played 90mins in that game. But what did I know
“Rohr Faces Selection Headache Ahead Super Eagles – Sierra Leone Clashes”
Really? Coach Rohr has a team already and so why Selection Headache?
We like to exaggerate things in this country sha. All the coach have to do now is to add one or two players to the team.
I wish him the best. God bless Nigeria!!!
Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Dennis, Cyril Dessers and Henry Onyekuru are the only players currently on form.
Chukwueze has been starting from the bench lately..
Iwobi has not been impressive and has been blowing cold.. In as much as I like iwobi, he truly has not been impressive and he is not stepping up his game.. Pace dribble passes and other factors are not evident..
He has been too comfortable…
Onyekuru just got back to playing times..
We need a formidable midfield and defence..
That’s the weak point
You are right my dear, midfield and defense has always been our problems especially our defense, let me take Nigerians back to 2018 world cup against Argentina, we need draw to get through to round of 16 few minutes to go we lost the match due to poor defense, against Algeria AFCON 2019 we lost at stoppage time. AFCON 2021 qualifier Against Benin rep., and lisotto. They scored first we need to fight back my question is what if luck runs against us? We might not equalise or win. Let’s give cyriel dessers and bukayo saka a chance in super eagles. Am David from Ghana.
Me sha no wan hear say una nor cap dat Dessers guy…Na my own be dat.
BigD, I guess the caveat is that all our key players are seeing action which should put them in good shape for upcoming assignments.
But you are right, a number of players have been underwhelming for their clubs. These include:
Alex Iwobi: 1 goal and 0 assist in 18 league matches is not a stats that make for good reading for a £34 million rated strike. I actually saw it coming earlier in the season based on how I saw Iwobi’s performances at the time.
His move to Everton was meant to show Arsenal fans that they made a mistake to let him go. So far, there is nothing to show that he should have stayed in North London.
But the former Arsenal man remains a committed, patriotic and hard working professional.
Ahmed Musa: 0 goals and 4 assists in Saudi Arabia is quite a shocking statistics for a Super Eagles winger.
Although Musa has never been the most prolific winger, but his current goals drought in Saudi Arabia will worry those who feel he should be playing in the English Premier League.
However, Musa’s wealth of experience and dedication to the course endears him to Super Eagles fans.
Samuel Chukwueze: although he is meant to be the poster boy of Nigerian football, 3 goals in 24 games is not a stats to celebrate about for Chukwueze’s fans.
Compared to last season (when he ended with 5 goals across 26 games) , the Super Eagles winger is actually not doing too bad.
But the question is,has Chukwueze shown improvement from last season?
Still, the former youth international continues to work hard for both club and country. He appears to retain a level of focus which is commendable.
Samuel Kalu: this exciting winger is having a horror season, much to the surprise of many Super Eagles fans that had expected much from him.
A lot had anticipated Kalu to set the league ablaze. Instead, it is Moses Simon, Osihmem and Josh Maja who are holding the torch for Nigeria with scintillating performances.
1 goal in 18 performances with off-field distractions have derailed Kalu’s season. Ill-health also hasn’t helped.
But, Kalu appears to be turning a corner by going the distance against PSG last weekend in a performance that earned him a ratings of 6.4.
@Deo, absolutely. All of the above mentioned players tend to “raise their game” when called up. The issue is with the call up itself. A couple are “integral to the way we play”, for example Iwobi is probably the only recognised attacking midfielder we have and as such will be a shoe in for call up. Some of the others are the best we have found in that position, for example Chukwueze, whilst Musa is our captain. So the choices are not easy.
However, the coach has over time justified his calls with form for club, and Ejuke and Simon have the best “form” of all players on the left wing. The question is, will he drop one off “his favourites” Sam Kalu or his captain Musa to send a message?