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Rohr Hands Solomon-Otabor Late Invitation For Super Eagles, Brazil Friendly

Rohr Hands Solomon-Otabor Late Invitation For Super Eagles, Brazil Friendly

CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria winger Viv Efosa Solomon-Otabor has been handed a late call-up by Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr as replacement for the injured Samuel Kalu in his squad for the October 13 friendly against Brazil at the National Stadium, Singapore, Completesports.com reports.

It is the first time Solomon-Otabor has been  invited to the Super  Eagles.

“Viv Efosa Solomon-Otabor of PFC CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria has been called up by Coach Gernot Rohr to replace injured Bordeaux winger, Samuel Kalu for the 13th October friendly against Brazil in Singapore,” reads a Tweet on the Nigeria Football Federation’s  Twitter  handle on Sunday night.

Kalu picked up an injury in training with his French club, Bordeaux  and missed Saturday’s  3-1 away loss at Toulouse as result of the setback.

Solomon-Otabor, 23,  has featured in seven league games for CSKA Sofia this season.

Rohr also named Tyronne Ebuehi  as replacement for Leganes of Spain defender, Kenneth Omeruo on Saturday.

By Adeboye Amosu


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COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 41
  • Chairmanfemi 4 years ago

    Godd!!!! Good and Sad news! How on earth can we miss SAMUEL KALU for that match. He’s our Neymar no doubt. The assured player that can take on 2-3 players with great skills and open up play for his team mates. This is indeed a big loss. But on the other hand, I’ve heard a lot about this guy Solomon. He was even listed by CSN few months ago amongst Players of Nigerian descent that Nigeria shouldn’t miss. He’s got immense skills too. I’ll be looking forward to him. Hope he grabs the chance with all seriousness. I just don’t want Simon Moses to start against Brazil! It might prove disastrous for us cuz Simon has been on and off for Nigeria of recent

  • David 4 years ago

    He plays in a stupid league ok

  • Greenturf 4 years ago

    Rohr wouldn’t invite this lad if he isn’t doing well,of course he must bring something to the team the gaffer and his scouts must have been observing him and are impressed by his performances.
    The joy of friendlies is having new players in the team and the expectations it brings with fans hoping to see something spectacular something different from usual that’s the fun as we look forward to this friendly against five times world champion Brazil

  • This guy was called up to England U21 team back then and he turned it down saying he’s waiting for Naija call. He plays exactly like Aghahowa depends so much on his speed… we’ll see what he can do.

  • Edoman 4 years ago

    Aghahowa and Otabor are coming from the same street in Benin City.

  • Glory 4 years ago

    Good player with so much momentum and skill on the ball. You re welcome to the team.

  • If coach Rhor fails to make the semi final stage of the next world cup, luck being on our side like it were in Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018, then he would have failed this generation of talented waiting to explode super star materials.

    The only barrier between Rhor and great success with the abundant talents at his disposal is his chicken heartedness, lack of self belief and lack of adventure.

    I so much wish that he has learned his lessons.
    Nigerians will not kill him for trying and failing, rather we are mad at him for failing to try.

    We are the Super Eagles of Nigeria, dare to fly coach Rhor.
    The Eagle is an adventurous Predator.

    • Bomboy 4 years ago

      True talk, CJ. I dey your side.

    • ADEDAPO 4 years ago

      correct bro,is scared.he needs to explore and be adventurous,thats d traits of an eagle.

  • Olusegun. B 4 years ago

    Well Otsbor is welcome to the team . By the way , we should stop giving ourselves shortened goals I.e having a target of reaching semi final where SE can actually reach the final and win the world cup . It’s all about administrative planning. I recall that u 23 of Atlanta 96 had there been a good administrative planning ,SE could actually shock the world in France 98 similar to USA 94. There are talented ballers in Nigeria , it’s all about the right decision making .

    Concerning Rohr, I still have my issues with Jim esp with certain way she picks certain players. For instance during the preparation for Russia 2018 world cup,he picks a slim Nwankwo just because of a one wonder performance against Juventus only to flop in the world cup when he allowed Argentina who were not in great shape to win SE. His decision making on the field was poor esp doing such terrible substitution on late mins . He did a similar thing in the friendly match against Ukraine.

    He is also doing the same thing with a olayinka guy who scored just a champions league goal against inter so that justifies his call up . I’m wondering indeed …

    I even have a hunch that he lost the opportunity of getting Tomori into the SE who I believe is in a great shape as I speak by saying they are not in his plans to the media . Really Rohr!

    As I said we have amazing ballers who can actually win the world cup,tje real problem is do ww have an administration that is hungry for such a success …..

    • Bro you are not informed! Olayinka is in great form right now!

      • Olusegun. B 4 years ago

        Do you actually watch the Czech league like the way you watch English , Spanish, Italian ,German as well as French league all to access a player ..
        Well, it’s all a matter of time .olayinka has been invited no problem. Let’s just hope him as well as other players capitalize on the opportunity of this friendly because Brazil is taking this friendly likes if they are playing Super Eagles in the final of a world cup …..

  • _Winger with no wings_

    Anyone who knows me will know that I champion ‘the consideration for invitation to the national team’ for any eligible players regardless of where they play their football so long as they are active and professional.

    So, I welcome the invitation of Solomon as I would the invitation of any other player.

    That said, the London-born winger’s resume does not jump out as been overly impressive.

    What have I dug up about the guy:

    – Background: when the likes of Musa, Omeruo and Azeez were playing at the World Cup in 2014, Solomon Viv was still playing conference football (lowest level of football in England).
    Admittedly, he was a teenager at the time.

    – Exposure: Solomon hasn’t played in the English Premer League before. In fact most of his playing career have been in England’s division 3 and 4 levels before moving to Bulgaria (which can hardly be described as a competitive league).

    – Goals-to-Games ratio: considering the leagues he has played his football, Solomon’s goal to games ratio flatters to deceive. 5 goals in 44 games for Blackpool ; 1 goal in 12 games for Oxford City ; 0 goals thus far in Bulgaria.

    Does these all point to the fact that Solomon will flop in Nigeria colours if given the opportunity? I don’t think so.

    International exposure might just be what his career needs to take him to the next level.

    • Solomon Viv-Otabor has been courted by the NFF for over a year. He was invited (according to CSN) for the under 23 squad a year ago but couldn’t honour it as the games were outside of the FIFA international football break.

      He has, however, played 33 matches over 3 years in the championship with Birmingham city (same league as Semi Ajayi, Etebor and Ebere Eze that a lot of people clamour for). But yes, a lot of time in the lower leagues.
      He moved to CSKA Sofia for playing time and seems to be doing better there. However, his end product does look to be lacking. 1 goal in 8 games including Europa League qualifying stage is one current stat. But 8 goals and 7 assists in 100 plus matches in his entire professional career is another.

      On current form there are many who are more deserving: Ejuke of Heerenveen, Dessers of Heracles in Netherlands, Okonkwo of Montreal Impact, Ebere Eze and Bright Osayi-Samuels of QPR, Samuel Adegbenro of Rosenberg, Umar Sadiq of Partizan Belgrade, Tony Nwakaeme of Trabzonspor all have far better stats this week, month, season than Viv.

      But like you Deo, I wish him the best and hope it works out for both Viv and the Super Eagles

    • ADEDAPO 4 years ago

      yea atimes,you find a good player languishing in lesser leagues and lower division but just needed luck n the right time.look at etebo of d SE playing lower league

    • FatherJP 4 years ago

      Sublime…. always enjoy reading your incisive, in-depth analysis and points mostly devoid of name-calling and sentiments bro!

      Facts are facts…Otabor was smuggled in either via NFF pressure or Agents influence. Shikena

      No footballing justification for inviting him ahead of Onyekuru who is a mainstay of that team.

      Alexis Sanchez warms the bench at Inter just like at United recently but he’s a big deal with Chile…same as Ross Barkley @ Chelsea and England; Giroud @ Chelsea and France.

      The coaches didn’t go fof one mediocre league-playing player to replace them.

      If you must replace a Samuel Kalu then you must go for a tested player playing in a good league.

      Same reason I can’t phanthom the rationale behind inviting a 4th tier Maduka ahead of Rijeka second choice Nwokolor who used to bench Alampasu in their U17 days

    • Banks 4 years ago

      I Father, please get your facts right before writing incorrect informations. Viv Efosa Solomon-Otabor was never released by Birmingham infact he was offered a contract which he turns down. And also he hasn’t got an agent.
      I have all the contract and he has other offers from championship clubs in England and Scotland and Europe. But Viv wanted to play in Europe.
      Father , by the way Viv was only at Oxford city for two months and he was just 17 years old, when he got his scholarship from Birmingham,for him to play in men’s games rather the clubs under 23’s.
      Believe me he could have gone to turkey and Panathinakos and few others. After spending time with Late Thompson OLIHA nobody could tell him not to represent Nigeria.
      Don’t forget is still only 23 years old, there’s a lot of years ahead of him.
      As parent, I am so please for him, you can also say that about other players in the team. So I wish him SUPER EAGLES the very best.
      BULGARIA
      GREECE
      TURKEY 
      BELGIUM 
      HOLLAND
      SWISS
      CZECH 
      In my opinion are the same categories..

  • Woh for a Nigerian to reject england call up is unbelievable,let’s give him a chance but Thor could have gone for ejuke either.

  • Ejuke would have been a like for like replacement. On paper he is a bit better than viv. He scores goal, provides assist and has a lot of skill. Plus he plays in the dutch league as compared to the Bulgarian league. He would have been a better choice. But all the same, I wish viv all the best.

  • Abdul Andah 4 years ago

    Hmmmm! I dont understand why things ain’t still being done rightly in this country… No matter the level of Viv’s desire to pitch his international football tent with the Nigerian national team, I put it to you that he DOES NOT DESERVE a called-up now, not even ahead of Chidera Ejuke of Heerenven of the Dutch league as well as Cyriel Dessers of Heracles Almelo still in the dutch league…

    According to my personal investigation,Viv has been invited to this squad due to the pressure GR had been subjected to by some of the NFF bigwigs but God pass them All
    Nigeria shall be good, better and best where the best shall be our representative..Ameen.
    for now, for me, Viv DESERVED NOTHING close to super eagles called up not even against the Djibouti national team.
    NFF crew watch your actions because it will surely bounce back on you guys…
    Check this guy records, you will surely be on my side that he DESERVED NOTHING close super eagles called now, men! If he is that good as a footballer, why did he leave england where we have avalanche of clubs scouting talents to lowly CSKA SOFIA in Burgaria??? This is my first time men!

    • Glory 4 years ago

      My man calm down. First of all Rohr wanted a wide man n not striker. Also Rohr seem to like powerful players with good physic. Thirdly Rohr n NFF are committing/ gathering as much good players as they can, using friendlies like this, from which pool they can have large reservoir of players to choose from when proper qualifiers n main competition starts. Fourthly n must be noted, English football has never proven to be a source of some of our best players over the years. English football, be it premiership, championship or whatever is over hyped by the media. Even many proper n honest English fans will confess that to you anytime anyday. There are fantastic individual players playing in the far lower league in England. Or does it surprise you that players like Dele Alli n Jamie Vardy came from local league to dwarf the guys that have been playing premiership for years. There are still many terrific players with good quality football playing there. Infact there is this Nigerian called Hakeem Habib doing really well. Many things go into playing football, both negative n positive.All those things are outside your football qualities but what Rohr looks for is that football quality that suit his style. So we should all support Rohr n just let him be.

      • FatherJP 4 years ago

        Sorry sir, don’t understand the ‘English football is overhyped’ angle to this discourse.

        Are u trying to justify the invitation to SE of someone who cudnt find a suitor in the lower rungs of English football and non also in any of the top 10 European Leagues and ended up in CSKA Sofia not even Ludogorets Razgad to discredit the English League??

        Haba! Let’s always be objective in our contributions. The English League has been among the top 3 in the last 19 years. Just a little reminder; 4 of it’s clubs participated in the finals of the two major European Cups last season….!

        Otabor was released by a struggling Birmingham City and not even Portsmouth where he played on loan was willing to exercise the option to ‘sign permanently’. Don’t forget he was born in England before any one shouts ‘preference for English players’ as reasons why he found himself in the backwaters of Bulgarian football.

        His position is very competitive in SE today and it’s a shame that with the plethora of options available, GR went for him.

        He doesn’t score and doesn’t assit…so what exactly does he bring to the table??

        • Glory 4 years ago

          I read through your write up and was eagerly waiting to read you where England has won the world cup more than once or even the Europe Nations cup. Probably that could have changed my assertion. English football is over hyped period accept it or not. Solomon Otabor is a quality player n deserves to be invited. It’s left to him to come prove himself. Rohr is never one to impress players upon n never one to tolerate lack of quality.

        • Banks 4 years ago

          Father, please get your facts right before writing incorrect informations. Viv Efosa Solomon-Otabor was never released by Birmingham infact he was offered a contract which he turns down. And also he hasn’t got an agent.
          I have all the contract and he has other offers from championship clubs in England and Scotland and Europe. But Viv wanted to play in Europe.
          Father , by the way Viv was only at Oxford city for two months and he was just 17 years old, when he got his scholarship from Birmingham,for him to play in men’s games rather the clubs under 23’s.
          Believe me he could have gone to turkey and Panathinakos and few others. After spending time Late Thompson OLIHA nobody could tell him not to represent Nigeria.
          Don’t forget is still only 23 years old, there’s a lot of years ahead of him.
          As parent, I am so please for him, you can also say that about other players in the team. So I wish him SUPER EAGLES the very best.
          BULGARIA
          GREECE
          TURKEY 
          BELGIUM 
          HOLLAND
          SWISS
          CZECH 
          In my opinion are the same categories..

        • Banks 4 years ago

          Father JP, please get your facts right before commenting on issues you know nothing about.
          Viv Efosa Solomon-Otabor was never released by Birmingham, he was offered a contract and he turned it down, and there were clubs in the championship as well as Europe, he has already made it clear he that he wants to play in Europe.
          He could have gone to panathinakos, Turkey, and Scotland in fact very close but he turned them down, I was among who persuaded him to join CSKA because of how the president sold us the club in London. 
          Also Viv doesn’t have an agent. He has Always wanted to represent Nigeria after spending time with late THOMPSON OLIHA there is nothing else anyone could say to him.
          Viv, has only just turned 17 years after getting a scholarship from Birmingham, they rates him so highly he was send to Oxford city for only two months to experience a man’s game, rather than play in their under 23s, is exactly what most clubs does in England.
          Viv is still only 23 years old, there’s a lot to come from the young boy, who has left his comfort zone to go and sign 3 years contract and enjoy his football.
          Father JP, I totally reject your negativity about my son. We as a family are so greatful to God for the boy, because is prayers has been answered.
          We wish him all the best and super eagles.
          If you need more information ask rather than misleading the panel, football is about opinion if you don’t rate him that’s fine but don’t say what you don’t know.
          Thanks..

    • Chairmanfemi 4 years ago

      @Abdul Andah, you don’t need to lie to us that “from your personal investigation”. I already know where you got the silk information from. It on OwngoalNigeria.com! The website that is well known for promoting players and there news are less-true or reliable. For a while now, owngoalnigeria has been singing Ejuke praises and for sure they will be disappointed Rohr didn’t invite there Customer who am sure has paid them. Thereby, they would surely come up with untrue write ups to deceive people like you!

      In that write up where it is written that Rohr bows to pressure from Media and NFF officials to Invite Otabor, Can you point out any Quoted statement there?? No! Any report from a Top official as regarding the News??? No! So how on earth will you believe such stories and come here to also deceive others by saying Rohr bowed to pressure to invite Otabor?? We all know Rohr that since he came on board, he has been inviting players based on Merit and as for Solomon Viv invitation, it was also based on his immense quality! It does not matter the league he plays in. We all know of several Nigerian talents like Musa Mohammed, The Nwakali brothers and others that are full of quality, talents but aren’t fortunate at Club level. So for Viv to even make sure he leaves Partial England to Bulgaria where he’s assured playing time shows his willingness to grow as a player. Once again, Viv’s invitation is a welcomed development

      • Abdul Andah 4 years ago

        @Chairmanfemi, pls I beg of you, don’t ever insult my person after this one… I had never insulted anyone here before and I would never do because I believe there are ways to counter another person’s opinion without insulting their personality… you don’t know my background and I don’t know yours so, I don’t think the best way to be connected or know each other via the site is by insulting one another.. Thank you

    • Question: why did Viv Solomon-Otabor leave England for lowly Bulgaria?

      Answer: he left the football championship and Lowe leagues in England to play in Europe. CSKA Sofia is not just any club, they came second in their premier league and he fulfilled his aim of playing in Europe when he appeared in their Europa League qualification match. They will probably come first or second in their league table this year and qualify for Europe again for next season. 

      The highest level he has played in England is the F.A cup and English championship so it is indeed a step up. Sometimes it pays off, other times it doesn’t.

      Compare with Sadiq Umar who plays in Serbia for Partizan. Regrade, another top club in the country, he scored twice last week and was included in the Europa League team of the week. That is exposure and scouts will be looking closely at his Roma contract as a result.

      Another example is Ifeanyi Mathew of Lillestroem. He was approached by league leaders and eventual winners Rosenberg. He declined and went to promotion chasing Omanlispor in the Turkish first division. They didn’t get promotion and he returned to mid table lillestroem. Rosenberg are currently playing Europa League football with their wingers Samuel Adegbenro and Babatunde Akintola in the news. Nobody talks about Ifeanyi as he is not seen outside Norway.

      Like I said some moves work for a players career and others don’t

  • Obruthe Ufuoma 4 years ago

    Make una leave viv alone, na him luck and time , he can suprise us by doing well or failing, I wish him luck, as for others they will have their chance. Thanks

  • Chairmanfemi 4 years ago

    Chai! Nigeria…Oh my country!
    A country where some youth of our generation does not know the DIFFERENCE between a Striker and a Winger yet they come to websites(like CSN) to bring up essays like Football Experts. That’s serious. It is only in Nigeria that A Defensive Midfielder originally called up will get injured and some fans will clamour that the Coach should invite A Top-9(A Center Forward) to replace him because He’s on form. That funny. When a Defensive Midfielder pulls out of a squad, the right thing is for the Coach to invite Another Defensive Midfielder…Abi no be so??

    So in the case of Viv, SAMUEL KALU whom is a Winger gets injured and some fans are saying Center Forwards like Ejuke, Sadiq Umar, Over-rated Dessers abi na Dessert should have been called up to replace Kalu?? It makes no sense. The best thing the Coach would do is to invite another Winger of course who provides same quality or close to Kalu’s own which we all know. A fast winger that dribbles well and try shots on goal too and COACH GERNOT ROHR did just that by inviting VIV-SOLOMON! So what the noise about whether he deserves it or not. The only view I would respect is if someone comes up with a better Winger that provides same depth as Kalu and he’s presently in form. Come up with the name of that Winger and that makes a bit more sense than those saying Rohr should have called up Center Forwards. Like Someone mentioned Bright Osayi Samuel of QPR, we can come up with names of other in form wingers.

    #Operation Brazil must dance Samba
    #Soar Super Eagles

  • Abdul Andah 4 years ago

    @Chairmanfemi, pls I beg of you, don’t ever insult my person after this one… I had never insulted anyone here before and I would never do because I believe there are ways to counter another person’s opinion without insulting their personality… you don’t know my background and I don’t know yours so, I don’t think the best way to be connected or know each other via the site is by insulting one another.. Thank you

    • Oralivato 4 years ago

      Why all this brouhaha!!! On this CSN platform, after all the so called VIV or whatever his name is might not even a playing time that faithful day.It will all depends on GR formation of play come the 13th of October,my brethren GR cannot play 100 players at once it is just a friendly match.

  • FatherJP 4 years ago

    The truth whether we chose to agree or not about the invitation of Solomon Viv (without taking anything away from the young man) is that it has ‘wuruwuru’

    Also.@ Chairnanfemi pls note that Chidera Ejuke is a prolific left winger.

    Henry Onyekuru is a winger and regular member of SE’s squad.

    If NFF must invite a new player other than regular squad members (due to poor form etc), then the player coming in must be seen to offer more. In this case Solomon hasn’t done anything notable this season.

    Infact Samuel Adegbenro who plays in a more competitive league for a bigger team (Rosenberg) has better statistics this season

    Do you know know that Stephen Eze a centre hack scored twice over the weekend for Lokomotiv Plodiv and no body reported it???

  • Chairmanfemi 4 years ago

    @Abdul Andah, what are you saying??? Can you quote the insult and repost! Fake accusations simply cuz I gave a counter post to yours. Cry a river man!

    @Father JP, I watched EJUKE play as a Center forward on Fox Sport though last week…

    • FatherJP 4 years ago

      He is a winger and operates as one for all his clubs right from his youth football career.

      Have watched him several times.

      My point is Solomon’s invitation to me snacks of some underhand dealings. Even Hilary Gong has been more consistent than him in the last 2-3 seasons

      Any player who grew up in England and fails to find a club in the championship to say the least and ends up in Bulgaria is simply not good enough!

      This guy couldn’t hold his own in a struggling Birmingham and finds himself invited to a grade A friendly against Brazil at the expense of Henry Onyekuru!..Are you kidding me???

      Even Sammy Ameobi is rated higher than this Otabor guy. Run through their recent performances.

  • Glory 4 years ago

    When people start talking about what League or club a player plays before Rohr decided to invite such. I will wanna ask, what League or club those Madagascar players that defeated Nigeria play. For I know non of them play in England, Italy, Germany etc. This is national team football n not club side. Very different ball game. Rohr has decided to invite Otabor n nothing anyone can do to change that.He as far as I am concerned, a quality player, don’t give a hoot about what he might have gone through in his football career. The ball is in his court. If he performs he stays otherwise he is sidelined. Every Nigerian that Rohr invites always deserve to come prove themselves.

  • Abdul Andah 4 years ago

    Fact never lies when time comes it will be conspicuous to even a blind Man… I spoke out via this platform when I noticed that kelechi was losing concentration on his career some people here tackled me but for today even a blind man could see that Kelechi’s promising career has really dwindled. It is good to help at least with realities aimed at helping our boys to press harder in their promising career… Even if I read anything about our players I always confirm it first before writing that’s why I am always here but I didnt comment all the times because I really need to get my facts right first…
    I put it to you all who are supporting this guy’s invitation this time that time shall come that of which you will all swallow your words unless he deserved this controversial invitation which I really have garnered that he didn’t at all if not for “wuruwuru” in the hand of the coaches and the NFF board.
    Whoever can beats his chest and say it that Viv deserved this invitation hmmm, I am forced to suspect that personality…
    someone who has only scored 8goals for more than 6years of his professional career deserved a call to the national team ahead of this guys aforementioned?
    Nigeria must be fixed righteously either Nigerians like it or not!
    pls, no one should insult me because I would never insult anyone here!
    I love my dear country Nigeria!

  • let me settle this issue once and for all

    1. this is a late replacement that is it is difficult to call up the likes of ejuke, hillary, and so on. They will need visa to travel to singapore which is too late.

    2. Rohr needed to have a complete team of 23, and because of the lateness, he needed to invite a player(a winger cos we already have three strikers) with european passport who does need a visa to travel to singpore.
    so i want you guys to give another player(winger) who is not provisionally cap tied to another country and is available that Rohr should have called up instead of Viv Solomon. Lets think Guys!

    • Glory 4 years ago

      It’s becoming a lot easy to now get a rock to melt than getting most nigerians to understand certain actions. Same people saying all kinds of very negative things about a fellow Nigerian player Viv would have said such to Dele Alli if NFF had invited him while he was MK DONS. Everyone now watches premiership n start thinking they have arrived in analysing football even better than a manager that played it to the highest level.Absolutely ludacris.

  • Pompei 4 years ago

    This Viv Otabor that is giving some people stomach ache….I watched the guy on youtube, and he seems decent. His big weapon is pace. He could trouble Dani Alves with that if he is allowed to start on the left. He uses both legs, so he can also play on the right. At the end of the match, Otabor might end up being a hero. Let’s give him a chance to show wetin dey.

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