Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has confirmed that Odion Ighalo will start for the team in today’s (Wednesday ) Group B clash against Guinea at the Alexandria Stadium, reports Completesports.com.
Ighalo came off the bench to score the winning goal for the Super Eagles in the Group B opener against the Swallows of Burundi last Saturday.
The 30-year-old had been hampered in recent weeks by the muscle injury he picked up while in action for his Chinese Super League club, Shanghai Shenhua.
The injury subsequently robbed him of a starting place against Burundi with FC Midtjylland of Denmark forward Paul Onuachu preferred ahead of him in the starting lineup.
Ahead of the decisive clash with the Syli Nationale , Rohr discloses that the former Watford striker will start against Paul Put’s side as the three-time African champions eye victory in the game.
“Definitely, Ighalo is very fit and he will start the game against Guinea,” Rohr told media at the Alexandria Stadium.
“It is a very important match because if we win this game, we are already through, so it will be a decisive game for us and for them.”
The Group B encounter will kick-off at 3.30 pm Nigerian time.
By Adeboye Amosu
COMMENTS
As a good coach, let Ighalo comes in the second half. Ighalo is not a striker you can use for the entire durations.
Against an organized team, he may not score a single go but when you introduce him in the second half, he is going to know what to do but you are not bold enough to do that. That is why I’m not paying much attentions to this year Afcon because of you coach Rohr.
Onyekuru can be your main striker if you know you know. Jo Bonfere did that in 2000 Afcon. He converted Tijani Babangida to that position against South Africa and the man scored twice but you just have beautiful squad but no idea. Well, what do I know. Good luck coach Rohr. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
when will this omo9ja get sense for once, ighalo started most of the qualifying matches and scored goals, so what nonsense are you saying. must you always advertise your stupidity…. nawa ooo!
Let Omo9ja be. He speaks from the pot of a wise man. Only those who have eyes in their minds can understand this great one.
It is undeniable, we are his sheep, he is our shepherd.
Continue to lead us o great wise and all knowing one.
Ahahahahaha. This is very funny oooo.
@Peterside Udah, no need to talk anymore. Give it to them wela.
Thank God Omeruo managed to scored 1 goal. I have changed my mind to watch the second half. So, I’m watching the second half now. Not bad so far. Remove Ighalo for Onyekuru or Paul Onuachu.
Give us this day God. I love my Country like Kilodeeeeeeee. God bless Nigeria!!!
Hahahaha…. I tire o!!!
Well said sir. Don’t mind your enemies. When your prophesies come true, they will sit up and take notice.
Ahahahah. Funny you bro lol. God bless Nigeria!!!
“Against an organized team, he may not score a single go but when you introduce him in the second half, he is going to know what to do”
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But the same Ighalo was top scorer in the qualifiers and was a starter all through. All of a sudden the same ighalo that u claimed is a useless striker the now the one you are drooling about. LMAO
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“That is why I’m not paying much attentions to this year Afcon because of you coach Rohr.”
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But you have commented on virtually every thread of the SE since the commencement of AFCON. Same thing with your toxic brother who said he doesn’t care about African level but cares about the world, but has been commenting on every eagles’ thread since the commencement of the afcon. Some peoples’ hypocrisy is legendary.
Look Dr Drey. Rohr has failed. Take it or leave it.
Yes we know…thank you ehn..dont mention….let him continue failing.
If his failure is translating to a win ratio of close to 60%, 2 years unbeaten on the continent, a team which the 2nd 11 is as good as the 1st 11, a team that can seamlessly switch tactics during the course of a game, a rise from 14th position in Africa to 3rd position and bookmakers ranking us 3rd in odds to win the AFCON…..then please let him continue failing.
Fire on bro, you’ve got all the answers for them with facts. Like u said, some people’s hypocrisy is legendary.
“As a good coach, let Ighalo comes in the second half. Ighalo is not a striker you can use for the entire durations.’
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But he was top scorer for 2 seasons at watford, top scorer at Changchung yatai, and was top scorer at shenhua before his injury while being a starter…?!
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“Jo Bonfere did that in 2000 Afcon. He converted Tijani Babangida to that position against South Africa and the man scored twice”
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Fat lie…! Babangida was never a 9. If he played 9 in the match, so where did ikpeba play…??? Ball boy abi..? Because he scored 2 goals he suddenly became a top 9 abi….Even okocha that scored 2 goals against tunisia in 2000 too was also a top 9. Anyone that scores 2 goals in a match must be a top 9……LMAO. You really know football sir. I doff my hat for you.
Hmm…..some people can lie for the entire human race. Keep lying to yourself ehn..?
I said Rohr has failed. Let the matter rest.
Yes we know. Thank you very much. This kind of failure has eluded us for years. Those who were successful dragged us down to 14th in Africa and below 60th in the world with their success.
Birds of same feder,omo9ja and his diciples shame on u people,rohr is our best all time coach,up sE
omo9ja you re a disgrace and a chameleon
@Omo9ja , Who cares about your opinion. If you watch or don’t watch the SE, who cares?. GR is the coach and he is been paid for the job, your criticism is not constructive.
If you are that good, get a coaching job and let us see the result you will come out with…..
Omo9ja and peterside Udah, you two would have made a lot of sense by not commenting on this post and other posts.
What would rohn do to satisfy Nigeria.. Everyone knows ighalo is the best option to start today’s match yet Henry names has been mentioned ahead of him. I would have preferred rohn been silent on who to start but I guess he reads comments made by Nigerias and wants to start talking more.. Rohn pls do your job don’t listen to anybody let result speak for you
Ighalo in Attack Akpeyi in goal post. Ighalo is free in my mind at the moment but Akpeyi in goal post I can not vouch for him.
@ Chima, I feel the same way!
Na God go help Akpeyi. The guy breaths hot and cold at the same time. We just have to keep hoping for the best.
Ighalo is d best top 9 WE have currently and he should always start not coming frm d bench.
OmoNiger or wat is ur name called,can u pls keep ur bias,inept and archaic view to yourself? You have obviously refused to learn and gain some sense from the multitude of more vast contributors on this forum.Why do u keep giving false information here just so to run Rohr down and bring concussion.
If u actually know wat r doing then u will know that Babangida was not used as a 9 in 2000 Afcon.The goals he scored were scored from his usual wing position by cutting in from the left side to score the goals.Saying that Tijani was used in that position is false and misleading.For ur info we have players from the wings with adequate quality to cut in like Tijani did and score goals, in modern day football it is not only a no.9 that is designated to score goals as even defenders can do same.
Beside,where did u get the notion that “Igalo is not the kind of striker u can use for the entire duration of a game”.Is a shame how u make comments without recourse to sound findings.Igalo was used for the entire duration during the qualifies And he scored goals..so much so that he scored 5 in two legs against Libya and culminated in him being adjuged the highest goal scorer for the entire qualifies.
I have consistently said your thoughts about Rohr are usually condemning without reason and not criticism by any standard. You should rather keep quiet if u don’t have anything to say.
Haba, how can you Diss the all-knowing, all-seeing and all-engrossing one like the.
Repent of your sins or don’t you respect your elders?
Wisdom is like the express road that allows all sorts of vehicles to pass but leaving the beautiful ones for bystanders to behold.
Rohr has failed but wait and see for the prophesies of the fountain of inestimable wisdom and knowledge shall come to past.
@Peterside idah i know u re still same omo9ja but use another name well, The coach is starting Ighalo u can say whatever u like nobody takes u serious.
@Tayo, you have now been formally identified as a Subversive Element and are thereby put on notice.
For me, I think I will still prefer Ighalo to come in the second half of play early enough.
We should still try Paul Onuachu in that position, he is bully and big and has good sense of the ball too, he will get the Guinean defence to work extra hard, and that will pave the way for Ighalo to capitalise on, in the second half, like what happened in the game with Burundi.
Everyone knows by now that, Ighalo is the main strike we can hope for, but, my suggestion to use him in the second half is a game plan, some thing Omo9ja is advocating for too
I wish them victory today again.
Hahahaha!!!, abeg laf won kill me here oh, Peter so u mean we should “wait and see for the prophesies of the fountain of inestimable wisdom and knowledge shall come to past.”
the great prophet Omo9ja.
@tayo leave peter he his just whyning us.
back to the matter, rohr as not choose yet btw the goalkeepers cos ezenwa is now fit so he his yet to decide BTW ezenwa and akpeye. I hope he start ezenwa o, at least our minds will be at rest for the goalpost. looking forward to today’s match.
omo9ja u just read ma mind bro! lov ya comments here! Dr drey,chima Samuel, arankita etc. most times we come here to laff our ass out. tanks for bringing smiles on our faces. love u all.
One love leave we say it as it appears!
Thank very very much bro. Everybody can not love what you are doing. Thanks for appreciating the work of God. It shall be well with you bro. God bless Nigeria!!!
Omo9ja, whatever you have been smoking is not good for you.
Hahaha Omo9ja scatter the house buy the good thing is that Guinea will show if we are ready for business or jamboree!
When we have specialist strikers on the pitch and on the bench, why would we consider a winger as a striker?
Ighalo is starting, we can also use him to soften the Guinean defence and bring on Osimhen to kill them in the second half. He is clinical, full of running and will scare the shit out of the Guinean defence.
Onyekuru can come in for Ahmed Musa in the second half of need be. He and Osimhen can switch positions to further confuse them from time to time.
True! But what about Akpe in the post???
He did well in the first match, six saves (one point blank save), yes he didn’t do himself any favours by gifting Burundi a corner kick but he was rated the best keeper in group b after one round of matches.
His being a “confidence role” means you don’t change keepers unless it’s a performance issue. Unless he gets injured or has a costly error, I think he’ll continue in goal
I think its time Henry Onyekuru is unleashed, I am getting sick and tired of watching him waste on the Bench this boy can be our Joker in this Cup and needs to be used. The best player for the Champions Galatasaray is rotting on our bench, Were as Sofian Fegloui of Algeria form the same Galatasaray is tearing it up with them.
So when you are playing cards, or poker, you play your joker 1st abi…?
Clap for yourself. Lolz
Super Eagles Starting XI Vs Guinea : Akpeyi, Omeruo, Balogun, Aina, Awaziem, Ndidi, Etebo, Iwobi, Musa, Simon, Ighalo
Henry is so good no doubt but there is so much competition for the numbee9. Nigeria is so blessed at the moment and this is unarguablely the best squad for a long time.. Team list out Mikel dropped to the bench same as chukweze who was a bit selfish in first games. Moses Simon surprisingly coming in. Simon would want to prove himself now Samuel kalu is not so healthy to start games. If he doesn’t he would lost that stop forever.. This competition is great for football. Kudos to rohn