Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr says that Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho is now a very serious player who is ready to give his all for the national team, Completesports.com reports.
The Franco-German tactician stated this during the team’s press conference in Asaba on Thursday ahead of the international friendly match against Zimbabwe at the Stephen Keshi Stadium on Saturday.
It can be recalled that a few months ago, Rohr hit out hard at Iheanacho whom the manager labelled as unserious after failing to invite him to the Eagles’ camp in March.
Rohr, however, spoke very well of the former Nigeria youth international on Thursday, saying: “Kelechi is now very serious and you can all see that at our training sessions in Asaba.
“However, he needs to work more on his confidence which he lost as a result of his lack of game time at Leicester City last season. He is showing good signs of improvement and we are happy with him.”
Iheanacho lacked playing time with the Foxes during the 2018/19 Premier League season which saw him play more as a substitute while scoring only once in 30 matches.
The 22-year-old has nonetheless shone at the Eagles’ trainings in Asaba.
By Oluyemi Ogunseyin in Asaba
39 Comments
So what caused his unseriousness in the first place? Kelechi needs to do some serious introspection. SE can’t afford a short one in the squad who takes the place of a young but great potential. He may need to stop fraternizing with certain people. Learn from your brother and club team mate, Ndidi.
Rhor has just confirmed Iheanacho dropped from 2019 AFCON squad.
This is just reverse psychology at its best.
Trust me I live and interact with oyibo daily
Very true @CJ. They drop subtle hints here and there but will never really show their hands. You just have to be smart to know you’re in their cross hairs. They can laugh and dine with you in the morning and hand you a quit notice in the evening. Sometimes that ‘friendly’ advice on how to improve may just be another way of saying “Well, pal, you’re not good enough for this at this moment. Sorry. Go work on yourself.”
CJ ….here is where he confirmed it. “However, he needs to work more on his confidence which he lost as a result of his lack of game time at Leicester City last season. He is showing good signs of improvement and we are happy with him.”
You all should not be surprised when kelechi makes the 23 man squad, though my problem is who will be dropped for him.
Mr Rohr, I don’t care if the guy is serious or not, ur selection must be based on merit, don’t try to sneak iheanacho in, or be influenced by the bribe takers.The guy is not super Eagles material for now, he has giving us is best in Russia and in the premier league, but is best is not good enough for super Eagles. All other pretenders would be exposed in Egypt, because this Afcon would the toughest in years.
But I wonder how a premier league player is not a SuperEagles material. I don’t care if he doesn’t make the team, but to assume that a player who had played at a WorldCup and has three years of premier league football under his belt not to be a SuperEagles material just dey make me wonder. Well if he makes the team eventually that means Rohr also collect bribes LMAO!!!
Folks, please answer the questions posed by Ayphilly.
That’s why God gives us brain to think before you arrive at your conclusions.
Thanks for your provocations thought.
@ Edoman at Ayphilly, His form is terrible at the moment he has been exposed in Premier League their are players who are Brimming with confidence Skillfull and Hungry and would need the Afcon Exposure to boost their Value in Europe the Afcon is a shopping ground for European clubs we need not waste it on Iheanacho who is not serious and lacks enthusiasm. Victor Osimhen will Show Europe and Africa what he is made off MARK MY WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you
We all know he’s struggling at the moment, but I’m sure if he was playing in Belgium or Turkey that will be a different story. He will be scoring for fun in those leagues that I can take to the bank. Therefore, if players from Belgium, Turkey, Israel, English Championship and the likes can be considered SuperEagles material. How is a player with three years EPL experience under his belt not a SuperEagles material???
Hehehehe….I wonder o…!
@Ayphilly, no body has given us any satisfactory answer. We are all aware that Leicester can be a grave yard for hard working Nigerian players over the years.
Iheanacho is a young man every body, even me, likes to beat up but, the super coach says other wise. who am l to say no to our God-sent coach at this time in our history. Isn’t why nobody can answer the seemingly simple questions you posed and yet, no one could answer. Wow.
The Answer is simple, Everybody selected in Attacking department is Super Eagles Material and, one must be sacrificed and based on Current Form Iheanacho should be the one sacrificed I hope that answer the question correctly. Also Iheanacho needs some consequence for his poor professional approach to his career otherwise how will he learn what determination or setback will he Dig deep from to come out better. If he makes the squad after such a disastrous season. No man the boy needs to be showed that if you don’t live up to your potential others will live up to theirs and surpass you. this should be an eye opener to him. Thank you
So all premier league bench warmers are super Eagles materials right?the guy was rated as 5th worst player at Leicester, iheanacho makes Marca world worst team of the year. displaced by a young James Madison, we can’t turn super Eagles to dumping ground. now who do we drop to accommodate him . Simon, Kalu,Osimhen and Sammu are far better than him, So bro who do we drop for him.We ve not recover from Aigbogun and is sambisa eleven,my guy we need to win this year tough Afcon, to make up for Russia and Poland.we can’t continue to hustle backwards in this country anymore, I know u like the guy and I respect that, but we need our best legs to prosecute this Afcon.
Bro. We don’t necessarily have to win these particular AFCON. There are many factors that leads to a team winning a championship. Sure we’re one of the top favorites, but a place in the Semifinals is an achievement for these young SuperEagles. We can only hope that they go one better and lift the cup.
By the way Madison is an English boy and Leicester play a lone striker system that couldn’t accommodate him while Vardy was still the main striker. Papillo Kanu was a perenniall bench warmer during Arsenal invisible run yet he’s always the first name on the SuperEagles team list. It doesn’t matter wether a player is a bench warmer or not.(he still featured in 30 matches)
The fact that he plays in the premier league means he’s definitely a SuperEagles material. Samu, Kalu, Simon, Osimhen are all good, but Kelechi is also part of them. Let them fight for shirt in camp and know who is who. When Kelechi was 19 he was banging in goals for Man City. There’s no doubt about his abilities when he’s fully focused.
Whoever makes the team makes it on merit, if the gaffer feels Kelechi is not good enough to go the AFCON that will be up to him after seeing him from close quarters and that will enable to keep working harder, but to assume that a premier league player is not a SuperEagles material is like loosing touch with reality.
Well said bro
Mr rohr or roa or whatever u call yourself i know you are a timid and olodo coach. Because your selection and handling is showing that you don’t know anything as a coach,some of these are
(1) inviting kelechi ihenacho despite warming the bench steadily on Leicester
(2)picking that ugly and stupid uzoho as our first choice keeper in which his poorness in front of goal is obvious to everyone in a country like Nigeria where we have very talented goalkeepers everywhere both in England and Germany
(3)making silly and late substitution in a tough match, removing of the wrong player at the wrong time and putting the right and talented player in a match at the wrong and very late time,
(4) starting of a player in consecutive matches even when the player is obviously extremely poor to eryone in all the past matches, calling of familiar and constant faces
in matches where we are suppose to use and showcase talents we haven’t seen play or even cap players through the match
(5)since you have been the coach of Nigeria you have only been calling only three goalkeepers in the goalkeeping department
(6)giving Henry onyekuru meager time in the super eagle’s. Despite not starting him in most competitive matches and would only put the very super talented goal poacher in 90mins+ in a match
This madman called rohr was the same man who boasted and raked that he would take the super eagle’s to the world cup semis but later ended not only without not qualifying from the group stage but playing a disastrous and extremely poor football to watch by Nigerian viewers and even in the match against Argentina he just waited till they(Argentina) scored us the die minute winner before he started making changes for Nigeria,then now we entered afcon at the coming of the afcon this same silly bastard voiced out that Nigeria is not going to the afcon to win the afcon but to perform well, normally all countries going to a competitive competition always has one aim and what is that aim
– to win the trophy ,but this squeezed face old empty head bastard said that Nigeria is not going to afcon to win the cup ,in the world cup you were disastrous OK see afcon now our continental cup left you say Nigeria is not going to afcon to win the cup
OK SOMEBODY HELP ME AÑS THIS BASTARD WETIN WE 1 USE AM TAKE DO NOW, well I don’t blame you I blame the bastard NFF and amaju pinnick who are not seeing all your silly and obviously poor doings. They said if you want to employ a coach you look at his honour and achievements but the mad NFF and amaju pinnick did not check that because corruption is killing them 2.in the germany club and 3 African countries in which you coached you were sacked and you have a poor record because you are poor and you are using your silly and poor coaching ability in the super eagle’s,
well to conclude this my speech
rohr is a poor tactician and a worst and poor foreign coach Nigeria has ever appointed well I know some fools we come out to challenge me and back him up like the NFF would do but only the wise and sensible ones will understand what am talking about
Well causing you won’t change anything cause you are already coach of Nigeria and I can’t change but I have no choice
But to support silly you and NFF to win the cup
It seems you need to drink your tramadol after all these curses!!!.. At least he qualified us to both the world cup and the nations cup after all these years !!!
I think he needs something stronger than tramadol, honestly. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, that opinion needs to be delivered in a civilized manner.
Ahmed musa was the worst player at Leicester city. Rohr advised him to move elsewhere and train hard,he was still invited.let me ask who was our best player at the world cup? Everyone has got some imperfections we try to make perfect. Rohr has brought back never die spirit and our traditional wing football. We no longer struggle to qualify for championships. Be positive cos you are also imperfect even in ur watching football. Yes iheanacho has been poor,but among others he’s the only x- factor in free kicks.check Argentina and Seychelles match.All he needs is confidence and he gets his form back. No sane coach will bench vardy a speedy 20+ goals player every season for iheanacho.
dis guy (destiny) get plenty Names for in Family oooo and Generation to come.
Mr destiny is it bcos u want to express yrself on the issue of d super eagles that makes you rain the big amount of courses on our coach, NFF and player, see you need to b flogged. na only u sabi talk abi or u think other forumites can’t see, well I don’t think u follow up comments on CNS to ear reasonable and good analysis from many forumites, u are d type that will just come anytime or anyday to type jargon and call it ideas. pls let have manners cos all this people u coursed are fit to b yr uncle if not father self.
All of you criticising Kelechi instead applying wisdom should not change your mouth after he scores vital goals or assist in our subsequent matches. So therefore I’m keeping record of your comments against my Jewel Kele. Never underestimate Kelechi
Well done sir
Ignorance indeed is a disease. I didnt wanna dignify your rants with a reply initially but I just had to on a 2nd thought.
.
.
“inviting kelechi ihenacho despite warming the bench steadily on Leicester”..
Jasper Cillesen is a bench warmer in Barcelona, just like Aturo vidal, Coutinho etc…but their national coaches invited them….those coaches must be bastards.
.
Peter Rufai was almost clubless between 1992 and just before 1994 AFCON, but he was invited to national camp and reclaimed his shirt from Aloy Agu and Agbonavare..Westerhoff must have been a bastard. Kanu’s last years at arsenal was not even on arsenal’s becnh…it was in the reserves. He even captained the U18 team in a carling cup match…but he was always conspicously present in the Eagles line up on our way to Mali 2002 and the World cup…all our coaches then must be Bastards
.
.
“picking that ugly and stupid uzoho as our first choice keeper in which his poorness in front of goal is obvious to everyone in a country like Nigeria where we have very talented goalkeepers everywhere both in England and Germany”
.
Pls name those talented goalkeepers in England and in Germany who are playing in the first team of their clubs and better that a keeper who has kept numerous clean sheets in the Laliga BBVA, Liga Santander, Cyproit top division and also at the world cup at the age of 20. One error against seychelles has made him a poor goalkeeper, then Mauricio Pochettino must be a bastard to still be fielding Hugo Lloris. Wait till wen you there is vacancy in the eagles’ managerial position, then you can apply to bechome coach and invited your talented Arsenal U18s goalkeeper and Fortuna dusseldorf II (playing the the 4th division) goalkeeper to come be SE no 1 goalkeepers.
.
.
“making silly and late substitution in a tough match, removing of the wrong player at the wrong time and putting the right and talented player in a match at the wrong and very late time”
.
If that has been how we dominated Egypt, Algeria, Cameroun, SA etc in matches and we are still unbeaten in africa (bar the ‘fluke’ loss in Uyo) all these years, then he should continue with that method. No one fixes what isnt broken, and only a bastard will expect that.
.
.
“starting of a player in consecutive matches even when the player is obviously extremely poor to eryone in all the past matches, calling of familiar and constant faces in matches where we are suppose to use and showcase talents we haven’t seen play or even cap players through the match”
.
Under Rohr….almost 15 players have made their debuts in the SE…I dont know what you want again…I guess you want to see 11 different players every game. Pls which SE player ever been EXTREMELY POOR in a SE shirt in ALL the past matches…??? Did you think at all before typing that statement…??? That worry…all coaches who feature same players in matches too must be bastards.
.
.
“since you have been the coach of Nigeria you have only been calling only three goalkeepers in the goalkeeping department”
.
Dont worry, when you become coach, pls call up 11 goal keepers every match every match and feature all 11 ok. Carl Ikeme, Dele Alampasu, Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi, Femi Thomas, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Theophilus Afelokhai have all been called up at a point in time or the order since rohr took over. But it seems whatever you sniffed before writing your book of lamentations has blocked that part of your brain that recalls past occurrences.
.
.
giving Henry onyekuru meager time in the super eagle’s. Despite not starting him in most competitive matches and would only put the very super talented goal poacher in 90mins+ in a match
.
Onyekuru has played full 90 minutes in 4 out of 9 matches he has played in the eagles so far and played as a sub in the remaining and only came on as a sub in the last 3 minutes of just one match (against SA). So i dont know where you got your facts. The fact that you are particular about Onyekuru is even more suspicious. Is he the only player in the team…? Do others too not deserve a chance in the team..?
.
.
“This madman called rohr was the same man who boasted and raked that he would take the super eagle’s to the world cup semis”
.
Pls copy and paste the link where he made such a boast. A man that isnt boasting of taking the team of the semis of AFCON (now that we are stronger and more experienced than when we went to the world cup) is the one you are accusing of boasting of reaching the World cup semis at that time…? Pls post the link where you read such boasts, otherwise, I put it to you that you are a pathetic lair.
.
.
“They said if you want to employ a coach you look at his honour and achievements but the mad NFF and amaju pinnick did not check that because corruption is killing them 2.in the germany club and 3 African countries in which you coached you were sacked and you have a poor record because you are poor and you are using your silly and poor coaching ability in the super eagle’s”
.
Maybe it is you that needs to check you records….but i doubt if you even have enough intelligence to do that to know that this same man won trophies in france (even led Bordeaux to the UEFA Cup final) and Switzerland as a club coach before heading the technical department of the German football federation (DFB). He left his positions at Niger and B/faso due to disagreement with his employers over working conditions and left Gabon when his contract ended after leadin the team to the Qfinals of AFCON (Gabon’s highest ever placing at afcon in 7 appearances). And even at that, please kindly tell me 1 coach that was never sacked or ask to leave his position all his career.
.
.
In that your ‘wonderful’ but senseless speech, you used the word “BASTARD” 4 times on an “olodo and timid” coach who has lost just one out of about 20 matches he has played against African opposition and you even called him the worst ever. please what was your metrics for arriving at this conclusion or was it the hard stuff you sniffed before mounting your key pads that was speaking through you…?
Of course in the eye of a madman, he’s the only sane person, everyone is mad, so i wanst surprised when you concluded that fools will come out and challenge you. Was it your conscience telling you subtly that you’ve just spewed out rubbish that could be challenged from you mouth.
Pls when next you dont want to be challenged, keep your thoughts to yourself and dont make them public. And for you to refer to the coach as a bastard….all i can say is that it only takes one to know one.
Nwanne Drey, with all these achievements of Mr Rohr, some people still have the wicked mind to be spewing rubbish against a man that has a wonderful track record. I can’t remember the last time Nigeria qualified for tourneys without permutations and heart attacks. Some people are just so dumb and evil! As a matter of fact, most countries in Africa are so jealous of us now bcos of the heights Mr rohr has taken us to over a very short period of time. I bet you if something happens to his contract with the eagles, you’ll see big strong footballing countries in Africa jostling for his signature. It beats my imagination that we’ve just lost only one match In Africa since he took charge. Best coach ever!
Mr. Rohr is a God sent manager of the Super Eagle.
The guy that rained abuses on our Coach clearly demonstrated how poorly and ill-educated he is.
He could well be one of those caw Fulanis that are killing anyone on their path.
l may wish to send him and Aigbogun to Sambisa forest where they both belong.
I am telling, Edo bro. That guy is just a nuisance in the making. Too bad…
Great analysis dr.drey. That was a surgical, well thought out and analytical rebuttal. It’s sad how in Africa especially Nigeria people expect things to happen or change overnight without the necessary ground work and logistics put in. These arm chair coaches don’t know a lot of the top teams now like England, Croatia, Netherlands, France etc took years of both grass roots and steady building up strategies to get to that level. A lot of their staff, coaches and players have been together for years and they have organizational structure that turns out these results. Rohr should be commended even if for nothing else the professionalism he has brought to the eagles set up. And if we are smart will build on it instead of just complaining finding fault in everything without presenting a better viable alternative
If we like we should rant from now till tomorrow,what I am certain of is that kelechi Iheanacho will make the team, I am not an Iheanacho fan but if you know how it works in Nigeria then u will agree with me,for those saying they know how the Whiteman works please kindly exempt Mr. Rohr cos he has actually shown it many times that he has this “africaness” in him i don’t blame him for that as he has spent almost 2 decades in Africa and by now knows how it works in Africa..If you are in doubt have you pondered why he chose to invite Utin and Ozonwarnfor as a standby when we have the likes of Uche Agbo and Stephen Eze. That been said we know Kelechi doesn’t deserve an invite solely cos we have better performers at this time but for him to be listed amongst the 25 alone tells you there is pressure from somewhere and if that pressure still exists then you guys can take it to the bank that Iheanacho will dorn the number 8 jersey for Nigeria at afcon
@luomo, nice one bro, u stated ur views without abusing anyone, u never used gutter or derogatory words against other contributors.nice one bro.for me iheanacho doesn’t deserve the invitation, question folks who do we drop for him. Anything iheanacho can do on the field Sammu, Simon, oshimen can do them better. In meritocracy society Denis would be invited before iheanacho. But this’s Naija, that been said I still think we have enough fire power to win this Afcon. With the right players and timely substitution the Eagles might try to touch the sky again.
Edoman, i second your motion let’s send the guy, Aigbogun and the sambisa eleven to sambisa forest, but folks some people needs to be ignored, u don’t wrestle with a pig.
TO THE SAMBISA FOREST WITH THEM!
To those saying Kelechi was warming bench and as a result should not be invited, just yesterday Stone partnered Maguire in England defense and if u check is stats in Manchester city last he was always on the bench also, Miranda did not play much for Inter and he is in Brazil squad for copa America and is even sure to start same goes to Gabriel Jesus of Man city. Check some of the players that was pick ahead of the likes of Lukas Moura, Fabinho in the Brazil squads,@ sunnyb,omo9ja do you to say their coach is not good too?
According to reports from some media platforms, Iheanacho is actually doing well in training ahead of the friendly against Zimbabwe tomorrow.
It was reported that the Leicester City flop chipped deliciously to beat Uzoho in a training match to bring the scores level for his side at that point.
But has he turned things around?
Speaking about his attitude, Rohr said: “Kelechi is now very serious and you can all see that at our training sessions in Asaba.”
Just under a month ago, his club manager Brendan Rodgers was quoted as saying: “Kel will come back into pre-season, have a really good pre-season, gain more confidence, work hard and hopefully come out of that with a renewed motivation to show his qualities.”
The former Liverpool Gaffer went on to say about Iheanacho: “He’s a fantastic young player and hopefully he can show that over his time at Leicester.”
It remains to be seen whether the left footed striker makes the Afcon squad.
However, if he does, he will do well to repay the faith that Rohr and Rogers have kept with him because if he doesn’t, it might be the end of top flight football for the one-time brightest young prospect of Nigerian football whose fall from grace has been painful to witness.
My fear is,who will be dropped. Cause I am yet to see after considering statistics for 2018/2019 season who Kele performed more or can outshine in the current super eagles squad.
I hope coach Rohr makes the right decision.
We must have a good starting eleven and a good bench.
I rise
Hmmm, the stone that was rejected…….
I appreciate all comments here but to be frank Iheanacho fails to redeem himself each time he’s given opportunity to do so Since his drop in form. Imagine their match against Man City which he would have used to prove Pep Quardiola wrong of his decision to ship him out of Man city but he blatantly “yak” the ball off target becoming our newest Yakubu. To me if not because of his consistent poor performance I would have concluded a sell out in that match. Man City only won the second premier league title in a row courtesy of Iheanacho’s (my man) monumental failure not really Kompany’s effort or the outcome of their last league match.He has no confidence and we can’t take him to AFCON to experiment. We are going there for business. Better options on merit are there. It’s been long we kissed the trophy. We did it even with local coach so Mr Rhor has no excuse he should justify his big pay.He cannot afford to be our Paul Pougba.
MANNERS!! Please