Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr says John Mikel Obi is still part of the team and hinted that he will meet with the experienced midfielder in the coming days to decide on his availability for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Completesports.com reports.
Mikel last featured for the three-time African champions in their last group game against Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The former Chelsea player failed to appear in any of Nigeria’s six games in the qualifiers prompting speculations that he might have decided to quit international football.
“This is the question that I and my team will resolve. I will soon go to see him at @Boro. There are many things to consider but I respect him and what he has done for Nigeria. He remains an important player,'”Rohr stated in an exclusive interview with respected journalist Osasu Obayiuwana on Wednesday.
“He has been away from the team for a year but we qualified for the AFCON without him. His absence, as our captain, has been evident. But he has had to deal with a range of issues, after the World Cup in Russia.”
The German tactician also provided updates on the fitness level of Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho who is loan at the Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta.
“I have sent Enrico Pionetti, my goalkeeper trainer, to @anorthosisfc, to work on him. At the moment, it’s not, for now, a question of him being number one but of his being one of our three goalkeepers for the AFCON.”
Aside from Mikel and Uzoho, Rohr also have a big decision to make on whether to allow talented youngster Samuel Chukwueze represent Nigeria at the 2019 FIFA U -20 World Cup in Poland next month or include him in his team for the AFCON finals in Egypt.
“He is a great talent and I would like him in my team, although I don’t know if he will be an immediate starter. The challenge, of course, is that he is also wanted for Nigeria’s @fifau20 team going to Poland.
“… I have had a chat with the coach of Villarreal and they don’t want him to exhaust himself at the U-20 WC and the AFCON, so they want him to choose one tournament. We shall see how best we can manage this situation. But no doubt, he’s a talent for my team.”
Rohr for the upteempth time failed to list his team among the favourites for the competition.
“We start our preparations on June 2nd and I think that if all things go well, we will have a good tournament. We must, however, respect every opponent. There is no small team now….”
“I have a young @NGSuperEagles team, full of potential, but we are not the favourite for the AFCON…”
“… We don’t have big players, like Senegal and Egypt, so the @NGSuperEagles must work collectively as a team. This is where our strength lies,”
By Adeboye Amosu
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28 Comments
Egypt has not got better talents than Nigeria.Agree Salah is world class but others aren’t.Compare talents from both sides Nigeria is clearly ahead but the Egyptian are a team with players who know each other from playing almost same clubsides in Egypt which is what they have going for them.
Senegal has talents agreed until we meet is hard to know which team is better.
The friendly game against Senegal is a good test for the super eagles and a game to give an insight of which team is best in Africa.Can’t wait for that all important duel.
Yes Chukwueze for AFCON.
Oga Rohr, whatever the ”range of issues Mikel had after the world cup” might be, please let it be resolved bcos we need his experience in Egypt and moreover, he should not quit international football just like that.. Then Samuel Chukwueze should represent Nig in Egypt and not in Poland then if you like, play him as a starter or a substitute he will not disappoint! Finally and for your information, we are CONFIREM FAVOURITES to win the Afcon in Egypt. So, stop demoralising your ”young team”!
He knows we are but he’s just playing mind games.
It will be more profitable for Nigeria to have Chukwueze play in u20 wc in poland than in Afcon 2019. It is better for him to inspire the u20 team to higher height and achievement than to seat on the bench in Egypt.
As it stands now, as long as Samuel Kalu and Henry Onyekuru is fit and in form, then right wing is strong, and he cannot bench any of them for now.
Even in the left wing position, with Musa, Moses simon and even Collins depending on the formation we are okay.
So why waste the talent of the 19year old on the bench when he can be the star of U20 in poland. A competition we have never won. Infact we have done poorly in recent years. Did not qualify 2 yrs ago with Osimeh’s set and Iheanaco’s set were eliminated in the second round. But yet the last edition was won by England with more than 50% of their team made up of Naija born. The likes of Sholanke, Ovie, Tammy, etc. And they are still finding it hard to break into the England national team.
Besides Chukwueze can still play in more than 5 AFCON in future, he is still 19 going 20. Let us take it easy with our young stars, there is no hurry in life. Fews years back fans kept screaming iheanacho but now many fans have deserted him others are calling him names. So let the likes of Chukwueze emulate the likes of Ahmed Musa and papilo who featured grately in the age grade teams before cementing their place as super Eagles main stay and lasted for many years.
My conclusion is simple, if Samuel kalu and Henry is fit, then chukwueze has no business in Afcon 2019, let him join his mate in poland this year and olympic next year to make nigeria proud.
A wise man once said if you jump up, you will come down but if you grow up, you will remain up.
I am sick and tired of you people who know nothing about sports and sporting Ethos everybody knows that if a senior team comes calling it takes presidence over the junior one, Secondly AFCON is a time for Nigeria to win our 4th Stars we cannot have the likes of Cameroon now on 5 and Egypt on 7 pushing away from us not to mention Cote’voire now on 2 and will be level with us if they win. WE need our best Players in the AFCON Period and Samuel Chukwueze is one of if not our BEST player, and please @Ikeben at what age did Kyilian Mbappe represent France in last year’s world cup. if Mbappe was Nigerian you will be saying he should jump before he grow’s. Abeg make we hear word Joor
You have said it all bro, let him go and play with his mates at the U-20 world cup than coming to sit on the bench at AFCON. He is just an upcoming player that has brighter years ahead.
Ikeben your analysis is quite logical and I appreciate your knowledge of the game. However methinks u20 is for us to discover players. If Chukwueze joins u20 he will be blocking the space of one player who could be a future revelations for the Super Eagles. And of course you kmow tjat we have hundreds of talented young boys in Europe who are begging for just one chance to prove their quality. Secondly, given a level playing field I dont think Simon Moses or Henry or Kalu can bench Samuel Chukwueze if all conditions are equal. But if the administrators still insist on taling him to u20, well thats still ok by me the boy is young and will have many afcons to attend jn future.
Pikin way say him papa and mama no go sleep, him gangan he no go use his two korokoro eyes sleep.
My beloved coach Rohr, you are playing politics with our national team. You intentionally handed Jersey no10 to Chukwueze during one of the Super Eagles friendly matches to dusted your captain and you knew that after the Argentina match, things were not well with your senior players because they knew what you did in that match.
I am expecting a lot of things to happen before the Afcon. This is your time, use it well because tomorrow may be too late.
Super Eagles is having three problems now
Problem no1, NFF
Problem no2, Coach Rohr
Problem no3, Coach’ Fans.
These are the main problems of the team. It’s a pity that I don’t have time to break this down. Maybe later. God bless Nigeria!!!
Omo9ja, l am hoping you are having a good sleep these days. The way you characterized our National coach in all what he does or says is, in my view, over bearing. If Rohr is so bad as you constantly over ride him here, why is it that the NFF recently up-graded his over-all pay? Your inability to forget or live behind the Russia games since last year is making few us here very uncomfortable.
Please, may l sincerely ask you to be positive regarding Mr. Rohr’s job. Millions of Nigerians gave Rohr job performance A+. He is entitle to say what he wants to say as the National coach regarding his team. This is my opinion.
Whatever the range of issues, pls try and iron them out before afcon, we still need Mikel and his experience in the team. His presence would give the young boys a great psychological boost just like jay jay and kanu did during their playing days. Samuel should be drafted to the senior team right away, he absolutely has no biz with the u20.
Mikel the midfield general is always required but when I stated that after the introduction of Ighalo against Argentina strong issues arised even Jay Jay okocha was mad as a tv pundit on that day. Most times people don’t know what goes on behind the scene but as much as possible that is why I love Siasia or Great Keshi if his favorite player is in bad shape he will never play him but this is where most coaches fail and same thing affected my lovely Manu Garba of a late playing an injured Amoo and off form Divine instead of giving a chance to Adrian. Anyway everyday is a lesson to every coach and if you fail to learn you will dance in shame in the end ask Mourinho regardless of your past history.
I am sick and tired of you people who know nothing about sports and sporting Ethos everybody knows that if a senior team comes calling it takes presidence over the junior one, Secondly AFCON is a time for Nigeria to win our 4th Stars we cannot have the likes of Cameroon now on 5 and Egypt on 7 pushing away from us not to mention Cote’voire now on 2 and will be level with us if they win. WE need our best Players in the AFCON Period!!! and, Samuel Chukwueze is one of if not our BEST player at the moment. Come Big competitions Nigeria I have seen is the only country in Afica that shoots itself in the foot every single time.
I repeat again an again Chukweze will be very good addition in thé attack for SE dont look is age but regardless to is talent amazing. He s style of play is spécial and different from thé others wingers you mentionned. So i beg for the very last Chukweze is for Afcon not u20 bcos we want this afcon it is an opportunity.you people dont hear and know that
Our best legs should prosecute this year Afcon, this year Afcon would be very tough, we need players with skills, pace, stamina and soccer techniques to win it all.Im seriously concerned about our goalkeeping and attacking midfield positions, hopefully Rohr will figure it out before Afcon.
Reading in between the lines of this report tells me Rohr already settles for all other winger leaving Chuzee with an outside chance. I wouldn’t say the other wing players are better than Chuzee, same way I m not gonna say Chuzee is better than them. Based on this, I’ d adviced Chuzee to consider the U-20, where he is very likely to play regularly n as such put his pure talent out for d World to see. This just reminds me of Diego Maradonas case during 1978 World Cup, where his talent was just too good but he got dropped n cried like a baby. But he was quickly asked to join d u-20 team preparing for d 1979 World. It was at world Cup the world took a bow for his wonderful talent. Somehow iheanacho missed a chance to show d world how good he is when he failed to join up with Mike’s Olympic team fearing he would risk his position at Man City but saddly he still lost it. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE AN HUMBLE BEGINNING.
@Glory your statement makes absolutely No sense then okay let me counter that. Kylian Mbappe went to last year’s World Cup and was the main reason France Carried the day at 19 years old. And after his stock rose even pushing him over the likes of Neymar at PSG he emerged the feared Mbappe we know today and he was 19 when he achieved this. If Mbappe was Nigerian and Rohr was indecieve about him you people will be saying he must Jump before he grows. Abegy. Chukwueze Has a Brilliant Afcon his stock will definitely rise higher than what it is currently. Please Nigerians stop pushing negativity towards this boy he needs to be at AFCON.
It’s take d smallest common sense to see d sense in people’s comments. I m not surprise you not seeing d sense. But common sense tell me, it’s d coach that play d players n from Rohrs comment here even if Chuzee choose to go Afcon, he shouldn’t expect to get regular games. Also talking about Mbappe, maybe you should start looking at his form about 2 to 3 yrs ago compared to now n again it may have worked for him at the WC because there wasn’t anyone good enough to bench him n also the coach built his attack around him. But Rohr isn’t doing d same..
@Glory Are we talking about the same Mbappe that is the leading Goalscorer in the french league currently, or the same Mbappe that scored a hatrick 3 weeks ago, Or the same Mbappe that if he decides to leave PSG today will be the most expensive player in the WORLD!!!, My friend please go and educate yourself before countering with rubbish!.. Chukwueze is the best winger in Nigeria currently like it or not take it or leave it. it is the Truth. 2nd is Henry Onyekuru.
some people are saying Chukwoeze should go to Afcon some to Under 20 world cup, but I believe the decision is his to make.
….meanwhile….Simy Nwankwo popped up with another goal yesternight for Crotone. Like that theif that stole salvation on the cross….Simy might just sneak into another major tournament at the death. But its really gonna be interesting when Rohr’s provisional squad is released to the public.
My question is why are we africans allowing these european club to control our lives? How can villareal give condition for chukwueze to choose one of both? I dont think they have the right acording to fifa rule the nations cup and u 20 which are fifa turnaments is player right to decide if he want to participate or not . This is how we lost in the last olympic becos players like ndidi iwobi iheanacho moses simon all fail to show up becos of so called euro clubs. This matter is killing our football and players; for christ sake chukwueze is a naija made footballer. Villareal was lucky to have him verry cheap 500 k euro and about to sell for over 45 mil euro. Yet they still give conditions to the young guy. For what are they mad? I dont know how our agents manage to give out these boys to slavery contracts the europeans dont try that with argentina or brasilian players but they do it all the time to africa players which is killing our football. I think chukwueze can play both u20 and afcon villareal can go to hell for all i care.
Are you the one paying the player’s wages…? Are you the one paying his medical insurance…? If he gets injured, is it you or your FA that will pay for his treatment…? He who pays the piper dictates the tune. The moment a player signs for a club, he becomes a property of the club. They have the right to protect his health and his interests. Playing 2 major tournaments in a row after a long season and then resuming immediately for another season is an invitation to a long term injury for any player. Chukwueze may be a naija made player, but its not naija that credits his bank accounts at the end of the month. Sam cannot play U20 and Afcon within a space of 1 month. FIFA wouldn’t even sanction it.
@collins. Who pay the bill dictate the tone. Who would allow their 65 million Euro investment dissipate by allowing the young man to be over used. To allow him play in one event is, by all means, enough. Not every thing is black or white. “If one can not stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen”. My mum used to say. Play your games in your hometown if you don’t want to mix with other nationals in Europe.
Are we talking about the same Mbappe that is the leading Goalscorer in the french league currently, or the same Mbappe that scored a hatrick 3 weeks ago, Or the same Mbappe that if he decides to leave PSG today will be the most expensive player in the WORLD!!!, My friend please go and educate yourself before countering with rubbish!.. Chukwueze is the best winger in Nigeria currently like it or not take it or leave it. it is the Truth. 2nd is Henry Onyekuru.
“I have sent Enrico Pionetti, my goalkeeper trainer, to @anorthosisfc, to work on him. At the moment, it’s not, for now, a question of him being number one but of his being one of our three goalkeepers for the AFCON.”
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That statement by the coach shows he is completely devoid of sentiments as regards his choices for the national team. That’s him stating categorically that his 1st choice goalie for over a year now isn’t guaranteed a place in the final afcon list due to inactivity at club level.
On loan HNK Rijeka Nigerian goalkeeper David Nwolokor is once again on the radar of coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr who is searching for more options in goal.
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Nwolokor who is out on loan to Slovakian side SKF Sered has been watched severally by scouts of the Franco-German coach of Nigeria but no decision has been reached yet on a possible call up to the senior national team of Nigeria.
23 year old Nwolokor has ten appearances to his name this season with seven coming in the league and three games in the cup, which means he has made more appearances than any other Nigerian goalkeeper in Europe within his age.
Rohr is still keen on more options despite the not too bad performance of 20 year old first choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho who is ahead of Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi who are 11 years older.
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https://owngoalnigeria.com/2019/03/12/rohr-scouts-slovakia-based-nigerian-goalkeeper-david-nwolokor-as-alternative-to-uzoho/
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Uzoho’s registration issues at Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta has restricted him to just one game for the team he joined in the January transfer window after terminating his loan deal with Spanish second division side Elche where he was suppose to spend the rest of the season on loan from Deportivo La Coruna.