Some players of the senior national team of Nigeria have voiced their unhappiness over the decision of coach Gernot Rohr to hand a recall to Al Shabab striker Odion Ighalo ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers
Ighalo quit the team in 2019 after emerging top scorer at the 2019 Africa Cup Of Nations, he claimed the backlash he received from fans of the team after the 2018 World Cup played a role in his decision as some went as far as threatening his children and also his family.
Last week he beat a retreat and returned back to the team and he will likely play some part in their world cup qualifiers game against Cape Verde and Liberia respectively as he was named in the 24 man squad released by coach Gernot Rohr.
His recall hasn’t gone down well with some players who believe the coach has once again proven to the world that he doesn’t trust the emerging talents in the team despite the fact that they are doing well for their various European teams.
” Imagine you as Sadiq Umar, how will you feel? “, a player of the team asked our correspondent when he was asked to give his opinion on the return of Ighalo. “I think it’s unfair to Sadiq and the others doing really well in Europe but for those who know the coach. It’s not a surprise. He doesn’t take risk”, he concluded.
Another speaking on same condition of anonymity told OwnGoalNigeria.com that Rohr’s failure to hand young players a chance is why some players are still in the team despite struggling to make hay in Europe.
“He doesn’t trust young players. All the ones he has capped happened because he has no option else he won’t play them. It’s simple to note if you have followed the team since his appointment as coach”, he revealed.
The third player who spoke to this portal particularly felt sad for Union Berlin forward Taiwo Awoniyi but was coy on the return Ighalo to the team. ” I think Awoniyi is the worst hit of them all but I am not against the return of Ighalo. He is very much a force in attack but I am not sure we need him now as aside Victor Osimhen, we have three or four players doing very well’.
