In light of the trending video of Nigeria international Victor Osimhen getting sent off from training at Napoli by coach Luciano Spalleti, it makes sense to look at the words of former Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr.
Rohr handed Osimhen his first call up to the senior national team of Nigeria before he made his professional bow at club level. The coach called him up on the strength of his performance at the U17 World Cup, where he finished as the top scorer for the title winning Nigerian team.
The coach went as far as including him in his squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and although he didn’t get to play aside in the third place playoff. Rohr handed him the main scorer role after the decision of Odion Ighalo to retire from international football.
Speaking on what could limit the future of the 23 year old, Rohr explained his poor body language when things don’t go well with him is a huge concern. Something he showed yesterday during a heated argument with Zambo Anguissa which led to his sending off by Spalleti.
“This boy knows exactly where he comes from and will never forget it. Victor is also a fighter on the pitch, and has great moral and physical qualities. Technically he has improved a lot, recently in Lille and Napoli he showed how dangerous he is”, he told Bild early into this month.
“If he develops further, he can become one. Victor still needs to improve a few things, like working on his body language. If something doesn’t work, he shows it too much on the pitch. But these are small things, he can handle them,” Rohr added.
Yesterday’s issue further proved the German coach right as he clearly lost his head after a tackle on one of his teammates Leo Østigård which went unpunished. The issue was however settled afterwards according to Anguissa.
