Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has explained why he didn’t call-up Chinese-based players such as John Obi-Mikel, Odion Ighalo and Anthony Ujah for his squad.
Along with the above-mentioned trio, Obafemi Martins and Brown Ideye were also left out of the Super Eagles’ squad for their upcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa.
Rohr revealed that Mikel’s omission is down to injury, admitted that it is difficult to track the progress of the strikers in China, and explained that promising performances from the likes of Henry Onyekuru, Olanrewaju Kayode, Victor Osimhen and Alhassan Ibrahim in the training camp in France swayed his decision.
“It’s very difficult to monitor the players in China,” Rohr told the national press in Uyo on Monday, as quoted by Allnigeriasoccer.com.
“You already know that one them is injured, our captain [Mikel].
“Also, I was satisfied with the performances of the young players I have been working with for the past two weeks in France and that was why we decided to keep this group.”
Rohr oversaw a 3-0 friendly win over Togo last week and will be hoping for a similar result against Bafana Bafana on Saturday.
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