Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has reportedly come under pressure from within the Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria Professional Football League over his decision to omit home-based players from this month’s friendly games against Senegal and Burkina Faso.
The Eagles take on Senegal’s Teranga Lions on March 23 before filing out against Burkina Faso’s Stallions four days later in London as the coach looks to fine-tune his team ahead of the Afcon and World Cup qualifiers.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa is the only NPFL star in Rohr’s 25-man squad for the two fixtures, drawing criticism for the German and his assistant – Salisu Yusuf – who has been accused of not making a strong case for the inclusion of some of the domestic league stars in the squad.
According to Punch, stakeholders in the Nigerian game have argued strongly for the inclusion of the likes of MFM striker Stephen Odey, who is currently leading the goal scoring chart with eight goals, Remo Stars’ Victor Mbaoma, Kano Pillars’ Rabiu Ali among others.
They point out that the NPFL stars should have been given a look-in given that China-based stars, John Mikel Obi, Odion Ighalo and Brown Ideye were omitted from the London fixtures.
Following the development, the NFF has allegedly asked Rohr to name at least four home-based players in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa in June.
It is also understood that the German tactician is under pressure to drop some of the established players whose performances for the national side have dropped in recent times.