After spending less than two weeks at Asaba camp, Coach Gernot Rohr on Sunday announced his 23-man squad for the 2019 African Nations Cup scheduled to take place in Egypt.
In his squad, the German tactician named three goalkeepers, seven defenders, four midfielders and nine attackers.
Aside John Obi Mikel, Ahmed Musa and Kenneth Omeruo who will be making a return to the AFCON, the other 20 players are debutants at the African Nations Cup.
Mikel is making a return to the team exactly 347 days after his last appearance for the Super Eagles.
However, the two casualties from the gaffer’s decision are Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho and Semi Ajayi of Rotherham Utd.
The decision to drop Iheanacho caught no one by surprise as the former Manchester City forward struggled for game time in the Premiership this season and each time he had the opportunity on getting on the pitch, he made insignificant contribution at his club.
Also, given the plethora of strikers in the Super Eagles squad, it will only take Iheanacho having an amazing season at Leicester to make the trip to the Pharaoh’s land.
Henry Onyekuru, Paul Onuachu, Victor Osimhen, Odion Ighalo surely deserved their place in the team ahead of the former schoolboy international.
There is little time for Iheanacho to regain full match fitness as the African Nations Cup is only a few days away. While many football aficionados may have sympathy for the former U-17 player, including another striker in the squad would have affected the balance of the team. Already many are of the opinion that the squad is overloaded with attacking options which may have been reduced from about nine to seven. Dropping Iheanacho on form and not pocket size was particularly a right decision and on this, the coach may have earned the respect of countless Nigerians.
As for Semi Ajayi, the decision to ‘chop him off’ from the squad is contentious given the player’s imperious form for his Championship club last season. The 25-year-old who played most times as a centre back scored eight goals in 49 matches for Rotherham Utd and was named the club’s Player of the Season. Being a versatile player and given his present form, Ajayi would have been very quite useful to the team in Egypt. The Rotherham Utd star surely has the physique to succeed in African football.
In addition to this is the fact that there are not enough midfielders in the squad compared to the number of attackers named by Rohr.
I fervently believe dropping one of the ineffective goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi and Chidozie Awaziem, whose inclusion in the squad according to feelers may have been influenced by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick.
Awaziem who featured for Rizespor last season is said to have close ties with the NFF boss hence the consistent favour he has been getting from the national team handlers.
The debate on the players dropped aside, it is time for Gernot Rohr to perfect his tactics and ensure he names the best starting XI and also make the right substitutions in matches.
It’s been six years of absence at the African Nations Cup for the Eagles and Nigerians will take no excuse should the team fail to impress in the North African country given that the last time we featured our boys emerged the champions.
It would be interesting to see how Kalu Uche, Samuel Chukwueze, Henry Onyekuru, Paul Onuachu, Alex Iwobi and Simon Moses who are all debutants will light up the 2019 AFCON.
While Chukwueze, Simon and Kalu are likely to torment defenders with their pace on the flanks, Onuachu will trouble opposing defenders with his height and aerial prowess. The Denmark based forward will offer the coach a different option from the substitutes’ bench and no one should be surprised if he pushed Odion Ighalo to the extreme for the starting XI.
The Super Eagles will likely have stiffer competition this time from their opponents compared to 2013 when they last featured and lifted the trophy.
The players must shun any act of indiscipline while the gaffer must ensure that only those that are in-form make the starting line-up.
As for the leadership of the NFF, they must ensure the boys and the technical crew concentrate on the job at hand by paying their bonuses and allowances as at when due.
