AFCON qualifiers: Eagles coach Rohr may face selection headache

Nigeria coach, Gernot Rohr, is expected to face a selection headache ahead of next month’s AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone.

After the friendly duels against Algeria and Tunisia, Rohr expects the new boys to push the regular stars for spots in the Super Eagles.

Nigeria bowed 0-1 to Algeria and later player 1-1 draw against Tunisia. “Indeed, the results could have been better. We could have picked a draw against Algeria and a win against Tunisia,” Rohr told the Super Eagles Media team.

“We have some positives to pick out from the games because in spite of missing some key players we still competed well.

“Now it is going to be difficult for me to pick our list for the AFCON qualifiers next month because of the new boys who did well.

“I believe these very good friendly games will help us to return to winning ways when we play Sierra Leone next month(home and away). Good results next month may see us qualifying for the 2022 AFCON already.”

Only the quartet of Dele Alampasu, Mathew Yakubu, Ola Aina and Tobias Lawal did not play in the two matches played in Austria of the 26 players invited by Rohr.

read also:Rohr reveals what Super Eagles players must prove against Tunisia

The former Gabon head coach is upbeat that his team competed well against the North African giants and he is pleased that Nigerian debutants gave a good account of themselves in those two international matches.

Rohr handed Eagles debuts to as many as six stars including former German youth international and Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma and Belgian-born Genk forward, Cyriel Dessers.

Other stars who featured for the first time for Nigeria’s senior team were Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi, Mydtjylland’s Frank Onyeka, Salzburg’s Samson Tijani, and CSKA’s Chidera Ejuke.

Sanusi excelled at full-back, Akpoguma showed his versatility at full-back and centre-back, while Ejuke caught the eye in a cameo showing on Tuesday night.