Nigeria/Libya: Rohr Under Fresh Attack for Inviting Odion Ighalo
The inclusion of Odion Ighalo on the 23-man Eagles list released by German tactician Gernot Rohr on Monday has continued to be brew disquiet among sport enthusiasts in the country.
The 65-year-old Eagles manager called up Changchun Yatai, China base Ighalo among the eight invited strikers in the Eagles team for the first leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Uyo on Saturday, October 13 and the return leg scheduled for Tuesday, October 16.
Other invited strikers invited for the two edge duels include; Ahmed Musa (Al Nasr FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Italy); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux FC, France); and Isaac Success (Watford FC, England).
Although Eagles gaffer, Rohr reckons that Ighalo is still in top form with his club and so far scored 18 goals in his Chinese Super League so far this season to justify why he has invited him for the must win two matches against Libya, but critics have insisted the striker is a let down in green-and-white shirt.
Ighalo has is name on the scoreboard for the 3-0 away win to Seychelles in the previous match of the AFCON 2019 qualifiers, which could again justify Rohr’s faith in the 29-year-old striker.
However, recall that Ighalo failed to score any goal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup despite playing in the three group D qualifying matches in the Russia tournament. The Eagles top striker even missed a begging chance against Argentina wish could have given Nigeria a life-line to progress at the tournament.
Ighalo’s goals of recent for the national team which was against Seychelles was converted from the spot kick. The goal he scored at the weekend in China was a penalty kick, this however puts a question on his abilities during open play according to the critics.
It is now left to be seen if Ighalo will prove his critics wrong when he lines out against Libya on October 13 in Uyo, as he appears to be Rohr’s sacred cow for a starting role.
The exclusion of Crotone striker, Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo (Simy) from the latest roll call leaves Ighalo to have a free rein into the starting line up in Uyo, unless Rohr pulls off a shock set up by naming Watfor’s in-form all-action hit-man, Isaac Success to star alongside Ahmed Musa.