Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr has explained the rationale behind his decision to omit Racing Genk striker Paul Onuachu from the original 24-man roster for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The German football tactician aimed a dig at the lanky striker in the days leading up to his squad announcement, saying he does not pull his weight when he is wearing the Super Eagles colours.

Rohr has been criticized for not using Onuachu to his full strength, with the FC Ebedei product  failing to score in six consecutive matches for the national team.

"You know Onuachu is part of the team, I invited him already when he played his first match and he scored a goal after seven seconds, and then the people are waiting all the time for him to do the same he could not," Rohr said to allnigeriasoccer.com after training on Tuesday.

"He's part of our team, a very important player. Sometimes we also have to look for other players who deserve to have a chance.

"We know Paul already since more than two years and we want also to see Sadiq Umar, unfortunately the club did not release him so Onuachu is coming back.

"We also have other center forwards like Moffi, we have also Awoniyi, we have so many strikers and we have to give them the chance but we can not invite five center forwards, normally only two.

"That's why Paul was on the standby list, now he is here which is the most important.

"The same people who are asking why are you playing Onuachu are now asking why you didn't put him on the list of 23."

Onuachu has logged only 12 minutes in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and he got game time in that match against Sierra Leone in Benin City only because Victor Osimhen was forced off injured.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel