Nigeria World Cup Star : Brown Ideye Should Have Been The 31st Name On Provisional Roster

USA 1994 World Cup star Emeka Ezeugo is unhappy with the exclusion of Tianjin Teda striker Brown Ideye from Nigeria's 30-man provisional roster for the World Cup, and has criticized manager Gernot Rohr for not properly assessing him at the get-together which begins in Uyo next week.

Ideye did everything possible to be on the plane to Russia in what would have been the second time he has attended the World Cup, and to brighten his chances of a recall to the national team he joined Malaga in the January transfer window.

''You can never be satisfied with the provisional list, it is provisional because there are some strange names that you will find there,'' Emeka Ezeugo told allnigeriasoccer.com from Bangladesh on Thursday afternoon.

''So far I don't see anything wrong other than I didn't see Brown Ideye's name in there. He has lost form, he should be given the opportunity to come and fight for his position.

''They should have made it 31. That is probably the only missing name that I wasn't happy about.''

The former Lyngby Boldklub midfielder added : ''Sometimes you have to give players the benefit of doubt especially if they deserve to be there.

''Give him that chance if you are the coach, tell him you are not satisfied with his performance, you expect to see more or you will drop him. That is the only grey part about the list.''

Ideye last played for the Super Eagles in a World Cup qualifier against Zambia on October 9, 2016, and provided the assist for the goal scored by Kelechi Iheanacho.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : twitter.com/OfficialIdeye