Rohr Rues Ighalo's Injury, Turns Attention To Friendly With Egypt

Published: March 23, 2019

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr hopes striker Odion Ighalo has not suffered a long-term injury ahead of the team's next game against Egypt.

The striker was substituted after 85 minutes in the 2019 AFCON qualifier against Seychelles on Friday and faces the likelihood of missing Tuesday's friendly against Egypt after he was excused from Saturday morning's training at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

The one-time Burkina Faso national team gaffer maintains that his focus is now on the friendly against Egypt.

"Odion is a key part of this team. We need him and other players to be fit for us and their clubs," Rohr, a former Bayern Munich defender in his playing days, told allnigeriasoccer.com.

"We have the highest scorer in the AFCON qualifiers with seven goals. We wish him a speedy recovery.

"Our goal was to finish first in the group and we're happy we did because since we lost to South Africa in the AFCON qualifiers two years ago we've never lost to another African team.

''We scored two beautiful goals in the second half against Seychelles. It was not easy," Rohr stressed.

Izuchukwu Okosi, reporting live from Asaba