Rohr Explains Why Newly-Invited Players Hardly Get The Chance To Play For Super Eagles

Gernot Rohr has explained that he hardly fields newly-invited players in Super Eagles matches because most of the games are competitive and the players need a longer time to adapt to the squad.

Goalkeepers Matthew Yakubu and Dele Alampasu were not utilized in the last friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia, while former Flying Eagles star Sebastian Osigwe remained rooted to the bench for the back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone.

Rohr argued his case by revealing that Hoffenheim center back Kevin Akpoguma and Midtjylland holding midfielder Frank Onyeka went on to make their debuts in the friendly against Algeria.

In truth, the German football tactician had no choice but to hand a debut to Onyeka because he was missing the services of the top three players in his pecking order of defensive midfielders namely Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Joe Aribo, who pulled out of the games due to injuries.

Asked why he invites new players without giving them chances to play, Rohr told News Central TV : "We tried in the last few friendlies and even the international games in Benin City and in Freetown, we had some new players.

"We had some players who decided to come with us, leaving for example Germany U20, U23 like Akpoguma who decided to come with us, it is fantastic.

"But they need the time to come in and it's not easy in a few training sessions only to find exactly the right way to play with the team, it's more easier for the other ones who were with us in the World Cup and played with us in the AFCON.

"We have to try to invite better players, friendlies are good for that to see them. When they are friendlies it is not for the result we are playing, we want to see new faces.

"We tried new goalkeepers, new wingers, new defenders and the midfielder from Midtjylland Onyeka, the Austrian goalkeeper.

"We saw a lot of players in the friendlies but they are not enough, we only have two since one year.

"When you have games that you need results it is not the best moment for the players and for the team to invite new ones."

Rohr is expected to announce his roster for the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in the coming days and he has hinted at including some new faces in the squad.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel