Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has expressed fears over the possibility of including home-based players in his team ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Anaedoonline.ng reports.
The 67-year-old Franco-German named Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble in his 24-man squad and invited Adekunle Adeleke and Anayo Iwuala as replacements for Kenneth Omeruo and Umar Sadiq after they were not released by their clubs due to COVID-19 concerns.
The Eagles are drawn in Group C of the qualifiers against Liberia, Central African Republic and Cape Verde. They will welcome the Lone Star in June in their opening qualifying group game, before a tricky trip to Central African Republic.
These two matches are expected to be played between June 1 and 15.
“We had three home-based players in the team and they trained well and showed what they could do. But it’s going to be tough for them to get into the team when the players in Europe are fit and available,’ Rohr told newsmen.
“I cannot say who will come back. It’s not possible now with two months to our next game.
“It will be difficult for the home-based players to make the team when those who missed last games return.”
The Eagles were unbeaten as they won Group L with 14 points, while the second ticket in the group will be decided between Benin and Sierra Leone in June.
Meanwhile, Former Super Eagles winger, George Finidi, has questioned the choice of some players selected by coach Gernot Rohr for Nigeria’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho later this month, Anaedoonline.ng reports.
Rohr released a 24-man list for the games on Tuesday, listing two defenders Shehu Abdulahi and Semi Ajayi as midfielders alongside Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo for the games, a decision Finidi disagreed with.
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The 49-year-old, who scored eight goals in 45 matches for Nigeria also said striker Paul Onuachu’s poor form with the Eagles has been down to poor coaching.
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