Don’t impose players on Rohr, Nwosu appeals to NFF

Former Super Eagles’ Captain, Henry Nwosu, has backed Coach Gernot Rohr’s decision not to invite home-based players for the November 12 Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria.

Rohr recently said he would not feature any home-based player in the Russia 2018 World Cup African qualifying series Group B game at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, because the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is on recess, which means the players might be match rusty and unfit for the game.

Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, Nwosu advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to support Rohr’s move no matter the cost implication, adding that victory would in the long run justify the decision.

“Recession or no recession home-based or no home-based, as a coach I will not go against Rohr over his choice of players as long as he does not do anything wrong. If the players that he believes can do the job for him are the foreign-based players, then let him invite them and I will support him.

“The coach has started a very good job and let us not disturb him. And if he likes let him bring in 30 players from outside, good luck to him, as long as they are good players and there is result to show at the end of the day,” he said.

The former Golden Eaglets coach queried: “Among the home-based players, how many of them are actually active? Since the league is on recess and they are not playing, so how can the coach invite any one of them?”

Nwosu also cautioned against lumping all the non-regular players together, saying, “The case of Mikel is different; give it to him. I know Mikel still trains with his club regularly and he is making effort to reclaim his shirt at Chelsea.

“This is a guy that did very well at the Olympics and in some of the recent matches he played, he did very well especially as a number 10 player.”