Super Eagles’ emerging talents thrill Rohr
Super Eagles’ Manager, Gernor Rohr, believes the country’s emerging talents will make Nigeria difficult to beat in the near future. The coach has had a rare opportunity to be with his squad for up to four days and his findings gladden his heart.
Nigeria played an international friendly against Senegal last week Thursday and were billed to meet Burkina Faso in another game on Monday. But visa hitches ensured the second match did not hold, but it gave Rohr the opportunity to see all his players in action in a two-a-side training game.
He said in the Super Eagles’ official twitter handle: “We planned two international friendlies but could only play one. However, we were still able to do some work.
“We have been able to see some new players and young Nigerian talents here in the UK, that could be part of our group in future.”
In the training session held at Barnet’s Hive Stadium, London, Rohr had the opportunity to run the rules over such new players as Ola Aina, Chuba Akpom, Isaac Success, Olanrewaju Kayode, Joel Bazee and Tyronne Ebuehi.
He revealed that with such players joining the side that are already top of the Russia World Cup qualifying group, Nigeria will soon regain its position among the best sides in world football.
The coach is thinking of combing the Nigerian league to look for strong legs to complement the talents based in Europe.
“I will be back in Lagos next week to watch some NPFL games and see some of our home stars in action as we continue to plan ahead,” he said.
Meanwhile, England coach, Gareth Southgate, has insisted that he won’t force players who have dual nationality to represent the Three Lions, stating that they should be honoured to wear the England jersey without persuasion.
In the last few days, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have held talks with Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom, Chelsea defender Ola Aina, Sunderland’s Josh Maja and QPR starlet Eze over committing their international future to the Super Eagles, while the progress of Ovie Ejaria at Liverpool is being monitored.
And it appears the leadership of the Federation was successful in the approach, with Akpom, Aina and Eze training with the national team in London this week.
“In the end I have to focus on players who are desperate to play for England. I am not aware those sorts of players are wanting to play for England or not really…, ” Southgate said.
“I didn’t get capped until I was 25 and I had no interest in playing for anyone else. I am English and proud to be English and I think part of your identity as a national team has to be pride in the shirt.
“So for me the commitment has to come from the player.”
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IGareth Southgate is English and nothing else. Ola Aina, Chuba Akpom and others are both English and Nigerian. Their status is emotionally complicated with divided loyalties. In the end they must choose between the directions recommended by their hearts and heads
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