Fans want Iheanacho to lead Super Eagles attack

Nigeria rise, Algeria, Cameroun falter in latest FIFA ranking

Super Eagles’ fans, including two of the team’s assistant coaches, have asked the national team Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, to hand the top striker’s role to Kelechi Iheanacho, ahead of Brown Ideye and Odion Ighalo when the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers resume next month.

According to the report, the fans on owngoalnigeria’s various interactive forums want Rohr to use the 19-year-old in the top striking role, same role he plays at Manchester City.

The website said it forwarded some of the suggestions to a close associate of the German coach, who confirmed that talks have been held in that regard and it is a possibility as the search for a cure to the Super Eagles goal scoring problem appears to be near.

“I can’t categorically say it will happen but I can confirm to you that talks have been held and the prospect of Iheanacho leading the line against Zambia is a possibility.

“Talks didn’t start because of his recent goal scoring form, not at all. It started since after the Tanzania game. Rohr is a big fan of his finishing abilities right from the training ground. He could lead the line ahead of Ighalo and Ideye in Ndola when we play Zambia in October,” he said.

Meanwhile, football governing body, Fifa, yesterday published its latest ranking of national teams.

Compared to their position the previous month, the Super Eagles have climbed three places and now occupy the 64th position, while they are 14th in the continental ranking.

Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, Senegal, Tunisia and Ghana are the top five teams in Africa in that order.

Nigeria’s other two rivals for a ticket to the 2018 World Cup – Cameroun and Zambia – sit in the 59th and 92nd place respectively in the updated ranking.