Six Nigeria players who could benefit from Rohr’s sacking
Following the sacking of Gernot Rohr, a host of players will be hoping for better fortunes with the Super Eagles
The Nigerian Football Federation finally concluded plans to dismiss Gernot Rohr as head coach of the Super Eagles after the news broke more than a fortnight ago.
With former Super Eagles skipper and two-time manager Austin Eguavoen back at the helm in the interim as the NFF finalize the vetting and selection process for Rohr’s successor, fans are now looking forward to a difference in the way the Super Eagles play.
A shake-up is bound to happen, and some players will lose while some could benefit from having Rohr gone from the dugout.
Taiwo Awoniyi
The Union Berlin striker is one of the best goal poachers in Europe’s top five leagues at the moment. He is only second to goal machines Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski and could well be sort after by top clubs next summer.
However, Rohr has ignored his form and has restricted him to just one appearance for the Super Eagles, which came off the bench as the Super Eagles lost to the Central African Republic in October.
With Victor Osimhen’s participation still in doubt, Awoniyi could be the striker Nigeria need to achieve something of note in the forthcoming 2022 Afcon finals.
Akinkunmi Amoo
Dubbed “Nigeria’s Little Messi”, the 19-year-old player is a star in the Swedish Allsvenskan. He has nine goals and five assists in 29 games for Hammarby IF and has drawn plaudits from fans and pundits alike.
Still a Nigerian U-21 international and yet to make his Super Eagles debut, the versatile midfielder who can play as a striker, attacking midfielder and right-winger could solve a lot of issues that Nigeria have in the creative department.
Kelechi Nwakali
Since dazzling Nigerians as a key player in the team’s various youth set-ups, Nwakali has been conspicuously ignored for the Super Eagles by Rohr.
His pace and trickery in midfield could offer something of a different profile to Eguavoen.
The SD Huesca man remains hopeful for a call-up, and could also come in as a solution to Nigeria’s lack of creativity in the midfield ahead of the 2022 Afcon finals.
Calvin Bassey
Bassey and Leon Balogun both play for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership and are both key players for the club. Balogun is one half of the Super Eagles first-choice centre back pairing, but the 21-year-old youngster is a strong option to have on the bench or for games where Balogun or William Troost-Ekong might not be available
Currently, Balogun is recovering from an injury and in his stead, Bassey has provided some fine performances for the Gers. With Bassey in their defence, Rangers have only conceded two goals in their last six games across all competitions, keeping four clean sheets in the process.
Bassey is not yet the finished article but game time in the coming Afcon could help him integrate into the Super Eagles squad as he could be the future of the west African giant’s defence
Samuel Chukwueze
The Villarreal winger has had ill luck with injuries but still remains a key part of the Yellow Submarines set up when fit.
Chukwueze broke into the Super Eagles squad under Rohr and was even a part of the bronze medal-winning Afcon squad of 2019.
Since then, due to fitness issues and Rohr’s decisions, he has been left out of the squad while Nigeria have struggled to create anything in attack.
He is one player the fans will love to see get a good run of games in the squad and with Rohr gone, he’s in line to regain his spot as the Super Eagles prepare for the 2022 Afcon in January.
Emmanuel Dennis
Seven goals and five assists in the Premier League puts Dennis as the second most in-form attacker of African descent behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. He even has more goal contributions in top five league football than Nigeria’s first-choice striker, Osimhen, who is currently in rehabilitation from injury.
Yet, Rohr also ignored the player’s impeccable form in the past year. Dennis is also a versatile forward who can play across the attack and in Kelechi Iheanacho’s favoured supporting striker role, which will give interim manager Eguavoen many options in attack as Afcon draws nearer.
