Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, says November’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers fixture against his side is “not ideal and proper” as he announced a 23-man squad.
Nigerian Super Eagles would open their Group L AFCON 2021 campaign against neighbours Benin at home on 13 November before travelling to face Lesotho four days later is much of overloading for his players.
According to the Franco German tactician,
“Large chunk of our players are from Europe and they will only get to us a day or two before the first game, so there is no time for adaptation to the African conditions,” Rohr posited
“I’m looking at the visibility of the fixtures as after that game on Thursday we travel to Lesotho away on Friday to play on an artificial surface on Sunday. This is not ideal and proper for any team.
“We’ve spoken to CAF about this but nothing has been done.”
Experienced defender Kenneth Omeruo, Italy-based Ola Aina and Samuel Kalu all return after having to withdrawn from the recent friendly against Brazil because of injury.
Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, who was left out of the last two friendly matches, returns along with fit-again captain Ahmed Musa, who has been absent since the Nations Cup finals in Egypt.
Also ,European-based trio Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi have also been included in the 23-man squad.
Notable absentee is Leicester City striker who was on fire last week scoring a goal against Burton Albion in Carabao Cup was Kelechi Iheanacho, who has seen little game time in the Premier League this season
