Nigeria national team coach Gernot Rohr claims chances that home-based players will make a return to the Super Eagles when the foreign stars are back looks very slim ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Recall that the 67-year-old Franco-German had handed call ups to two Nigerian Professional League such as Adekunle Adeleke and Anayo Iwuala as replacements for Kenneth Omeruo and Umar Sadiq after their European clubs refused to released the duo over Covid-19 fears.
Iwuala appeared to have caught the attention of spectators with his dazzling performance against Benin and Lesotho to make bold the importance of inviting home-based players to the Super Eagles.
Meanwhile, Rohr in an interview with Punch stated that it would be difficult for domestic players to retain a spot in the team during the World Cup qualifiers.
“We had three home-based players in the team and they trained well and showed what they could do. But it’s going to be tough for them to get into the team when the players in Europe are fit and available.
“I cannot say who will come back. It’s not possible now with two months to our next game.
“It will be difficult for the home-based players to make the team when those who missed last games return.”
The Super Eagles have been drawn to face Cape Verde, Central African Republic and Liberia in Group C for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Rohr disclosed that the team’s training camp for the upcoming qualifiers will be open at the end of May with the matches expected to be played between June 1 and 15.
