Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has disclosed that Odion Ighalo will be given an opportunity to return to the fold after almost two years he announced his retirement.
The former Watford and Granada forward resigned from national team duties after helping the West African side finish third at the Africa Cup of Nations held in Egypt.
Meanwhile, there have been calls from fans for the return of Ighalo in the wake of his dream Manchester United move last summer from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua in January 2020.
The striker didn’t need so much time to settle in his boyhood club as he bagged five goals to earn a contract extension with the Premier League giants last year.
Ighalo has now left the Old Trafford outfit after his deal with the side ended and then signed for Saudi Professional League club Al Shabab on a two-and-a-half-year contract in February.
Rohr, who arrived Nigeria at the weekend in preparation for the Super Eagles’ 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March, explained that door will be open for the forward to return, if he impresses with his new club and chooses to return.
“There’s no reason not to take him if he’s doing well. The question is if he wants to come back,” Rohr told the media.
“We hope so because he’s an experienced player. He can be very useful to his partners. We’re waiting but firstly he has to play.”
Rohr expressed his delight with the performances of Lorient’s Terem Moffi, Union Berlin’s Taiwo Awoniyi and Almeria’s Umar Sadiq, who could get their first-call up for the Super Eagles next month.
The 67-year-old also praised the blistering form of Genk’s Paul Onuachu, who has bagged 22 goals for his club this season and Galatasaray’s Henry Onyekuru.
“Terem Moffi is doing well like Taiwo Awoniyi, Paul Onuachu, Umar Sadiq, Henry Onyekuru and others,” he added.
Nigeria will take on the Republic of Benin and Lesotho in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March.
