Rohr: Ighalo’s experience needed in Super Eagles

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has hinted that he would have loved to have Odion Ighalo back into the team in order to share his experience with the likes of Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Recall that Ighalo retired from the senior national team after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where the Super Eagles won the bronze medal after defeating Tunisia in the Third-Place match. He also emerged as the highest goal scorer of the competition and was named in the team of the tournament.

Although, there were media reports of his second coming to the team during the just concluded 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, however, the Gerrman tactician stuck with Osimhen and Iheanacho to qualify Nigeria to the bi-annual tournament.

In an interview with Elegbete TV, Rohr noted that Ighalo’s experience and professionalism could have been a handful to his team due to his goal-scoring prowess.

“The answer is simple. The answer is when you look at the age of all the players that you speak about, they are all young, and also we need experience.

“And if, for example, Odion Ighalo will play with us- I don’t know if it’s possible for the moment, but perhaps if he’s coming back, I think players like Osimhenn and even Kelechi Iheanacho could have a big help in the presence of Ighalo to learn, to progress to see his professionalism.

“He’s a great professional, a big example for everybody, and he’s also a great goalscorer. We are very young, especially in the attack, and it could be good to have some more experience with us, Rohr added.