'He Will Not Play The Game' - Rohr Details Problems With GK Lawal Pledging Future To Nigeria

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has confirmed that promising LASK goalkeeper Tobias Lawal will certainly not be involved for the three-time African champions when they take on Algeria in an international friendly on Friday evening.

Born in Linz, Austria, Lawal has played non-binding games for Austria at U19 and U20 level but cannot switch allegiance to Nigeria immediately because he has issues procuring a Nigerian passport.

The 20-year-old would have to renounce his Austrian citizenship should he decide to play internationally for Nigeria but there are exceptions to the rule.

Rohr revealed that Lawal was in camp to familiarize himself with the Super Eagles players with a view to a change of nationality in the future, if the environment is conducive.

"Tobias Lawal was the man of the match in his last game for LASK, he played already for Austria U2O, a friendly, so he could switch but the problem in Austria - you saw yesterday people from Nigeria's embassy in Vienna were here and I asked them for the passport for Tobias Lawal, father is Nigerian, mother is Austrian, same like Akpoguma in Germany, it's not the same situation unfortunately in Austria, they don't give two passports, so if he has a Nigerian passport he must drop the Austrian passport," Rohr said at Thursday's press conference.

"There could be some exception and this is not in our hands to give it, we'll ask for it if he's interested. He wanted to come and see how we are our working, if the group is okay, if the atmosphere is good for him.

"He's not officially one for the list, he will not play the game, he cannot even come in but he's working with us, he's only 20, he has a good future."

Rohr went on to explain why the three goalkeepers he took to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations were not summoned for the two friendlies this month.

"I spoke when we had lunch with the goalkeeper coach about him and Alloy told me he has a big future, also for Maduka and also for the other goalkeepers, Uzoho will come back.

"None of our three goalkeepers is here, we are doing this game without our three usual goalkeepers because Akpeyi had an injury and didn't play for our long time, Uzoho is only on the bench, did not play since the injury against Brazil, we couldn't take Ezenwa because he has not played for a long time.

"It's interesting to see how they can work with four goalkeepers, three will be in the official list. Tobias Lawal, we have to check his passport."  

Last season, Lawal kept five clean sheets in 20 appearances in the Austrian 2. Liga and was an unused substitute for LASK in a Europa League fixture against Manchester United.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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