NFF Boss Hints Rohr Will Take Etebo To World Cup: He's Playing Against Messi, Ronaldo

Published: March 03, 2018

Nigeria Football Federation supremo Amaju Pinnick has strongly hinted that Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr will include Las Palmas midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo on the 23-man roster for the 2018 World Cup.

On Thursday, the CD Feirense loanee showed the whole world what he was capable of doing in Las Palmas' 1-1 draw against league leaders Barcelona, who paraded Argentina's Lionel Messi and Croatia main man Ivan Rakitić.

Pinnick says he's delighted with the progress made by Nigerian players ahead of the World Cup, with the likes of Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho now getting game time for their respective clubs.

''Our coaches are in a camp already. We have our players playing regularly in their clubs, so we are getting fully ready for the World Cup,'' Pinnick told reporters in Ibadan during the unveiling of the Odua Football League logo.

''We try as much as possible to talk to the coaches in their clubs that they are Nigerian players who must not play a second fiddle because they are going to the world Cup.

''People are now talking about Oghenekaro Etebo’s exploits in Las Palmas in La Liga. I called him and told him to leave his former club ........

''Today, he is playing against Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and so on. Those are the players he will play against at the World Cup.''

Las Palmas have only lost once in five matches since Etebo made his league debut for the club.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel