Rohr Reveals Samuel Kalu Was Expected To Start For Super Eagles At AFCON

Published: September 03, 2019

Coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that Samuel Kalu was expected to start for the Super Eagles at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations but had issues with his health.

The Bordeaux winger collapsed in training a day before the Super Eagles opener against Burundi and there had been suggestions that he suffered a heart attack but it was later debunked by the Nigerian Federation.

It is believed that Rohr didn't want to take a gamble on Kalu even after he was cleared by medics to play in the tournament, with the winger making only one start against Madagascar but impressed in a cameo against Tunisia in the third place playoff.

''Yes, he was expected in the starting team, like Collins who was injured the same day, the day before the match,'' Rohr explained to Gold FM's Point. G.

''We had to replace these two boys at the last moment, at the last moment. And we still won our first two games of the Africa Cup of Nations, and we were still qualified, so ... Kalu was expected to start at the AFCON.''

With the exception of the game against Dijon, Kalu has gone the distance in all the matches played by Bordeaux in the Ligue 1 this season.

Igho Kingsley