'Osimhen Learnt A Lot In The AFCON' - Rohr Insists He Was Right Dropping Iheanacho From Roster

Manager Gernot Rohr has suggested that he was right to select Victor Osimhen over Leicester City frontman Kelechi Iheanacho in the Super Eagles 23-man squad list for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, which was an unpopular decision at that time

The former Bayern Munich defender reckons that Osimhen is now a better player after understudying Odion Ighalo, who retired immediately after the AFCON.

The Lille striker had his best performance in a Nigeria jersey on Sunday, scoring two goals and setting up two others as the three-time African champions came from behind to beat Lesotho 4-2.

Speaking at Sunday's post-match press conference after the win against the Crocodiles, Rohr told reporters including allnigeriasoccer.com : ''We had the best goalscorer in the AFCON, he wanted to retire and we had to find a solution.

''When I took Osimhen to the AFCON as part of the 23-man list, a lot of you were very critical, they asked why I didn't take Kelechi (Iheanacho) for example.

''He learnt a lot in the AFCON, watching, playing in the last match, seeing this very good goalscorer Ighalo, seeing Musa and now he is progressing.

''He's in a good club Lille in France and scoring a lot of goals, confidence is there and this good understanding with the other players is good for a center forward.''

Having scored two penalty kicks in previous games, Osimhen netted his first goals from open play in the win against Lesotho.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel