Rohr Reacts To Speculation FIFA Has Cleared Liverpool, Reading, Chelsea, Fulham Stars To Play For Eagles

Published: February 10, 2021

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has dismissed reports that football's governing body, FIFA has given clearance to six players with dual nationality to switch allegiance to the Nigeria Football Federation.

It was erroneously claimed that Fulham pair Ademola Lookman and Tosin Adarabioyo, Liverpool-owned winger Sheyi Ojo, Chelsea loanee Ike Ugbo, Southampton young star Nathan Tella, PSV's Nonso Madueke, Reading midfielder Ovie Ejaria and Hertha Berlin's Jordan Torunarigha applied for a one-time change of association, with FIFA approving six.

Asked if he was aware of the aforementioned players switching nationality to Nigeria, Rohr told Super Eagles TV : "You can read so many names in the newspapers but that is not the best way to select the players.

"The best way to select the players is to scout them very well, also to speak with them if there is motivation to come.

"If they want to come they have to write a letter to FIFA that they want to switch from England, Germany or Austria to Nigeria and it's not easy for them to make this choice but we have some players in view.

"One of them wrote already a letter but I saw a list the other day in the media, it was fake news.

"For the moment we have our players and it's not the best moment to bring in new players when we only have one or two training sessions to prepare for a match.

"When you come the first time to a team you need a little time to adapt and to take your place in the group".

The German football tactician went on to reveal that only the best players will be considered for a call up after FIFA eventually approves their one-time switch to the Super Eagles.

Rohr explained : "The best players, only the best players can come, we have already good ones. They need the time to adapt, you can not come on Tuesday and play Wednesday with new teammates, it's not serious.

"Let us work on it quietly not publicly, they are welcome the better players than we have, we have very good players already.

"It's not the moment now to invite so many new players because we don't have the time before the two last matches in the qualifiers."

The Nigeria Football Federation has cap-tied Ola Aina, Tyronne Ebuehi, Maduka Okoye, Kevin Akpoguma, Semi Ajayi and Joe Aribo since the appointment of Rohr as coach in 2016.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : fulhamfc.com

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