Rohr on Enyimba's Iwuala, CHAN Team, condition for local players making Super Eagles squad

Gernot Rohr has revealed that the three home-based players invited to the Super Eagles squad, namely goalkeeper John Noble, Anayo Iwuala (both Enyimba) and Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors) gave a good account of themselves during the training camp in Lagos late last month.

Of the aforementioned local players, only exciting winger Iwuala was handed game time, albeit off the bench, in the matches against the Republic of Benin and Lesotho.

While Noble was named in the original 24-man roster, Iwuala and Adeleke were handed late call-ups after Spanish-based duo Sadiq Umar and Kenneth Omeruo were blocked from reporting for international duty due to coronavirus concerns.

"We brought Enyimba players because I saw them they are good players and Iwuala could play twice even," Rohr stated.

"In the first match he came in, I think a lot of people were surprised because he played already."

Rohr went on to explain why it would be difficult for the local players to be called up for future matches, adding that they must first prove their mettle in the CHAN team before they are considered for the Super Eagles A team.

"Normally in the CHAN team, playing the best local players, it's very difficult for them to come to our A team but now with the special circumstances for traveling restrictions we had the opportunity to bring in some local players.

"The two other ones also in the training gave us a good impression, so let's see what can happen.

"These three players  are very interesting for the CHAN team and the coach will prepare the team for the next competition.

"Everybody wants to see the local players but they have to show something before in the CHAN team, it is very important that we can have this young CHAN team to see the best ones and to give them eventually a chance."

Nigeria did not qualify for the 2020 African Nations Championship held in Cameroon earlier this year.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel