'Bordeaux told us no' - Rohr reveals Kalu was blocked from joining Super Eagles for AFCONQ

Published: May 20, 2021

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has revealed that French Ligue 1 outfit Bordeaux prevented Samuel Kalu from linking up with the Super Eagles squad for their last two Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against the Republic of Benin and Lesotho in March.

The German football tactician handed a late call-up to Monaco winger Henry Onyekuru after Kalu withdrew from the roster.

The irony is that Kalu was later permitted to travel to Nigeria in order to continue his recovery after he sustained an injury during Bordeaux's 3-1 win at Dijon - their penultimate game before the international break in March.

The former Gent winger has had an injury blighted campaign, which has seen him miss seventeen games played by Bordeaux in Ligue 1.

"We had invited him for Nigeria's last game, and the Girondins told us no, that they needed him to save themselves," Rohr told ARL Aquitaine Radio Live via girondins4ever.com.

"And then he got hurt… They finally sent him to Nigeria anyway, so it was kind of weird.

"Still, the boy has a lot of injuries this year, I hope he is well supervised on all levels, mentally, medically and sportingly.

"Every time he plays with me he's good, but it's true that this season has been blighted by injuries. I hope he can help the Girondins for the end of the season.

"I rely on him a lot. We communicate quite often. He was sorry. He was also a bit lonely without his family in Bordeaux.

"He lacked a little family support. But it's going to get better and better provided that his injury is no more than a bad memory "

Kalu has not been involved in the last five games played by the Super Eagles and has been left out of the provisional roster for the upcoming friendly against Cameroon due to fitness concerns.

Igho Kingsley

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