Rohr reveals exactly why Ighalo did not participate in Super Eagles 2-0 win against Liberia

The Super Eagles could not score in normal play in their 2-0 win over Liberia in a 2022 World Cup qualifier on Saturday evening, needing two goals from the spot to secure all three points.

Victor Osimhen broke the deadlock in the 14th minute and won a penalty in the closing minutes after he was wrestled to the ground by Lone Stars goalkeeper Boison Wynney De Souza.

Off the bench in the 87th minute, Musa sent the keeper the wrong way to wrap up the three points for the three-time African champions.

The Super Eagles have struggled to score goals in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, averaging 1.2 from open play in five games. 

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr claimed that Odion Ighalo was not recalled to the team because of the scoring problems and confirmed that the former Manchester United star did not participate in today's match due to his late arrival in camp.

"No, the reason why we asked Ighalo to come back is that we have such a young team, they are very young 22, 23, 21," Rohr said.

"Our strikers are all very young, Ejuke is coming now, Chukwueze is coming back from injury.

"Everybody is young, we need somebody to help them with his experience in the striker position and he's a good goalscorer we know it.

"We are happy to have him back, he only arrived on Thursday that's why he couldn't participate in this match.

"I hope that in the next match next Tuesday he will be able to help us much more."

After five rounds in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, only three Super Eagles players have scored from open play namely Keelchi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhen and Leon Balogun.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel