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Nairaland Forum / Entertainment / Sports / Fashanu: Bringing Back Ighalo To Super Eagles Could Make Osimhen, (191 Views)
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Fashanu: Bringing Back Ighalo To Super Eagles Could Make Osimhen, by Oldboss(m): 7:31am On Apr 30, 2021 |
The former England international has suggested some of
the consequences of making the 31-year-old come back to
the national team
John Fashanu has warned Nigeria national team coach
Gernot Rohr not to bring back Odion Ighalo to the team,
stating it could make the young strikers in the side
‘depressed’.
Ighalo called time on his international career after helping
the Super Eagles finish third at the 2019 Africa Cup of
Nations in Egypt, where he emerged as the tournament’s
top scorer.
Since his retirement, Nigeria have relied on Napoli’s
Victor Osimhen, Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho and
Genk’s Paul Onuachu, who have been in fine form for the
West African side.
Editors' Picks
The Super Eagles recently booked their place at the 2022
Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and Fashanu has
revealed reasons why Rohr should not attempt to lure
Ighalo back to the side.
“Experience in football counts but we don’t want to do
anything to upset the young boys or make them a little bit
depressed,” Fashanu told the Punch.
“The only thing Ighalo has to offer to the national team is
his experience, it is not his ability because there are
players who are far better than him and we know that.
“If Rohr wants to bring him in because he stabilizes the
squad, it is fine. I remember when I was in my 30s and
the manager kept bringing me back, it wasn’t because I
was a great player but I gave the team confidence. And
that might also be the reason why Rohr wants to bring him
back but other than that his time is gone.
“Ighalo is in his 30s and in Nigeria we have fantastic
prospects that are fighting to get that spot but not all of
them can make the squad.
“If you keep playing the older players it is at the detriment
of the younger players. It is high time we start seeing 17,
18-year-old geniuses in the national team.
“Where there is no talent the coach may consider bringing
him back but there are so many talents and it would be
very wrong to bring him back at this stage.”
Rohr hinted recently of his desire to bring Ighalo back to
the Super Eagles, stating the former Manchester United
forward will bring experience to his young team.
“The answer is simple. The answer is when you look at
the age of all the players that you speak about, they are
all young, and also we need experience,” Rohr told
Elegbete TV.
“And if, for example, Odion Ighalo will play with us - I
don’t know if it’s possible for the moment, but perhaps if
he’s coming back, I think players like Osimhen and even
Kelechi Iheanacho could have a big help in the presence
of Ighalo to learn, to progress, to see his professionalism.
“He’s a great professional, a big example for everybody,
and he’s also a great goalscorer. We are very young,
especially in the attack, and it could be good to have
some more experience with us.”
Ighalo is currently playing for Saudi Professional League
club Al Shabab since leaving Manchester United in
February. |
(1) (Reply)
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