Rohr under pressure to drop Musa from AFCON qualifiers

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr is under pressure to drop his captain Ahmed Musa from the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic later this month.

Musa has been without a club since quitting Saudi side Al Nassr in October 2020.

He has however continued to enjoy the support of Rohr, who invited him for the double-header qualifying games against Sierra Leone in Benin and Freetown respectively last November.

Many Nigerians on social media have however asked that the Franco-German drop the 28-year-old and invite players who play regularly for their teams.

Speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday, former Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu said, “It is left for the coach to invite whoever he feels he needs into the team.

“I however don’t think it is the best thing to invite someone who has not been playing for about five months to the national team. You don’t expect such a player to be in top form and shape.”

Another ex-Eagles star Edema Fuludu said with Musa’s service to the national team, the coach can also use the invitation to help him secure a club.

“For me, I believe if this is the way we can help Musa, let us help him. It is possible that if he comes to the Eagles and play well, he can secure a club. So, if it means helping him out, why not,” Fuludu said.

Meanwhile, the team will play their last home AFCON qualifiers at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, returning to Lagos after over 10 years away.

This was confirmed via the team’s Twitter page on Wednesday.

The Eagles will play Lesotho in Lagos on March 30 by 5pm, local time.

The Eagles media officer, Babafemi Raji, said; ”the list of invited players was expected to be released next week.”

“The list is always out like two weeks before the game, so we are expecting the list next week,” Raji stated.

Raji was however mum on the inclusion of Musa in the Eagles squad.

NP/Mercy Chukwudiebere