With recent developments in the national team set up following the orchestrated plans by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to dispense with the services of German coach Gernot Rohr, NationSports can report that striker Odion Ighalo may yet again turn his back on the Super Eagles ahead of the forthcoming delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) in Cameroon.
The Al Shabab striker had recently hinted that he returned to the Super Eagles November double header against Liberia and Cape Verde partly due to the persuasion of the German coach after almost two years since his retirement from international football after helping Nigeria clinched bronze at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
“Since the day I announced my retirement, I have been hearing so many things on the internet and I don’t pay attention to them,” Ighalo said in an interview with NFF TV shortly after the ill-fated 1-1 draw against Cape Verde.“ Since my retirement in 2019, the coach and I have been communicating for me to come back, which I have said I don’t think I would come back to the team.
“The pressure was too much that I had to tell my agent to talk to the NFF President because when I signed for my team in Saudi Arabia, I told them I am no longer playing for the national team.
“But to get my release to come was kind of difficult. I am happy to be back to give my support,” the former Manchester United striker noted.
Yet there are growing fears that Ighalo might renege on his promise following the dramatic turn of events within the rank and file of the Super Eagles following the events of penultimate Tuesday when the Rohr-led side drew 1-1 at home to visiting Blue Sharks of Cape Verde.
It was as a result of that particular match at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos that has now put a question mark on the tenure of the German coach as the Super Eagles minder days ahead of the AFCON where Ighalo was being expected to lead the team’s charge yet again.
“ The bad news is that Ighalo may not be coming for the AFCON and probably, not play for the Super Eagles because like so many of the players, he was not happy with the recent developments especially about the desire of the NFF to do away with coach Gernot Rohr,” a reliable confidant of the player told NationSport.
“ Of course, Ighalo is a thorough professional like so many other players in the Super Eagles but in this prevailing circumstance, it would be very difficult for him to give his best since he believes that Rohr contributed a great deal for him to call off his retirement after almost two years.”
Incidentally, news outlet, Owngoalnigeria.com earlier this week reported that a cross section of the national team players were at loss why the Nigeria sporting authorities through the NFF was pressing for the sacking of the German days to the kick-off of the AFCON in Egypt.
“ We are a few weeks from camping for the AFCON, “ a player reportedly said.“ The tournament and the World Cup play-off. Sacking our coach now makes no sense ; we know why we’d played poorly during the World Cup[ qualifiers . It wasn’t Rohr’s fault.”
The 33rd edition of the prestigious continental showpiece holds in Cameroon between 9th January and 6th February 2022 and the three-time Africa champions Nigeria are drawn in delicate Group D along with Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau.
Nigeria will open her tournament on January 11 with an expectedly octane tie against record seven-time champions Egypt at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua. Rohr told NationSport last week that Super Eagles camp for the AFCON would most likely be opened in Lagos immediately after the Christmas holidays .
“ My proposal is to start the AFCON preparation in Nigeria and to have a friendly here in Nigeria; and I think we can get the best of preparations later not too far away from Cameroon ,” Rohr said . “The camp will open towards the end of the year and immediately after the Christmas holiday.”
But whether Rohr and Ighalo would be part of the Super Eagles’ arrangements for the AFCON yet remains to be seen as the NFF is yet to make good its promise to formally disengage the former Bordeaux coach.