IKENWA NNABUOGOR puts Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr on the edge to choose between beloved returnee marksman Odion Ighalo and his current talisman Victor Osimhen in the starting front line…
Less than 24 hours from now when Super Eagles resume their 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifying hostilities against Liberia in Tangier, Morocco, Gernot Rohr’s headache of the striker that gets his nod for the top marksman’s role in the Eagles’ attack, would probably have calmed the nerves of the team doctor.
The stories of Odion Ighalo’s much-talked about return are now stale and the Al-Shabbab striker is upbeat to continue where he left off after firing his country to a record 8th bronze finish two years ago at 2019 Africa Nations Cup in Egypt.
But the Al-Shabbab of Saudi Arabia has got to battle it with his erstwhile upstart striker Victor Osimhen for a starter’s shirt, which only the Super Eagles coach Rohr got the answer to that puzzle
Napoli forward Victor Osimhen stepped into Ighalo’s shoes gamely that he made the fans forget about Ighalo’s shock and sudden departure.
Ighalo’s come home to roost, but definitely will bring on his extras to convince the coach to decide to start Osimhen from the bench.
Though, Osimhen has refused to stop delivering the good that also confirmed Eagles’ flight to Cameroon for the African Nations Cup finals early next year, the flight to Qatar is one huge ticket Rohr would not want to miss and so the comeback of Ighalo.
Rohr had decried lack of leadership and experience in Eagles’ attack, while maintaining that Ighalo would guarantee that and followed up with a frantic pursue.
Osimhen has guaranteed goals in Ighalo’s absence and has kept his hunger for more alive, but has lacked the leadership and experience Rohr has craved for.
Now that Rohr has got his leadership and experience wishes, where does this take the 68-year old German tactician?
Will he now push Osimhen down to the bench and haul Ighalo into the deep end for a starter since the former Watford striker also got goals to complement his leadership skills and experience?
That’s a tough headache for Rohr to wrap his head around.
The headache could even get more interesting with the barrage of criticisms awaiting him should he hand over the starting shirt to Ighalo and drop Osimhen to the bench.
Many believe that Eagles have moved on without Ighalo and bringing him back when Osimhen is still firing, critics think, will take the team some steps backward.
Rohr’s body language suggests confidently pro-Ighalo and could damn all criticisms to put his trusted marksman forward, but it remains to be seen if he has got the balls to do this.
Ighalo, no doubt, knows his way to goal and enormous tasks before him – announce his return with goals and justify Rohr’s confidence in him and any wrong foot, could make rubbish of his much-criticized return.
Rumours of Ighalo eyeing Osimhen’s number 9 jersey were suggested in some quarters, though unconfirmed reports said Ighalo has agreed to let Osimhen keep that number, could also be seen as a huge distraction.
Distraction or not, that’s not what Rohr is grappling with, rather he maintains there’s unity in the camp and the players are upbeat about the game.
Surely, he will bank on the unity and the leadership and experience he ordered from Saudi Arabia to keep things going to ensure Eagles land safely in Qatar.
Rohr’s bigger picture is Qatar, and he believes it’s that bigger stage that Ighalo will bring on his leadership and experience to propel Eagles to greater heights.
Ighalo got an unfinished business in the World Cup after his troubles in Russia and Rohr believes he will come good and prove a point.
Rohr’s road map for Ighalo for his air route to Qatar has started and will most likely take off in Tangier to land in Qatar.
Qatar is nigh…
