Paul Onuachu has been scoring goals in Belgium for fun, but he still does not enjoy the confidence of Gernot Rohr. IKENWA NNABUOGOR wonders…
Coach Gernot Rohr announced his squad ahead of the double African Nations Cup qualifier with the leading striker in the world Paul Onuachu criminally placed on standby.
What this means is that the Belgian Jupiler League top striker is at the mercy of any withdrawal to get into the Eagles squad and then hope to try his luck again in front of goal if Rohr will decide to hand him a chance.
Further implication of this shock and unexpected standby placing is that Onuachu could remain in Belgium and out of the team should there be no withdrawal especially among the listed strikers.
It’s indeed an insult to place the best Nigerian striker anywhere in the world on standby and invite players whose goals’ haul is nowhere near his impressive numbers.
Including an unattached Musa Ahmed in the team further condemns Rohr as not being fair to the proven striker, whose consistency has spanned over the years since he graduated from the youth team of Denmark’s FC Midtylland.
Is it out of place to say that Musa was sacrificed for Onuachu in this list that has been heavily criticized by the soccer-loving public?
Could Rohr have refused to forgive Onuachu to failing to score in the last games he was featured?
Paul Onuachu having scored more goals this season than Messi, Ronaldo, Kane, Salah and Haaland in Europe is placed on the standby list by Genort Rohr.
— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) March 9, 2021
Rohr roars. Onuachu fidgets. pic.twitter.com/AiYzjL61FK
Paul Onuachu have scored 25goals in 29 League games for GENK making him the most inform Nigeria player in the world while Musa without a club for months gets invited to play just 2games??
Rohr is as confused as those in charge of football in Nigeria. Joke of a coach. Nonsense. https://t.co/tNFH9iYQPU— Laba Laba Master 🦋🦋🦋 (@Buchi_Laba) March 9, 2021
Rohr is actually setting a bad precedent with the inclusion of Musa who hasn’t played in 5 months and putting Nigeria hottest striker in Europe, Paul Onuachu on standby.
— DammyDudu (@dammydudu) March 9, 2021
His choice tho.
Could this also mean that Rohr isn’t comfortable with Onuachu’s style?
Onuachu’s exclusion again shows the technical deficiency of Rohr, who ought to by now have fashioned out a tactic to get this proven scorer getting the goals for Nigeria.
Whatever is Rohr’s reasons for “disrespecting” Onuachu will only appear to be ridiculous since the other strikers he invited except Almeria’s uncapped Sadiq Umar are nowhere close to his mouthwatering 26 goals this current season.
It can also be argued that Rohr may not be Onuachu’s fan and the latter’s unimpressive showing in his last games not helping his cause, but it’s very clear Onuachu deserves to play a prominent Eagles role on account of his goals record this season.
In truth, Onuachu has not been given enough chance to prove himself in the national team but given his consistent club form, Rohr ought to be a lot more patient with.
Odion Ighalo’s goals for Eagles didn’t start raining immediately he was called up by Samson Siasia, but he was given enough chance and the result was his 16 goals for his well spent sweat before calling his Eagles time after the 2019 AFCON.
Patience was also required before Rashidi Yekini and Emmanuel Emenike eventually found their mojo with the Super Eagles.
One of the major criteria for choosing strikers in anywhere in the world is the striker’s goals’ account and based on that, why is Onuachu only good enough for a standby selection.
Many have argued that Rohr is lazy and not ready to sweat on how best to bring the best out of Onuachu with even his Genk coach John van den Brom offering some tips.
Onuachu’s no-goal performance in his last games was practically not his fault as the Eagles midfield practically surrendered proceedings to opponent and never supplied any meaningful ball to Onuachu to make hay.
Going forward, Rohr should accord Onuachu the respect he deserves and build his confidence to start delivering for Nigeria.
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