Leicester City attacker, Kelechi Iheanacho and Brighton Hove Albion defender, Leon Aderemi Balogun are both set to get trials of sort on Saturday against Zimbabwe, as they have to convince the Super Eagles’ crew that they are not match rusty, megasportsarena.com reports.
After missing several minutes with their respective clubs in the English Premier League, many Nigerian football followers have questioned the rationale behind inviting Iheanacho and Balogun for the last phase of Nigeria’s preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Indeed, Iheanacho was not called-up for the Eagles’ previous matches, against Seychelles in the last AFCON 2019 qualifier and a friendly with Egypt at Stephen Keshi Stephen, while Balogun was benched for the first of those games, thereby leaving questions over them heading to Egypt.
Iheanacho did play in one of Leicester’s crucial games of the season in England against his former club, Manchester City, but he lost a sitter towards the end of that game, thereby leaving his form in doubt, while Balogun missed several fixtures for Brighton.
Balogun’s case started from tough competition for a starting spot in The Seagulls’ centre of defence, then a spate of injuries added to his troubles and he ended up spending the last handful of matches on the bench.
Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr says he is aware of the circumstances surrounding Balogun and Iheanacho, hence his decision to give them opportunities of playing themselves into his final squad for AFCON 2019, starting with Saturday’s friendly against Zimbabwe in Asaba.
Rohr added that the game would also accord other fringe players in the team opportunities to get time on the pitch, as he wants to try out new ideas and tactics, but equally noted that some of the invitees are yet to arrive at the Eagles’ camp in the Delta State capital.
He stressed that the encounter with Thew Warriors would be a crucial determiner for which four players would be dropped from the list of 25 invitees in his provisional list ahead of Egypt 2019.
The Franco-German tactician expatiated: “We will make changes with the game on Saturday.
“We want to see some of those who have not been playing with their clubs and we want to try some who have not started with this team.
“We want to see Leon Balogun, who has not played this season with his club, also Kelechi Iheanacho.
“We want to see them closer in Asaba. The match on Saturday will give them their chances, to see who we will take to Egypt.”
