Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has described Racing Genk of Belgium striker, Paul Ebere Onuachu as a very important player that has always been part of his plans for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, megasportsarena.com reports.
The Franco-German tactician went on to explain that Onuachu was initially left out of the roster to accord other strikers doing well in Europe opportunities to showcase themselves in the Eagles as well, especially as the former FC Midtjylland of Denmark giant was not putting in enough effort in Nigeria’s colours.
Onuachu has featured for only 12 minutes in the AFCON 2022 qualifiers, which he got in the third match against Sierra Leone in Benin City only because SSC Napoli of Italy hitman, Victor Osimhen was forced off injured.
However, with Onuachu in top scoring form with his club in Belgium, where he is the leading goals scorer heading into crucial weeks of the current season, Rohr had been severely criticized for leaving the FC Ebedei of Shagamu product out of his list of invitees for the upcoming games against Benin Republic and Lesotho.
However, while pointing out that Onuachu failed to score in six consecutive matches for the Eagles, Rohr reminded his critics that he was the one who gave the striker his debut and was happy seeing him score under a minute, but the gaffer insists consistency is needed by any player in the national team.
Rohr told allnigeriasoccer.com: “Onuachu is part of the team; I invited him already when he played his first match and he scored a goal after seven seconds, and then the people are waiting all the time for him to do the same he could not.
“He’s part of our team, a very important player. Sometimes we also have to look for other players who deserve to have a chance. We know Paul already since more than two years and we want also to see Sadiq Umar, unfortunately the club did not release him.
“So, Onuachu is coming back. We also have other center forwards like Moffi, we have also Awoniyi, we have so many strikers and we have to give them the chance but we cannot invite five center forwards, normally only two.
“That’s why Paul was on the standby list, now he is here which is the most important. The same people who are asking why are you playing Onuachu are now asking why you didn’t put him on the list of 23.”
