Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has thrown more light on the decision to invite only home-based players for next Saturday’s international friendly against Mexico, megasportsarena.com reports.
In what appears as a move to douse controversy that is rising over the choice of players for what should have been a Grade-A match that would affect Nigeria’s position on the monthly ranking by FIFA, Rohr stressed that there is also a need to expose players from Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
The Franco-German gaffer acknowledged it will be a tough match for the domestic league lads, but went on to buttress how important the game is for them, especially as Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) want to use it to set in motion preparations for the next Championship of African Nations (CHAN).
However, the former coach of Girondins-Bordeaux of France, Niger Republic, Gabon and Burkina Faso did not address recurring insinuations that he did not compile the list of 25 NPFL players and that he will not be on the bench to handle the squad for the game in Los Angeles, USA.
He insisted, though, that the upcoming match will afford all players invited to camp from Nigerian league clubs opportunities to play themselves into the main squad of the national team, which he also hinted can build for the future from what will be seen on July 3 in LA.
Rohr told Radio Nigeria Network News: “We have selected only players from the local league for the match against Mexico to give them some experience. This is the team for CHAN and it will be a good preparation for them.
“We are not looking at the rating, but at preparations of our players. Playing against Mexico will be tough, but I want to see what they can do. For me, the result is not so important.
“We want to go there and see the players we can get for the future. It’s a good test for the home players. Those in Europe are not available for this game, because they are either on holiday and preparing for pre-season with their clubs.”
