Genort Rohr has come out to clear the air after speculations emerged that Villareal player Samuel Chukwueze could potentially replace John Obi Mikel in the Nigerian team.
The Villareal player put up a dominant display in the position when the Super Eagle played their friendly game against Uganda at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba last week, and caught the attention of the media.
Genort Rohr monitoring the situation of things has come out to reveal the main reason for inviting the youngster. Rohr revealed that the Villareal based player was invited because he was in search of a left-footed player who could play from the wide right of attack. The German tactician also acknowledged the performance of Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, who has excelled in the role for four consecutive games.
”Sometimes the number ten can play number seven or number eleven also, it is not because you have the number ten that you are the playmaker. The real number ten in our team now is Alex Iwobi, this position he is doing very well,” Rohr told Nigerian Sports Editors.
”Chukwueze, I saw him in Villarreal, a lot of people were surprised I invited this young boy but he’s doing very well and shows a lot of promise on the right wing, can play also on the left wing.
”We were searching for a left-footed player. We only had Kelechi in the World Cup who is left-footed in our team and I think we played some games without a left footer and there’s a problem when you play without a left footed player.
”There’s a law in football you must have one left footer in the team, we found Chukwueze and he’ll do better and there will be competition in the team now which is very good for us.
”We also have Collins and Kelechi as the left footers, also John Ogu, so it’s good.”
Meanwhile no Super Eagles player have won the number 10 kit for any African Cup of Nations qualifying games.