TheCable

Gernot Rohr, Super Eagles manager, has revealed why John Mikel Obi and Odion Ighalo were not invited for the African Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa.

“The reasons for not inviting players in the Chinese League is because it is very difficult to monitor the players there,” he told TheCable on Monday.

“One of them is injured, that is our captain. The other one is doing well but we could not work together since we started training two weeks ago especially with the younger players.

“And I am satisfied with the performances of these young players. That is why we can’t sack this group now.”

Rohr, who is yet to lose a game since his appointment as gaffer of the Eagles, is optimistic about his team’s chances against South Africa.

The game will be played at the Uyo Township Stadium, Akwa Ibom, and Rohr believes it is a lucky venue for the Eagles.

“We like this place, we have won all our games here,” he said.

“I hope it will be our third victory here. We are happy to be here in Uyo. We have twenty-one players here in Uyo today, we are expecting the remaining three tomorrow and we will start our training immediately.

“Ahmed Musa, Elderson Echiejile and Kenneth Omeruo will join the rest of the team tomorrow.

“We want to qualify for the AFCON 2019, it is a fantastic adventure to play the Nations Cup. We were only a spectator at the AFCON in Gabon.

“We were able to watch some of our opponents in the world cup qualifiers who did very and that we will play against soon too.

“For now, we want to be there also and it’s starting on Saturday. It is a big game for us against the best team in the group. They didn’t lose against this team two years ago and we drew 2-2 against them in 2015.”

The AFCON-qualifying match will be played on Saturday, June 10.