Ahead Nigeria, Cameroon double header : Akpeyi gets Rohr’s red card

…As Amuneke throws weight behind Eagles coach

By George Aluo

One Super Eagles player that could jolly well forget about getting a call up for the all –important Nigeria, Cameroon Russia 2-18 World Cup qualifier next month is South Africa based keeper, Daniel Akpeyi.
Akpeyi in the absence of injured first choice keeper, Carl Ikeme, was in post last month when the Eagles fell 0-2 to South Africa in the Cameroon 2019 AFCON qualifier.
Though Rohr had after the match failed to blame any of his players for the defeat, a competent Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) source disclosed that Rohr was not impressed with the performance of the keeper and has resolved to drop him.
Our source, a member of the NFF technical committee disclosed that even if Ikeme fails to bounce back, Rohr would fall back on home based keepers to prosecute the match against Cameroon.
“Rohr was not impressed with Akpeyi’s performance and he feels now that if there is any department to look home ward, it is in the goalkeeping area. Both Akpeyi and Dele Alampasu may not get call up for the game against Cameroon. The coach is praying for Ikeme to be fit for the match. If he (Ikeme) recovers fully he would be invited alongside two other home based keepers,” our source disclosed.
It would be noted that Rohr has since been making efforts to get Eagles former first choice keeper, Vincent Enyeama change his mind and return to the team. Enyeama has however insisted he would not change his decision to quit the Eagles, a decision he took after he was stripped of the skippers band by former coach, Samson Siasia.
Meanwhile, ex-Nigeria international, Emmanuel Amuneke has reiterated his confidence on Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr to qualify the team to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nation.
The three-time African champions lost their opening group fixture 2-0 to Bafana Bafana of South Africa on June 10, to sit third on the log behind Libya and South Africa.
However, the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winning member in Tunisia, told Soccernet.com.ng that Rohr has the capability to qualify Nigeria for the bi-annual tournament.
“I don’t think Nigerians should panic over the team 2-0 lose against South Africa in Uyo considering the fact that he played the game with a relatively unknown players,” Amuneke said.
“I believe the Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr must have learnt from the little errors that occurred in the match and will be seeking to redeem his image by ensuring the team qualify for the Nations Cup in Cameroon.”