Gernot Rohr has commended himself for sticking to his decision to pick the Lille forward for AFCON duties earlier in the year ahead of other strikers in the face of harsh criticisms from far and wide.
Victor Osimhen has improved tremendously since being part of the Super Eagles squad to the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt, with the German tactician pleased to see the 20-year-old delivering the goods following the retirement of AFCON goal king Odion Ighalo.
Manager Gernot Rohr made an unpopular decision to axe struggling Leicester City frontman Kelechi Iheanacho from the squad that won bronze medal in Egypt and in his place went with rookie Victor Osimhen who had no senior goal to his name prior to the tournament.
However, the former Sporting Charleroi striker is a man reborn after scoring four goals in four games since the AFCON ended with his latest feat being a brace in Nigeria's 4-2 triumph over Lesotho in Maseru on Sunday. Osimhen equally bagged two assists in that game to complete an outstanding individual display.
The Super Eagles coach however believes that being a part of the AFCON experience and having the time to understudy Odion Ighalo – who emerged tournament's highest goalscorer with 5 goals – has helped Osimhen become a better player.
“We had the best goalscorer in the AFCON, he wanted to retire and we had to find a solution,” Rohr told reporters after the Lesotho game, as monitored by Soccernet.ng.
”When I took Osimhen to the AFCON as part of the 23-man list, a lot of you were very critical, they asked why I didn't take Kelechi (Iheanacho) for example.
”He learnt a lot in the AFCON, watching, playing in the last match, seeing this very good goalscorer Ighalo, seeing Musa and now he is progressing.
”He's in a good club Lille in France and scoring a lot of goals, confidence is there and this good understanding with the other players is good for a center forward.”
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Coach Rohr, you don’t understand what we are saying. It is not news to Nigerians that Osimhen is a good enough player, able to slip into Ighalo’s shoes with time. Time. It is that time we are asking you to provide the team; to build and enable the players blend together well enough to become Nigerian’s acceptable standard first eleven, strong enough to represent their aspirations.
Deep into term, you are yet to come up with a semblance of the Algerian team that has shown they are true champions by walloping Zambia.
We cannot jubilate when a Super Eagles team are playing at home against a Benin Republic team that Shocked us by scoring first and then making us sweat through to be able to beat them by two goals to their one. Neither is there joy to be found in the news that a lowly footballing nation like Lesotho had found the means of tucking two goals into the Super Eagles’ net wherever. We are fast losing our respect in the continent! These are indications of things to come, giving that since your arrival, we are yet to have a confirmed, settled and well-blended team. The absence of this is the reason behind opponents’ ability to slip in and score as many against us. We have not met the big boys yet o.
I would rather suggest that the NFF should not renew your contract yet, until you begin working with the present boys at your disposal and, please stop tinkering and experimenting forever with our team. You are supposed to be a coach, not a scout. Enough!