There are several Nigeria eligible stars earning rave reviews in the German Bundesliga – including Bayern youngster Joshua Zirkzee – but the African giants won’t beg any of them, according to the Super Eagles head coach
Gernot Rohr has acknowledged that he has been paying close attention to young striker Joshua Zirkzee and other players of Nigerian descent in the German top flight to invite them to play for the Super Eagles.
Rohr confirms that he is keeping tabs on Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma, the centre-back who is born to a German mother and a Nigerian father and has represented Germany at various youth levels.
There is also Hertha Berlin’s Jordan Torunarigha. The 22-year-old defender has previously turned down the opportunity to represent Nigeria despite being the son of a former Nigeria footballer.
And not forgetting Augsburg’s Felix Uduokhai. The former German youth international is also born to a Nigerian father and German mother.
But the most promising of the lot is Bayern’s Zirkzee. The 19-year-old striker is already a Bundesliga champion, having contributed four goals and one assist in nine games as the Bavarians romped to yet another league title.
Any or all of these players would be a fantastic addition to the current Super Eagles team.
But Rohr maintains that they must first express their desires to play for the 2013 African champions as he has no plans to beg anyone to wear the green-and-white kits.
When asked by Mannheimer Morgen if he would be extending an invitation to Zirkzee any time soon, Rohr responded:
“(Zirkzee is) a preferred candidate, but it’s not that simple. We cannot and will not poach him, that must come from the player himself.
“There are a few others in the Bundesliga that apply: Kevin Akpoguma in Hoffenheim, Jordan Torunarigha at Hertha BSC and Felix Uduokhai in Augsburg. But we can’t get them so easily.”