When the Nigeria national football team lines up against the Benin Republic on March 27, the side will be without the country’s most prolific forward after the German manager decided to snub him for the game
Super Eagles forward Paul Onuachu has accepted in good faith the decision of head coach Gernot Rohr to leave him out of the team’s continental engagements later this month.
Nigeria face the Squirrels of Benin Republic in Porto Novo on March 27 before taking on the Crocodiles of Lesotho three days later in Lagos.
Ahead of the two crucial games – the Super Eagles still need a point to guarantee qualification for Cameroon 2022 – Rohr invited club-less Ahmed Musa, struggling Victor Osimhen and 22 others, leaving out Onuachu.
The former Midtjylland frontman has been one of the most prolific target men in Europe this term after scoring 26 goals in all competitions for Belgian club Genk.
Though Onuachu has not impressed yet in the green-and-white colours, his omission generated a bit of controversy among football fans in the country.
But the 26-year-old has chosen to respect the coach’s decision to leave him out of the remaining qualifying matches.
“It’s the coach’s decision, and I respect it, he has the final say, and there’s nothing I can do to it, but I will do my best at all times and always fight to represent my fatherland,” Onuachu told The Punch.
Onuachu has only one goal in seven appearances for the Super Eagles. Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Victor Osimhen have better scoring stats for the three-time African champions.
