Gernot Rohr confesses he didn’t pick the Super Eagles squad for Mexico friendly

The Franco-German tactician has distanced himself from the 25-man roster released by the Nigerian Football Federation ahead of the intercontinental clash with the Concacaf kings

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that Augustine Eguavoen compiled the list of home-based players released recently in preparation for the international friendly match against Mexico.

Mexico’s El Tri will face three-time African champions Nigeria at the LA Coliseum on July 4.

The reigning Gold Cup champions have called up 45 players, including Napoli forward Hirving Lozano and Atletico Madrid’s Hector Herrera, ahead of the encounter.

But with many Europe-based Super Eagles regulars on vacation or preseason tours with their clubs, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was only able to invite players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Rohr has confirmed that NFF’s technical director Eguavoen and his assistants were responsible for drawing up the 25-player roster.

The former Gabon national team handler also clarified that he wouldn’t be in charge during the encounter as the team is the CHAN Eagles.

“Though I am not the coach of the CHAN Eagles, I think the players selected for this game stand a good chance of making the CHAN squad,” the ex-Bordeaux manager told Completesports.

“Eguavoen and his assistants picked the team with the aid of Salisu Yusuf, Imama (Amapakabo), and other top coaches from the domestic league. It will be interesting to see these players perform.”

The Super Eagles have not recorded any victory over El Tri in previous clashes, with their last meeting in 2014 ending in a stalemate.