Rohr shuts door on Serie A goal machine

The German tactician is spoilt for choice in the Super Eagles attack, but he won’t be handing a call-up to the country’s all-time top scorer in the Italian top-flight 

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that it would be difficult for Salernitana big striker Simy Nwankwo to find his way back into the national team any time soon.

Simy was the star striker at Crotone for about five years, scoring 20 goals in the Italian Serie A last season before signing for Serie A new boys Salernitana this summer.

However, he is yet to get off the mark at his new club, and his inability to rattle the net after three league games might have pressed the pause button on his aspirations with the national team.

The form of compatriots Iheanacho, Osimehn, and Moffi also haven’t helped him, as they have been in good form this season.

There is also the little matter of Awoniyi, who, despite his outstanding form for Union Berlin this season, has struggled to break into the national team.

Rohr recognises Simy’s efforts, but he believes that the 29-year old still has a lot to prove before he gets a call-up.

“Simy is another player at the centre of our scouting, but in the Nigeria squad, we have many high profile strikers,” Rohr told tuttomercatoweb. 

“There is a great competition in the role of centre forward, and it will not be easy for him to carve out space,” he added.

The Onitsha-born hitman made his debut for the Super Eagles in a friendly game against Congo DRC in May 2018. He also made the squad for the 2018 World Cup.

However, he hasn’t kicked a ball for Nigeria after the 2-1 loss to Argentina at the 2018 World Cup.

Kelvin Omachonu

View Comments

  • The guy made this worst by joining a team that lacks mid field players . How ball wil get to him to score now i don't know. If he had joined a championship club in England it would ve been better this salerntana playing Atlanta again today could be a hard one again.

  • What we really need right now is a creative player not a inbox player. I think everybody should be given a chance you can never know who will be our jackpot.

    A striker that can relate well with midfielder is what I think we need.p

  • His time will come. He will start banging in goals very soon. If he doesn’t score today against Atalanta certainly he will in the next match.

  • We cannot have 6
    strikers in our team, thereby undermining the need for balance.
    Osihmen, Onuachu, Iheanacho are proven marksmen both in the Super Eagles and their respective clubs. Hanging in the wings are Moffi and Awonyi, good marksmen in their own rights

    Simy is good but this is not a good time for him because of the pool of talents we have at this time. But between now and the world cup, a lot can happen.
    Cheers

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Kelvin Omachonu

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