Former Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr identifies Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, and Moses Simon as key missing players in recent World Cup qualifiers. Despite poor results, Rohr remains optimistic about Nigeria's chances. The team's struggle highlights the impact of absent stars and the need for a permanent coach to guide their campaign.
Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has identified three key players whose absence he believes significantly impacted Nigeria's recent 2026 World Cup qualifying matches. Speaking to the media, Rohr highlighted the importance of Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, and Moses Simon, suggesting their presence could have altered the outcomes against South Africa and Benin Republic.
Nigeria's disappointing results - a 1-1 draw with South Africa and a loss to Benin - have put their World Cup qualification hopes in jeopardy. However, Rohr remains optimistic about Nigeria's chances, noting that only four points separate the teams with six games remaining.
The German tactician praised the current squad under interim coach Finidi George but emphasized the impact of missing top talents, particularly Osimhen. Rohr's comments underline the depth of talent in Nigerian football and the challenges of maintaining consistent performance when key players are unavailable.
Nigeria's struggles in the qualifiers are evident in their record of three draws and one loss, accumulating just three points from a possible twelve. The team's next fixture against Rwanda presents a crucial opportunity to secure their first win and revitalize their campaign.
The absence of a permanent head coach adds another layer of complexity to Nigeria's qualification efforts. The Nigerian Football Federation faces the pressing task of appointing a new manager who can leverage the team's full potential and navigate the remaining qualifiers successfully.
