Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Samson Siasia has aired his views about the 30 man provisional list released by coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr for the World Cup.
Rohr released a squad of 30 players as against the 35 stipulated by FIFA and it is from the list that he is expected to name his final 23 man squad for the World Cup starting in June in Russia.
Siasia in an interview with online news portal thecable.ng faulted the coach over the exclusion of Al-Ahly forward Junior Ajayi who according to him should have made the team ahead of Kano Pillars forward Junior Lokosa.
Lokosa has 18 goals in 20 games this season in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) after 21 round of games, but Siasia insist that the 24 years old is not yet in the level of Ajayi who has nine goals and seven assists for African giants Al-Ahly.
“Junior has proven himself with the Olympic team and he is doing well in his club in Egypt. I think he should be given at least a chance to be part of that 30 man list”, Siasia said.
“We’ve seen Ajayi play. This Lokosa boy I don’t know him. He still has time to prove himself. Ajayi came in for just about one minute. He trained with them, that’s not the same. Training and playing is not the same thing.
“If you look at Victor Moses in training, you won’t play him. I am telling you the truth. I am not saying that’s the same thing Ajayi did but they have to give him a chance”, he remarked.
The former Nigeria U23 coach also said Hibernian of Scotland defender Efe Ambrose should have been given a look in base on his form and his experience particularly as the Super Eagles have problems in defence.
“Given the problem we have at the back. He’s been campaigning and he has some experience too,” he said.
“I don’t know why they didn’t put him there. It’s not about sentiment. But for us to do very well, we need the right players.”
Ade Emmanuel
