As many as five players of the senior national team of Nigeria have expressed their unhappiness with the decision of coach of the team Gernot Rohr on the international career of Odion Ighalo.
The Al Shabab forward confirmed he has been speaking with Rohr on the possibility of staging a return to the team after his decision to retire from international football in 2019.
Ighalo made the announcement after finishing as top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations but Rohr wants him back in the team but he says he is undecided about it.
Ighalo told BBC Sport Africa: “I have been approached by the coach, but I haven’t decided yet whether this is a path I want to follow again.
“We’ve been talking about it for a while and hopefully soon I will make that decision.”
Reacting to the news, a player who has been a part of the squad since the appointment of Rohr as coach said the decision is no different from the case of Mikel returning for the AFCON which didn’t end well.
“ When players retire from international football they should be left alone. Mikel came to the AFCON after a year absence from the team and was most times used on the bench and he wasn’t happy about it. Ighalo should be allowed to rest”, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.
Speaking on same issue another player who is new in the team said attack is where he believe the team is currently spoilt for choices so it makes no sense to convince Ighalo to return.
“ What for if I may ask? Look at the young boys doing well in mainstream Europe. I guess they are unhappy with the comments of the coach because some will feel it is their time to stake a claim. Recalling Ighalo is not fair on them”, he said.
On same issue, a senior player in the team warned that the planned return of Ighalo will set a bad precedent for team spirit and harmony in the long run which could affect the team.
“ It could bring about division in the team. I expect the coach to give the players doing well in Europe the chance to represent Nigeria. Ighalo’s time is up, let the new era begin”.
