Shape Up Or Ship Out: Rohr Cautions Eagles Benchwarmers

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has urged his players who are not regulars for their respective European teams to seek playing time elsewhere or risk losing their places in his team.
Rohr, who is expected to announce his squad list for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde this week, also expressed delight at the moves some of his players have made during the transfer window.
Central African Republic are the other team in Group C.
Oghenekaro Etebo and Emmanuel Dennis joined Watford this summer while duo Tyronne Ebuehi and David Okereke teamed up with newly promoted Venezia in the Italian Calcio.
“Yes, we are happy about these moves which our players are making,” he said.
“These are the kind of moves we expect our players to make, that they join good teams and play regularly.
“But all the players who don’t play in their clubs should make a move.”
Rohr is, however, confident his team will be ready to get off to a good start in the qualifiers in September.
It would be recalled that the qualified for two AFCON tournaments (the 2019 and 2021 editions) and the 2018 World Cup in Russia and he believes he will qualify the team for their seventh appearance at the Mundial.
“We will be ready in September for the World Cup qualifiers,” the German tactician continued.
“We have to start well in Lagos (vs Liberia) and four days later, we play in Cape Verde.
“Cape Verde beat Cameroon 3-1 on their synthetic pitch recently. So, we know already that it will be very difficult.
“Our first two matches are very, very important.”