Rohr explains why Alampasu and Ajiboye were dropped for Poland and March friendlies

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has explained why he left goalkeepers Dele Alampasu and Dele Ajiboye out of the squad to face Poland and Serbia in two friendly games due to take place later this month saying they have not taken past chances given to them.

Last week, Mr Rohr released a list of 28 players due to prosecute both games and only included three goalkeepers. Favourite Deportivo La Coruna's Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa are the three goalkeepers the coach has invited and baring anything dramatic, they are likely to be his first choice goal stoppers.

Justifying his selections yesterday, Mr Rohr said it was a logical decision to leave Dele Ajiboye out of his latest Super Eagles squad despite his heroics during the African Nations Championship (Chan). Goalkeeping remains a problematic position for the national side following the retirement of Vincent Enyeama and Carl Ikeme’s leukaemia diagnosis.

Mr Rohr said: “They already had their chance. Remember that we have invited Dele Ajiboye who was second choice in the Chan tea  and it would be surprising if he was number one and Ikechukwu Ezenwa number two in the Super Eagles.

Plateau United’s Ajiboye came off the bench to replace injured captain Ezenwa early into the Eagles’ semi-final against Sudan and helped the team qualify for the final.  Alampasu had been another contender to come into the team but his inactivity looks likely to cost him a World Cup berth as he has not featured for Feirense this season and has not played a competitive match since April 2017.

“Alampasu, unfortunately, is never playing and you cannot take a goalkeeper who is never playing. Uzoho on the other hand made his debut for Nigeria against Argentina and did very well and he plays for the second team of La Coruna," Mr Rohr added.