Rohr considers inviting English-born Bordeaux striker Josh Maja for Ukraine friendly

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr is seriously considering inviting British-born Bordeaux striker Josh Maja to camp ahead of the September 10 friendly against Ukraine after being impressed with his current form.

Maja, 20, was born in Lewisham in southeast London to Nigerian parents and a youngster played for the youth teams of Crystal Palace and Fulham. On 26 January 2019, Maja signed a four-and-a-half year contract with French club Bordeaux but got injured in April but has now returned to action having fully recovered.

Mr Rohr went to Bordeaux to see another Nigerian playing with the side Samuel Kalu and after having lunch with the duo, decided he might invite Maja for the Ukraine game too. Maja was invited to the Nigerian U17 team in 2017 but did not get his chance to play, however, with the international retirement of Odion Ighalo, he may get an opportunity to make the squad.

"I ate with Samuel Kalu and Josh Maja, since we have a second Nigerian in Bordeaux, he is eligible for Nigeria.  We talked together, he’s pretty positive because he has not played for U20s with England.

"He can play the friendly matches because he did not play for England U20s, which is the case for many others that we have on our radar. I have a lot of attackers but it’s not impossible that I select him.

"We are going to play a game in Ukraine and I was told it was too late to get a visa for players who do not have a European passport but he has because he is also English, so he could eventually join us. ‘It is possible that I select him to go to Ukraine, it is possible," Mr Rohr added.