Rohr rules Enyeama out of Nigeria's World Cup squad due to inaction with his club Lille

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has declared that former skipper and Lille of France goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama  will not be part of his squad for the 2018 World Cup taking place in Russia this year.

Enyeama, 35, was Nigeria's main goalkeeper and skipper up until October 2015 when he fell out with then head coach Sunday Oliseh. Enyeama then retired from international football and focused on his club career with Lille in the French league but at the end of last season, coach Diego Simeone dropped him, saying he was surplus to requirements.

To compound matters, Enyeama suffered a knee injury which kept him out of action and although he is now fit again, he is yet to see competitive action this season. Given Nigeria's goalkeeping problems, the fans want to see Enyeama return to action but Mr Rohr has always maintained that this can only happen if the goalkeeper starts playing at club level again.

This week, Mr Rohr revealed that it was practically impossible to consider Enyeama for the tournament as the former national team goalie was struggling with his form. Enyeama has not been invited for the two friendly games due to take place later this month against Poland and Serbia on the 23rd and 27th respectively.

Mr Rohr said: “He has problems in Lille at his club. He is currently not playing and is only the number three at his side.

”He wanted to switch clubs but he didn’t find a new team. As a consequence, the question about Enyeama returning is not really up for debate.”

During the last January transfer window, several French clubs tried to sign Enyeama but none of them materialised as Lille wanted any new buyer to purchase his contract. Now unlikely to see action again before the end of the season, Enyeama looks certainly out of Nigeria's World Cup squad.