Gernot Rohr is staying true to his guiding principles. I remember well when he first took over the helm as Super Eagles coach. He made it quite clear that it didn’t matter (much) where players of his inner circle played. The crown jewels was for them to play regularly and be fit.
And now, following Ahmed Musa's shocking signing by Kano Pillars in the NPFL, the German tactician has come out to express delight at the move.
" I am very happy for Ahmed Musa to be able to play again with his old club of Kano Pillars,” Rohr said Rohr already knows Musa capacity and capabilities – he trusts him. All Musa now needs to do is set the Nigeria Professional League alight with stellar performances to further entrech his place in the Super Eagles. It is partly for this very reason that Shehu Abdullahi remains a regular Super Eagles despite the evaporation of his starting position at right back. In fact, it is hard to gauge or place where he stands with the likes of Ola Aina, Chidozie Awaziem and Tyrone Ebuehi all ahead of the Cyprus-based supremo in the pecking order of right full backs. This coming as a bevy of fans continue to suggest that, perhaps, Shehu’s new realistic position is as a silhouette to Ndidi in defensive midfield. Still, if activeness in club football, rather than pedigree of league, can retain Shehu’s relevance to the national team, this will sure as hell be the case for Musa (who even has enhanced currency status-wise to the Super Eagles). Having said all that, Musa will do himself a world of good to secure a move to either a North African or European team next season as my sense is that prolonged stay in the NPFL might slowly erode his superstar status and inevitably lead to questions about how good his skills really are. Because let’s face it: if a winger that scored back-to-back brace in successive FIFA world cup (not that long ago) is unable to find a club in Europe, North Africa, China or Saudi Arabia/UAE, then something is definitely wrong somewhere .