Trabzonspor of Turkey midfielder, Eddy Ogenyi Onazi has been left out of the Super Eagles’ squad to battle South Africa and Uganda next month on account of health issues affecting the former SS Lazio of Italy star.
This is the explanation handed out by Eagles’ gaffer, Gernot Rohr, who sports247.ng learnt insists no one is victimizing Onazi over suspicions of indiscipline.
The Nigerian soccer sector has been rife with speculation that Onazi is being punished for stylishly opting out of the home game against Libya, after complaining about an injury, which many insiders believe he was feigning.
It was a ripple effect from a similar falling out Onazi had during the World Cup, when he lost his place in the starting line up after appearing to disagree with team captain, John Mikel Obi during the opening group loss to Croatia.
However, despite several insights into what could possibly be a secret plot to scheme the midfield battler out of the Eagles once and for all, Rohr stressed on Tuesday that there is nothing fishy about the star’s exclusion from the latest roll call.
In contrast with any conspiracy theory, Rohr says Onazi was omitted from the list announced on Monday because of concerns about his fitness, despite the player getting a clean bill of health in Turkey.
The 25-year-old Nigeria 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup revelation has since played all of Trabzonspor’s matches after returning from the Eagles’ camp, tops of which was a 1-1 draw with Antalyaspor last weekend.
Rohr, though, will have none of that, as the Franco-German tactician insists Onazi is not fit enough to earn a national team call up and hinted that he would not be party to any health complications for the player.
”Onazi had a problem with injury. He left Uyo before the match against Libya. I have to be aware of the health of our players. We didn’t want to do injections on Achilles tendons before the games,” Rohr stressed.
