Rohr wouldn’t invite MLS or Saudi players if he was still here: Super Eagles star slams Ekong, Yusuf and Awaziem

The recent decision by Nigerian international trio Chidozie Awaziem, Alhassan Yusuf and William Troost-Ekong to leave Europe for teams in the United States and the Gulf region has not gone down well with a veteran Super Eagles player.

Ekong, who was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the last AFCON, is close to finalising a move to newly promoted Saudi Arabian side Al Khalood, while the duo of Yusuf and Awaziem have sealed moves to MLS side New England Revolution and Cincinnati FC.

The three players were part of the Super Eagles squad that participated in the last Africa Cup of Nations, where the team finished second after losing 1-2 to hosts Ivory Coast in the final. They were also part of the squad that participated in the recent World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively.

Their financially motivated move away from Europe has drawn criticism and one senior club player said it could have cost them his job if former club coach Gernot Rohr was still in charge.

“Rohr constantly tells us to move to teams that play in the top leagues or in the major European tournaments because that will help us improve and, by extension, the team. The quality of the opponents you face each week determines your growth,” he said, although he did not want to be named in order to preserve relations.

“If I was still in charge, there would be no way Ekong, Yusuf and Awaziem would still be in the team after they left Europe. I am not saying that playing outside Europe is bad, but with Rohr it was the first criterion to be in the team,” he concluded.