Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr has confirmed that red-hot FK Ventspils striker Adeleke Akinyemi may be handed a maiden call-up to the Nigeria National Team for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles.
The German football tactician observed the 19-year-old at close quarters in FK Ventspils’ 2-1 loss to Bordeaux in the Europa League qualifiers last Thursday and was impressed by his qualities after scoring his 20th goal of the season against a very competitive opponent.
”I just discovered the player because he has not been in Europe for long. He left directly from an academy, not a club, in Nigeria,” Rohr told girondins4ever.com
”He has not featured for the Nigerian youth teams or the Nigerian League. I saw his statistics, and I thought I had to look at him.
”And indeed, he was good. He has qualities, I may invite him one of these days, perhaps for the next game. I like him.”
Gernot Rohr was associated with Bordeaux for 21 years, 12 as a player and 9 in different functions including manager, and he has recommended that the Ligue 1 club should make a move for Akinyemi.
”They watched the game, monitored him. That means they take him very seriously. I think it would be worth it to recruit him, downright. I think so personally.
”He is a player who is very young, who does not cost much. He certainly has a huge room for improvement. He is powerful, he gets inside, he scores goals. It’s still rare to have all these qualities,” Rohr added.
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