Gernot Rohr hoping Samuel Chukwueze can do double duty

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday May 08, 2019. 09:00

Nigerian manager Gernot Rohr is hopeful that Samuel Chukwueze will be able to do ‘double duty’ by representing the country at two major international tournaments in the coming weeks.

The 19-year-old attacker, who plays his club football with Villarreal in Spain’s La Liga, is eligible to play at both the U-20 World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.

The former will be held in Poland from May 23 to June 15, and the latter opens in Egypt on June 21.

Chukwueze has been in great form for the ‘Yellow Submarine’ this season, but the Spanish side are insisting that he should play in only one of the tournaments to avoid fatigue and threat of injury.

Rohr, who will lead the Super Eagles at the 2019 AFCON, is hopeful that a compromise of some kind can be reached.

"It is a little dilemma that we must try to fix and hopefully there will be a good solution," Rohr told BBC Sport.

"I understand when the club says it is impossible for him to play in the Afcon and the youth World Cup.

"Chukwueze has good qualities and we already see why he plays at the top level in Spain.

"He has an interesting ability which makes him a very important talent for any team he plays with.

"I saw this quality when he played with us and the Olympic team, we must support Chukwueze and our other players too."