Kano Pillars forward, Junior Lokosa and Crotone of Italy striker, Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo (Simy) have received strong hints of getting starters’ role with the Super Eagles in Monday’s international friendly against DR Congo.
This comes directly from Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, who affirmed that both players will play the match at Adokie Amasiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, but was silent on whether they would make the World Cup squad.
Rohr confirmed that both strikers are in line to play against DR Congo in Monday’s friendly and rated as 50-50 the World Cup chances of Simy, who ended the Serie A season with seven goals for relegated Crotone.
However, Rohr was cagey about Lokosa making the squad, as he summed up that the NPFL top scorer should be grateful for the experience of training with the Eagles.
Lokosa showed glimpses of his real potential in today’s training session with the Super Eagles but still didn’t do enough to get himself among the goals for the third session running.
Lokosa is yet to play in his preferred central striker role with Rohr playing him wide either on the right or left flank with the trio of Kelechi Iheanacho, Odion Ighalo and Simy playing preferred ahead of him.
He was however lively in Friday’s session and used his pace to good effect in a foot race against Ola Aina but struggled to get himself into goal scoring positions during the session.
“Simy is 50-50 to go to the World Cup, but he and Junior will play on Monday. They will get a chance to show us what they can do, and get a chance to go to the World Cup.
“Even if he does not go, he is training well with the team and the experience will help him in his club,” Rohr concluded about Lokosa.
