The Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has explained why the returning Super Eagles striker was left out of the 2022 World Cup match between Nigeria and Liberia played in Tangier, Morrocco on Saturday (13 November 2021) evening. 

Nigeria defeated Liberia by two goals to nil courtesy of two penalties scored by Victor Osimhen and Ahmed Musa in the 15th and 93rd minute to ensure the Super Eagles left Morrocco with all the three points at stake, without Odion Ighalo in the matchday squad.  

In the post-match conference, Gernot Rohr told journalists present that the Al -Shabab FC forward played no part in the game despite coming out of international retirement because of his late arrival at the team's camp in Morrocco and he is expected to play the game the next game against Cape Verde in Lagos on Tuesday.  

Rohr said:  "We are happy to have him back, he only arrived on Thursday that's why he couldn't participate in this match.  

"I hope that in the next match next Tuesday he will be able to help us much more." 

When he was quizzed on why Odion was forced out of retirement even though Victor Osimhen has successfully filled the void created by his absence, the coach has this to say 

"No, the reason why we asked Ighalo to come back is that we have such a young team, they are very young 22, 23, 21," Rohr said. 

"Our strikers are all very young, Ejuke is coming now, Chukwueze is coming back from injury.

"Everybody is young, we need somebody to help them with his experience in the striker position and he's a good goalscorer we know it." Said the coach.  

Nigeria the after five matches with 12 points while Cape Verde follows with 10 points after defeating the Central Africa Republic by 2-1 on Saturday evening. 

The Super Eagles need a point against Cape Verde in Lagos to qualify for the final of the qualifying series. 

The final round will have all the 10 group winners square up to form a pair of 5 fixtures and the winner of each of the fixtures will represent Africa in the Qatar 2022 World Cup.