Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has clarified Ahmed Musa’s place in the team saying the forward won’t play in the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho.
The inclusion of Musa who is the team’s captain had generated reaction from sports enthusiasts in the country as the captain had been without a club since October.
Reacting to the controversy, Rohr said he was given an honorary place in the squad as the captain.
Rohr in an interview with BBC Sports Africa said, “It’s important to clarify that Musa is not in the competitive list of 23 players for our game against Benin and Lesotho.”
“We’ve invited Musa as the captain by making him the 24th player, but he is not as part of the 23 on the list that will play our two matches.
“What is important now is to focus on the games ahead and not to be distracted by anything else. We hope for all our players to be fit and travel down safely for the matches.”
The Super Eagles will book their place in the tournament to be hosted by Cameroon with a point from both games.
Rohr’s men face Benin in Porto-Novo on March 27 and then welcome Lesotho to Lagos three days later to conclude their qualifying campaign.