Rohr asks Kelechi Nwakali to stay in camp and train with Eagles World Cup squad

FORMER Golden Eaglets captain Kelechi Nwakali has been asked by Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr to stay in Uyo and train with the World Cup squad prompting suggestions that he might make the trip to Russia after all.

Playmaker Nwakali now may become a last minute addition to Nigeria's World Cup squad after he put in a scintillating performance for the Super Eagles B team in a friendly match against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Currently an Arsenal player out on loan, Nwakali led Nigeria to success in the 2015 U17 World Cup, winning the most valuable player of the tournament in the process.

On Tuesday, he showed some of that class when he dazzled the audience with not only his display but by also scoring a wonder goal against Atletico Madrid in Uyo. His form has led to pressure being mounted on Mr Rohr to invite the player to the World Cup camp, particularly as Nigeria is short of creative playmakers at the moment.

According to unconfirmed reports coming out of the Eagles camp in Uyo, Nwakali will train with the squad as a means of aiding his development. It is not yet clear if this is just a short-term measure or if it could lead to him breaking into the World Cup team.

Mr Rohr has already submitted his provisional list of 30 players to Fifa and can only call up a replacement if there is an injury. Even if Nwakali does not go to the World Cup, his invitation to train with the squad will form part of the process of integrating him into the team for its post World Cup commitments.

Apparently, Mr Rohr was impressed with the technique Nwakali used in scoring one of the two goals for Nigeria and his passing range during the game against Atletico Madrid. Nigeria's Super eagles are currently camped in Uyo and will be playing a friendly against the Democratic Republic of Congo on May 28 and will then travel to London to face England at Wembley on June 2.

It is not yet clear if Nwakali will feature in either of the games but Mr Rohr might be forced to use him as Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is not yet fully fit. Mr Rohr will name his final 23 players who will be going to the World Cup on June 3, a day after the England match.