Nigeria head Coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that Samuel Kalu asked not to be included in the squad for this month’s international matches so he can focus on his Bordeaux career.
The Super Eagles will play two World Cup qualifiers, against Liberia (in Morocco) and Cape Verde (in Lagos), but Kalu was not named in the 24-man list announced earlier this week.
Rohr cleared the air on the wingers’s absence to address any perception that he was dropped for Samuel Chukwueze.
Chukwueze is one of five wingers named in the list, Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa, Chidera Ejuke and Moses Simon are the others.
Meanwhile, Kalu has played just over 300 minutes in nine league appearances for Bordeaux this season and started only three times – he was subbed off too.
Injuries have largely been responsible for his restricted minutes for the team.
