One of the names that took many by surprise in the list of players called up by the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro for the dead rubber AFCON qualifiers was Jordan Torunarigha.
OwngoalNigeria.com has hinted on his possible first time call up to the senior national team of Nigeria after completing the regulation for his switch of nationality from Germany. Peseiro met with him in Belgium, where he currently plays for Gent.
Torunarigha, the son of former Nigeria junior international Ojokojo was born in Germany and represented teh country of his birth from U15 to U23 level raking up 30 appearances in total. He also rapidly progressed through the ranks at Hertha Berlin making the step up to the Friday team from the U17 in four years.
The process for his nationality switch to Nigeria was started by former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr, who went as far offering the then 21 year old a chance to be in the squad for the world cup in Russia.
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At that time, the defender was ever present with 14 games in the German Bundesliga with two goals and two assists. He rejected the invitation and openly said his father advised him against honoring the call up due to the politics in the Nigerian set up.
He also mentioned the fear of getting caught up in some of the fetish acts that has been reported to be happening in the camp of Nigeria. His father felt he wasn’t well equipped at that age to deal with such concerns. A decision which Rohr respected.
Two years later, Rohr was back on his case again and this time around secured an agreement that after his involvement in the Olympic for the German U23 he will be open to switching to Nigeria.
Injury robbed him the chance of making it to the tournament and it subsequently led to his departure to Belgium side Gent on loan, in his his bid to regain match sharpness after a lengthy time out. That loan move was made permanent last season.
His decision to finally switch to Nigeria can’t be attributed to Peseiro alone, who was told by the 26 year old when he visited Belgium that he is now open to playing for Nigeria, mentioning his past interaction with Rohr.
Meaning the former coach did all the ground work for Peseiro to complete the process with an invitation, which can be said to be well deserved with the backline of the Nigerian team ageing, but we must not forget the man who started the process and he is Rohr, now the coach of Super Eagles world cup qualifiers group rivals Benin Republic.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
