Rohr gets Kalu boost for World Cup qualifiers

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has received a huge boost ahead of Nigeria’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde as Bordeaux winger Samuel Kalu returned to competitive action after collapsing on the pitch last week.

Kalu collapsed unchallenged in Bordeaux’s 2-2 draw against Marseille on August 15 but returned to training a few days later after he was deemed fit by the club’s medical team and cleared of any heart problems.

In a chat with PUNCH Sports Extra, the winger had declared that he was 100 per cent okay and this was further confirmed when he made a cameo appearance on Sunday, coming on for Sekou Mara in the 81st minute of their 1-1 home draw at home to Angers.

Kalu who has made 12 appearances for the Eagles since making his senior team debut in 2018 has been a constant face in Rohr games only missing out when inured.

With the likely absence of Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze, Kalu’s fitness comes as a relief to the Franco-German gaffer.

Nigeria are billed to face Liberia on September 4 in Nigeria before travelling to tackle Cape Verde in their second Group C game at the Estádio Nacional de in Praia.