Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho was overlooked by manager Gernot Rohr when the German announced a 23-man roster for the upcoming international matches against Seychelles and Egypt.
The former Bayern Munich defender is sending a message to the Super Eagles stars with limited playing opportunities ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, with Iheanacho among the casualties.
Since the start of 2019, the Foxes number eight has accumulated a paltry 56 minutes in the Premier League from a possible 900 minutes, meaning he would have been lacking match fitness coming into the two games.
''Kelechi needs to play with his club. He also needs to take advantage of the international break to show his qualities to his new coach,'' Rohr explained to CAF's official website. ''I give him time but there is danger for the AFCON for those who do not play regularly in their club. The final list for the AFCON is far from being made for anyone.''
The uncapped Paul Onuachu, who plies his trade with FC Midtjylland in the Danish Superliga, has been called up as well as young strikers Victor Osimhen and Henry Onyekuru.
Rohr also defended his decision to hand maiden call-ups to striker Paul Onuachu and defender Valentine Ozornwafor for the upcoming games against Seychelles and Egypt. The invitation of the FC Midtjylland star was a good public relations move as several Super Eagles fans wanted him in the team thanks to his rich vein of scoring form in Denmark, while the Enyimba defender was one of the players who shone for the Flying Eagles as they qualified for the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup last month.
On Onuachu, Rohr told CAF's official website : ''He has the experience of Europe at the height of his 24 years. ''His size is obviously his strength with his 2m01 and the beautiful goals scored in the Danish championship. This is another profile for us in attack."
Explaining the choice of Ozornwafor, the German tactician stated : ''I expect this player to bring his freshness, his physical strength (1m97) and technical quality left-handed. ''It also offers us an additional option since we have a lot of right-handed advocates. I saw him in Niger at the CAN and I like his aerial game.''
Onuachu is the only Scandinavian-based player named to the Super Eagles latest roster while Ozornwafor is the only home-based outfield player selected.

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