Fanendo Adi Warn Rohr : Don't Invite Me For A Bench-Role

American based Nigerian striker Fanendo Adi has send a big warning to the Super Eagles technical crew led by Franco-German Gernot Rohr and Salisu Yusuf not to call him up without concrete plan to play him.

Adi who's Portland Timbers' all-time leading goalscorer was called up by the then interim Coach Samson Siasia to the senior Nigeria squad that faced Egypt in a two-legged tie for a place in 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in March 2016 but did not play.
"To be able to represent your country is always good. To get invited is a good thing. The bad thing is to fly all the way from America, 32 hours to go there and back and not even be on the bench or on the 18/19 (list)."

"It's not a good moment or not a good thing, so for me that was very disappointing. I knew I could contribute but you just have to respect the coaches and do what they want to do, go with the flow. But also it looks bad that I flew all the way for 32 hours without being in the 19-man list. It was a sweet and sour moment."Adi told KweséESPN in an exclusive interview.

The 26-year-old expressed misfeelings about training with several other stars.

"It was good. Some guys play in the [English] Premiership so It was good to see them play, along with Mikel (Obi). It was a good feeling, a good experience. You learn from everything, the good, the bad. It's just a learning process. It was nice to be there to train with them." The former FC Dynamo Kyiv forward also shed some light on his playing style.

"We're all different players. I'd just do what I'm known for. I would try to help the team with my physical play, with my ball control, keeping the ball up for the players. And scoring goals for the team, helping the team create and as well score goals. After I experienced the first call up, I said I'm not gonna fly out there [for nothing]. If they invite me, I'm just gonna ask the coach, 'Am I gonna be in the 19 man (list)?'

I'm not ready to fly 32 hours and just stay on the trip and watch the game and not play. I'm not ready to go and just sit, that's not what I want; but it's always a great honor to represent your nation and if I'm called up that will be a very good thing for me and I will be very happy to represent my country."He concluded.

Adi was also called up to Nigeria's U23 team twice in 2011.