Super Eagles midfielder, Chidera Ejuke says he wants to be playing regularly in the team ahead of Nigeria’s 2022 World Cup playoff against the Black Stars of Ghana.
Recall that Austine Eguavoen sang the praises of Ejuke prior to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and it was thought the 24-year-old was going to play a key role for the Super Eagles in Cameroon, but the winger ended up making just one start against Guinea Bissau during the group stage.
However, Ejuke was a shock omission from Nigeria’s match-day squad against Tunisia as the Super Eagles suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in the round of 16.
Speaking with Sport 24 in an interview, the Nigerian international has demanded for a regular playing time with the senior national team, most especially with th World Cup playoff and 2023 AFCON qualifiers coming up later this year.
“For the first time, I went to a major tournament with Nigeria, this is a great experience – I would like to repeat it,” Ejuke told Sport 24.
“The coaching staff did not give me much time, in three matches, I was included in the starting lineup only once.
“I would like to play more, but not bad for the first time, and next time I will be better prepared for the national team.
“Qualifiers for the World Cup are ahead, where we will play with Ghana. I hope everything will turn out in our favor, and in 2022 we will go to Qatar. And in 2023, the African Cup of Nations will again be held,” he said.
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COMMENTS
Ejuke, when you play selfishly, why do you expect more game time? Against CAR or Liberia, you refused to square to Victor Osinmeh for a tap in. Now against Egypt in the Afcon, two good chances to pass to your mates, you went for the kill.. Ejuke please raise your head to take a look next time before your try to score or assist.
If you can improve the final decision making part of your game, you will get to play in the Eagles for a long time.
Chief Ejuke, na you play ball pass. So the games you played and started, what did you achieve. A selfish player can never be great. left for me, many of you will not be recalled to the team, when we have local content who will not be selfish like you.
You got it bro. You don’t demand for starting position and more planning time, you have to earn it, show that you deserve it. At this point you haven’t shown any of those. Your team mates were visibly frustrated when you did what you did in the matches you were involved in, except the G.B. game, the other games were disaster.
Ejuke needs to add more goals and assists to his game.
If he plays less for himself and more for the team, no coach can leave him on the bench.
It is up to him to do the needful.
But I did not see him demanding more playing time. CSN STOP WITH “YOUR” BLOODY MISLEADING HEADLINES. I SEE NOW THAT CSN IS SYSTEMATICALLY TRYING TO CAUSE BAD PROPAGANDA TO OUR QUALITY PLAYERS. CSN STOP YOUR RUBBISH WHAT IS YO*UR AIM?????????????. AFTER MUCH MUCH NOW UNA GO COME BEGIN DEY HAIL USELESS SHEHU RETURN RUBBISH !!!!!!!!!!..
Please somebody show me how the below statement from Ejuke is him demanding?
“I would like to play more, but not bad for the first time, and next time I will be better prepared for the national team”.
I think he needs more time. It would be good if we have Ejuke playing number 10 for the national team where he could better express himself. I really don’t know how coach Egu is going to do the conversion.
He may have to enjoy more bench role with FIFA approving Lookman’s switch.
No body is more skilful than this guy in Super eagles team, he got the raw natural talent street footballer. I wish they introduce him Againest Tunisian or start him with sodiq, atleast we will get alot of free kicks and sodiq body size is needed in that match but our coach don’t know how to read match. Any white coach that see Ejuke will confirm him as raw talent. Do you think is easy to dribble? When JJ okocha was dribbling any how than, people started saying the current coach than should bench him but today everybody is saying we need creative Midfielder. You can please people