Nigeria forward Junior Ajayi is keen to feature on the international scene again after regaining full fitness following a lengthy injury lay-off, reports Completesports.com.
Ajayi, 23, was sidelined for five months after copping a knee ligament injury in a CAF Champions League clash against Simba FC of Tanzania last year.
Related:
Ajayi Set To Sign Contract Extension With Al Ahly
The former Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan has however returned with a bang scoring four goals in nine appearances for the Red Devils following his comeback.
Ajayi was on target in Al Ahly’s 3-1 win against Daklyeh in an Egyptian Premier League game on Wednesday.
The forward was part of Super Eagles squad for 2018 FIFA World Cup tune up friendlies against Poland and Serbia but was not included in the squad for the mundial.
“Junior is eager to play for the Super Eagles again and hopefully he will get chance especially with his impressive form for Al Ahly in recent weeks, “a close source to the player told Completesports.com.
“It was tough for him sitting on the sidelines for that long as well as fighting hard to regain full fitness.
“He is determined to gain recognition on the international scene and he believe the only way to achieve that is to keep working hard with his club.
The former Nigerian youth international recently put pen to paper on a new three-year contract with Al Ahly until 2022.
Ajayi has scored a total of 25 goals in 81 matches for Al Ahly who currently have 45 points from 20 league outings.
By Adeboye Amosu
15 Comments
This will be a cheering news for Junior Ajayi if it comes to be true. Ajayi has thrown the disappointment of his long injury layoff behind him to relaunch himself back into reckoning with an improved performance in his recent games for Ahly.
No gift can be more motivating for him at this period than a call up to the SE, especially in view of next month’s dead rubber game against Seychelles.
Having qualified for the AFCON in June, Rohr would be advised to use fringe players to prosecute the Seychelles game and the Egypt friendly tie which Junior AJayi would be most pleased to be a part, having himself been on a payroll of an Egyptian side, Ahly.
Other players likely to be use to take part in the game apart from Junior Ajayi would be Chuba Akpom, the PAOK Salonica of Greece forward whom we learnt has switched his nationality Nigeria, the former Arsenal player has relaunched his form since joining the Greece giant.
Players who are likely feature in the March games are Mikel Obi, Semilogo Ajayi, Chidozie Awaziem who now plays for Reizpor in the Super liga, Azubuike Okechukwu his teammate.
Can’t wait to see Zubby Okechukwu in action for the SE once again!
@Fidelenny-plus Victor Moses, if he comes out of international retirement.I think the National Senior team still needs him.Please imagine a front 3 of Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa and Samuel Kalu.
I also feel Josh Maja and Where Eve should also be invited Roberson with the team.
I am hoping for a strong 23 at the AFCON..here are my 23 including Victor Moses because I know he will play for Nigeria again.
Goal Keepers-Uzoho,Alampasu,Akpeyi.
Defenders-Aina,Troost,Balogun,Omeruo,Collins,Semi Ajayi,Awaziem,Idowu.
Midfielders-Ndidi,Etebo,Mikel,Iwobi,Ogu,
Forwards-Musa,Victor Moses,Akpom,Samuel Kalu,Ajayi,Iheanocho,Ighalo.
Standby-Onyekuru,Odey,Ezenwa,Moses Simon,Esiti,Ebuehi.
Idowu wouldn’t make the cut
@Xhuxhu, Nice squad list.
Howevrr, do you think Akpom would make the cut ahead of in-form Henry Onyekuru of Galatasaray? It would be a selection headache for Rohr, don’t envy his job at this time, anyway, a good one for Nigeria with so many options in different dept of the team.
One player I would love to see added to your list is Sheyi Ojo, the young Englishman with Nigerian roots. Don’t know how far his international switch has gone. If successful, the left-footed forward will be a fine addition to the squad.
@Xhuxhu, Nice squad list.
Howevrr, do you think Akpom would make the cut ahead of in-form Henry Onyekuru of Galatasaray? It would be a selection headache for Rohr, don’t envy his job at this time, anyway, a good one for Nigeria with so many options in different dept of the team.
As you well aware, there so many options in his attacking position for SE.
“arrowhead strikers” form in 2019:
Games/goals/assists/TOTW since January 2019:
Taiwo Awoniyi 5 games, 4 goals, 2 assists, 3x team of the week
Chuba Akpom 7 games, 3 goals, 2 assists
Henry Onyekuru 5 games, 2 goals, 0 assists
Victor Osimhen 5 games, 1 goal, 1 assist, 1x team of the week
Simeon Nwankwo 4 games, 1 goal, 1 assist
Stephen Odey 3 games, 1 goal, no assist
Junior Ajayi 6 games, 3 goals, 0 assists
Ighalo Chinese season starts in March
Isaac Success injured
There are approximately two weeks until the next call up for the games against Seychelles and Egypt.
If I were choosing, I’d pick Awoniyi ahead of Akpom, we are not even sure if Akpom has international clearance to play for Nigeria yet.
If also choose Onyekuru and Ighalo as they are full squad members and then it’ll be Osimhen and Ajayi before Odey.
These are the players form for January and February
@BigD
Very instructive statistics for Rohr a d NFF to work with.
Apologies to have overlooked in-form Awoniyi with the predatory instinct of Rasheed Yekini. I only hope he is able to replicate this scoring form in the SE when called up.
Need to double check the international clearance of Chuba Akpom, who has shown enough readiness represent Nigeria, the 22yr old 6ft forward is a real deal, but i doubt his selection for the AFCON 2019 in view of the litany of strikers at the disposal of natinal team selector.
Great work @ Big D. The numbers kind of says it all. But the SE as of today has reached that point where you’ll have to have an ‘X-factor’ to be able to break into the team as a new comer….as in, you’l really need to be effortlessly talented. For the 1st time in a long while, most fans can close their eyes and name the final 23 of the next major tournament months ahead and the deviation amongst selections wouldn’t be more that 15%. The consistency in the team over the last 18 – 24 months is something worthy of note. That said, while not trying to undermine recent selections of our strike force, IMHO I think Simy Nwankwo is one we shouldnt be leaving out of our squads, especially when we eventually converge for Afcon. His aerial presence and hold up ability is something that will come in handy when things get tight. The trio of Ighalo, Nwankwo, and Awoniyi/Osinhem will be my choice of point men if I had to choose. Musa, Chukwueze, Onyekuru and Kalu will be my wing forwards, Iwobi and Nacho will battle for who fills the hole behind the target men. One of Ndidi and Etebo will play box-2-box while one of Mikel and Ogu play as deep lying playmakers. Aina, Shehu, Collins and Simon Moses as wingbacks, Balogun, Omeruo, Troost and Ajayi in central defence and Just 2 goal keepers……Uzoho and Ezenwa (that 3rd choice goalkeeper for me is always a waste of slot, afterall at Olympic level, its usually just 2 goalkeepers and the ‘unfortunate’ 2nd choice always happens to be on the bench all through the tournament)
@Big D-Based on Form,Our best forwards are Awoniyi,Akpom and Onyekuru.I honestly would love Rohr to give Fringe and new players such as Ajayi and Akpom a chance to show what they can bring to the team.
@Pompei-Sheyi Ojo is somebody I will also love to see play.
The question of international clearance will need clarifications from the FA.These are the news we want to get on Complete sports.Our Football sites should be up and doing scouting New Nigerian talents to help beef up our teams.
Brian Idowu has not been active for more than two months now and besides being active he will really need a drastic improvement before he may bench the likes of Jamilu and Aina at the left side of our defence.
remember that Moses Odubaja of Brentford (the modern day full back)is also knocking on the doors and he is always willing to join up with super eagles. it is fascinating to know that he needs no international clearance to play for Nigeria.
Also, in our striking department, I would want Rohr not to invite Ighalo in the next two set of games because he has been inactive for long time… I would want him to hand a fresh call up to Paul Onuachu of FC MIDTJYLLAND of Denmark. He is a very good striker with high rate of goal scoring abilities than chuba akpom who hasn’t been cleared by FIFA yet.
Rohr should also talk up TIAGO ILORI of sporting lisborn of Portugal to switch his nationality because that is a very good replacement for Balogun in few years to come.
In my honest opinion, I think kelechi should be dropped because he has not really measured up and he should be replaced with Samu or Henry as the case may be.
@Abdul-You made valid points about Onuachu, I honestly can’t say why he hasn’t gotten a chance.I know he was injured at some point and couldn’t get invited after Rohr had a look at him.He will be a good addition to our team.
Chuba Akpom, gave out an interview a few months back saying he is looking forward to breaking into the team for the AFCON, the status of his international clearance is still not clear.
Odubajo Moses!Wow if he doesn’t need international clearance..why can’t we invite him for the Seychelles game.
I honestly feel this Seychelles game should be used to have a look at Fringe players and players who have not been given a chance, players like Akpom,Onuachu,Moses Odubanjo,Junior Ajayi,Semi Ajayi, etc.
Xhuxhu, Rohr will not use a competitive game to test fringe players, yes we have already qualified, yes we have leeway, however, we also have our fifa ranking at stake and a less than convincing victory can see us slip in the overall table that will be used for competition seeding.
Instead, he will most likely use the match against Egypt to test the bench as well as look at one or two options, but I don’t see wholesale changes to be made in either matches. Our first team to prosecute the AFCON match with all three subs being used and the spine of the team intact for the Egypt game with up to three or four changes to the starting line up and another 5 subs used.
And the point about Onuachu, yes, I guess the fact that he doesn’t play I a “visible league” works against him. I think a wider reportage of various leagues in our press should help our scouts.
@Big D-Yeh!I never thought about this ranking stuff but that shouldn’t rule out totally the idea to have two or three new players tried out.
Onuachu should be given a chance,Junior Ajayi and Akpom too..We will the opportunity to see a physically built player, dude is 6 plus, maybe an alternative to Simy Nwankwo because at the AFCON we will need them, since the likes of Senegal,Cote d’Ivorie and Egypt will be there for us with the physical imposing figures.