Super Eagles Forward, Taiwo Awoniyi failed to register his name on the scoresheet as Union Berlin lost 2-0 to Augsburg in Saturday’s Bundesliga game.
The Nigerian international, who recently returned to the squad after featuring for the Super Eagles at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nation in Cameroon, made his way to the starting line up for Berlin for his 19th appearance this season.
However, Awoniyi was well checkmated by the Augsburg defenders whose defence came out top in today’s encounter.
Goals from Gregoritsch and Andre Hahn was enough to earn the host a precious three points.
The win move Augsburg to 15 on the table while Union Berlin sit 4th on 34 points.
In the other game, Super Eagles defender, Kelvin Akpoguma was conspicuously missing in Hoffenheim loss to Mainz on Saturday.
Akpoguma has made 17 appearances, scoring two goals in the process.
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COMMENTS
Awoniyi and Umar are prolific in club football but struggle to hit the sweet spot for the Super Eagles. I think these players find it hard to come to terms with African turfs. Even I find this funny as they both played at home before going abroad.
You see strikers like Osihmen and Ighalo are at home in the African terrain. They are able to switch effortlessly from club to national team football thereby replicating thier club ruthlessly in front of goal for the Super Eagles with consummate ease.
Whilst Awoniyi and Umar continue to navigate their way through the national team terrain, we definitely need Ighalo and Osihmen in the short term. Osihmen is one for the future but, judging by what transpired recently, we definitely need Ighalo for this season – thereafter, he can retire for good.
@deo , are you dreaming? Igahalo; I beg let him continue to enjoy his Sunday-Sunday football .
A retired Igahalo that was a total flopped in last game with zero goal , zero assist and zero contribution before he was yanked off in the second half has no business in today SE.
Sentiment is part of the major problem militating against our football, otherwise how would have preferred a retired flopped Igahalo to Sadique and Awoniyi who were nightmares to opposing team, compared to Igahalo that his performance was such appalling that Oga Rohr was so embarrassed , begging to give Igahalo more time to adapt to the team , defending him with shameful alibi, blaming his poor performance to his 2 yeas retiring from the team .
Did you actually watch Nigeria’s game against Cape Verde analytically? I think you are the one being sentimental. Ighalo forged a formidable partnership with Osihmen. Their chemistry wasn’t contrived and Ighalo got into promising positions. He almost had an assist and was on hand to score Nigeria’s first goal if Simon’s cross had evaded Osihmen’s touch.
I am not a fan of Ighalo by any stretch of the imagination but I try to be pragmatic. As of today, Ighalo is still sharper than Awoniyi and Umar in international football. You can take that to the bank.
Awoniyi and Umar are still slightly off pace. I remain eternally grateful to Eguavoen for letting me see what these guys have to offer in Super Eagles colours and I must tell you, they are far from the finished article. Love him or hate him: Ighalo is the finished article. He is an accomplished poacher who rarely puts a foot wrong inside the 18 yard box.
Having said all that, it is not my decision to make. If the Super Eagles handlers feel they can milk out delicious performances from the likes of Umar, then they might as well overlook Ighalo.
But, having seen what Awoniyi and Umar bring to the party in Cameroon, I can say without a shadow of doubt that Ighalo is still very much needed in the Super Eagles in the short term.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah.
@deo thumbs up. If Eguavoen decides to invite Ighalo let them go and remove him from his list. Lmao!! If what they displayed in Cameroon is the kind of approach they want against Ghana no problem. We will all be here to witness the scenario. Abubakar plays in the same Sunday Sunday league as Ighalo and he scored 8 goals at the AFCON to win the Golden boot. Awoniyi and Sadiq only had two goals combined. They can still improve no doubt, but we need proven goal scorers to make it to the WorldCup.
Igholo is gone, him Don old, all this little upcoming defenders will just pocket him till 120minutes