There is no doubt that shouldering the Super Eagles’ goalscoring responsibility has always been a huge task for many players that have been saddled with the responsibility in the past.
The team has produced top goal poachers such as late Rasheed Yekini, Victor Agali, Julius Aghahowa, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Emmanuel Emenike, Obafemi Martins, Odion Ighalo, and a few others, all of whom have shown their eyes for goals.
Some of these players in their individual ways took Nigeria to a certain level in Africa and global football under different coaches that handled the team.
However, the current strikers in the Super Eagles fold may not be as prolific as the aforementioned, but there is evidence that the team is blessed with an array of strikers capable of scoring goals. At the moment, Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen remains the only player that has shown quality goal sense.
With Nigeria facing a make or mar 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Squirrels of Benin and Crocodile of Lesotho on March 22 and 30 respectively, there are growing fears that the Super Eagles may find goal scoring difficult with the potential absence of Osimhen due to his recuperation from a head collision during a Seria A game against Atalanta.
Recall that Osimhen was on target when the Super Eagles played out a 4-4 draw against Sierre Lone at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
Irrespective of his potential absence from the squad when the team list will be named, there are other quality strikers such as Paul Onuachu, Henry Onyekuru, Terem Moffi, and Cyriel Dessers who could grab the golden chance of catapulting themself to Nigeria’s number 9 striker.
Onuachu is Nigeria’s most prolific number nine in Europe. His incredible goal-scoring record continues to guarantee him a spot on Rohr’s list despite the German’s preference for others. The gangling player has been compared to former Nigerian star, Victor Agali due to his aerial presence.
On the other Terem Moffi is also one player that has shown great potentials with his prolific goal-scoring form with FC Lorient in Ligue 1. He has netted 8 goals in 21 league appearances this season. A good finisher of the ball, Moffi’s ability to hold the ball and find a pocket of space has made him a nightmare for defenders in France.
Dessers and Onyekuru have also shown that they can be of great asset to the team if giving the chance to shoulder Super Eagles’ goalscoring responsibility. Onyekuru’s Galatasary form has been impressive since joining the team during the January transfer window. As for Dessers, he will be hoping to capitalize on his fine form with Genk to make a big impression with the Super Eagles, He made his first cap against the Carthage Eagles in an international friendly.
Also, Junior Ajayi is an African champion with Al Ahly who has been on the news with his goals in the Egyptian League. He was part of the team that featured at the Club World Cup, where the team crashed out in the final to Bayern Munich.
By and large, Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has a big decision to make as per the striker that will spearhead the team’s attack when they square up against Benin and Lesotho in the 2021 AFCON qualifiers. Who will he trust to spearhead the attack? Only time will tell.
By Augustine Akhilomen
9 Comments
Thank you CSN for this article.
It shouldn’t be a problem at all.
Oga Rohr have failed to do his homework.
During the last year friendlies, he would have tryout Dessers, Sodiq, Maja and the rest but he just gave those new players few minutes to play which wasn’t enough. Even, Adi.
Now, the truth has come. For me, he should count on Dessers and Sodiq and give Onuachu 20 minutes of actions.
We also have Maja as well.
Dessers have whatever it takes to lead the attack but it’s quite unfortunate that Oga Rohr doesn’t believe in that talented striker.
We have players but we don’t have coaches that can use the players to get the required results.
I don’t know. Fingers crossed. God bless Nigeria!!!
Which Dessers, the same that Onuawuchi has permanently benches in his club? Why not give the mantle of the striking role to Onuachi and the coach should play double striker with wingers that can cross the ball into the area well. Play Aina on the left and Ebuehi on the right. These ones will charge forward and cross effectively to the striker to score goal not leaving our striker lonely in the front. If not no striker no matter how many goals they score in Europe they can’t deliver in the current tactics of the coach. Pls the work of a good coach is to get the best out of what he has which this coach has failed to do in the past 5years he has been in charge
I agree with Omo Nigeria on Dessers.
I also believe that we need to see more of Dessers. His performance against Tunisia was very impressive in my opinion. His mobility and intelligence was on display, and he came close to scoring. His positioning in the box is as good, if not better, than Maja. Even on a bad day, there is something about Dessers that is unmistakable. The guy is just hungry for goals. He has that fire in the belly. Why he is not playing more for Genk is a cause for concern, granted. But his style of play is a great fit for the way the SE play under Rohr.
I think Dessers is very capable of leading the line in Osimhen’s absence. And if Osimhen is available, Dessers is a great option to have on the bench, or can play alongside him in a 2 striker formation.
Moffi, Maja and Sadiq especially are also very much in the running. A list without Sadiq is almost unimaginable at this point.
Onyekuru in my opinion is more suited to the wings. Let him duke it out with the likes of Lookman, Kalu, Chukwueze, Osayi Samuel, Moses Simon, etc.
It is up to Rohr now.
Well said @ Pompeii. There is something special about that lad DESSERS,only need to see through the false cloud to understand why he is on the bench at Genk. Also I never rated Maja until his last game against Crystal palace, where I admitted to have judged wrongly. I had before then, always seen him as just another 6 yard goal demon. But in that game against Crystal palace, I saw a player that surely deserve to be in our SE. He showed he can score from several distances and also can score all kinds of goals. These type of strikers easily hit the ground running with national team Football.
You will understand Dessers more next season when onuachu has left Genk
That’s right, Glory. Even though Dessers is being benched at Genk, whenever he is subbed on, we see flashes of what he is capable of. He combines well upfront with Onuachu, and has created several chances for him. Just like to underestimate Giroud based on his game time for Chelsea would be a mistake, I think Dessers should not be written off because of his situation at Genk.
CSN u pple are falling our hands o!
Is ONYEKURU an out-and-out striker?
Why bring him in?
We need out-and-out strikers for now pls….
We have DESSERS, SODIQ, MAJA, MOFFI, ONUACHU fully fit and u start mentioning AJAYI and HENRY….
HOW MANY GOALS HAVE THEY (AJAYI & HENRY) SCORED SINCE U CALL THEM STRIKERS?
Why should they mention Ajayi and Onyekuru. E easy to write you for write your own article na. UB…..