Reading Nigerian winger Ovie Ejaria has been included in the Championship Team of the Month for January, Completesports.com reports.
The Team of the Month was compiled by football facts and statistics website whoscored.com.
Ejaria is one of three Reading players who made the list.
He is placed in the left of a four-man midfield in a 4-4-2 formation.
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And commenting on how Ejaria fared last month, whoscored.com wrote:”Featuring from the left flank is Reading youngster Ovie Ejaria. The 23-year-old enjoyed a superb January as he completed the second most dribbles (16) in the Championship to reinforce a statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of ‘dribbling’. A further assist, his fifth of the season, saw Ejaria return a WhoScored.com rating of 7.68.”
Meanwhile, NFF president Amaju Pinnick, on Monday, confirmed that Ejaria has been cleared by FIFA to play for Nigeria.
Pinnick stated this amid reports in the local media that eight overseas-born players, including Ejaria, were granted permission by FIFA to play for the Super Eagles.
The other seven are Fulham forward Ademola Lookman, Jordan Torunarigha, who plays for Hertha Berlin in Germany, Southampton’s Nathan Tella, Tosin Adarabioyo of Fulham, Noni Madueke (PSV), Sheyi Ojo of Cardiff City, and forward Ike Ugbo , who is on loan at Cercle Brugge from English giants Chelsea.
And reacting to the report Pinnick, in a chat with The Punch, disclosed that Ejaria has been given the green light to switch his allegiance and that he is not aware of the other seven players.
“Ovie Ejaria has been cleared by FIFA to play for us ( Nigeria ), that I can confirm to you , I ’m not aware of the others.”
Ejaria was born in England to Nigerian parents and represented them at age grade levels, winning the U -20 FIFA World Cup with them in 2017.
By James Agberebi
38 Comments
Wow! What a pleasant news up naija
CONGRATULATION EJARIA! MORE WINS BY HIS GRACE! I THINK YOU ARE BETTER THAN CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL!
He is far better than championship level. He suppose dey la liga or premier league.
Yes Ovie is far better than championship and Henry is far better at Gala than EPL and Ligue one put together.
Congratulations bro one love
Solid midfielder, skillfull workshop! combination with iwobi and Ndidi will stabilise our midfield. Aribo should be pushed to the wings or supportingstriker, he seems to be a good goal getter than a traditional midfielder like Ejiara.
They both have different qualities though, while ejaria is good with the ball and dribbles good he has some issues with speed, long Lange shot (Aribo is not good at it as well) and defensive contributions.
Aribo contributes more defensively, he possesses more goal threat and passes better (ejaria hangs on the ball too much, dribbling instead of quick pass)
They are all ok and manageable, it depends on the coach to know how to utilize them.
Mr Collins, the Mourinho of Africa… Lolz… I come in peace though
My person dream super eagles’ world cup line-up
UZOHO
Aina. Balogun. Torunarigha. Zaidu
Aribo. Ndidi
Madueke. Ejaria. Lookman
Osimehn
I will replace ejaria with madueke and then play chukwueze at right wing (he combines well with osihme)
I don’t have preference at CB , but will play tested and trusted ekong/balogun.
Ekong trusted??
In centre back, it is far better to have Awaziem and Ajayi.
As good as Chukwueze is, in the future, his jersey will be under tremendous pressure. Possible future invitees like Michael Olise, Noni Madueke, and Abraham Marcus, are left footed players who can comfortably play that position. I wonder who is far better among these guys?
All the three wonderful doctors alias three wisemen Dr Drey, Dr Koyemi and Captain Dr Simone will be deployed to the represent the super eagles front line 3. Drey as the striker flanked by Koyemi and myself, we still do far better than Olise, Madueke, Markus and even Samu put together.
Wow, a strike force of three doctors.
DEADLY!!!
If anyone is thinking about seeing Oliseh in the Eagles_ I’m sorry to burst your bubbles it can’t fit happen; his a French bird and their’s no wishful thinking about it, brace up his going like saka et al’!!
Any dream formation without iwobi in the squad is a nightmare. Iwobi remains supereagles best attacking midfielder in all roundification. I cant put ejiara, aribo, madueke ahead of iwobi, it will be so unreasonable and i dont think Rohr will do that. First he is a champion in their mist, he plays faster than them, he is more experienced than them, he is stronger on the ball than all three, he plays in a stronger league than them, he have been regular goal scorer and contributor in the supereagles since 2018 till now, so why should any of those three dudes put iwobi in bench? Iwobi have played six games alongside aribo in the supereagles he have outplayed aribo in 5 of that six games, i can only give the brasil game to aribo, but why should he or madueke ejiara, start a match before iwobi? Please i dont understand why, I am waiting for your answer in analysis @abdul and goal.
@Collins, God bless you.
Absolutely Spot on @collins id, I also saw a write up by solace Chukwu that classifies Iwobi as a very important part of super eagles set up…he has been the man with the highest assist since taking up the number 10 role( that is after the world cup)…
Iwobi is the first choice number 10 for now no doubt but any thing is possible in the future @Collins id.
I like the characteristics of madueke that’s the reason, his power play, speed, aggression and good passing skills.
It’s just a personal opinion, the coach will have the final say.
We are just having fun and happy that we have options.
You are sport on @Collins id. Iwobi is a MAIN STAY of the Super Eagles.
Presently I haven’t seen any attacking midfielder in the continent of Africa better than iwobi. Please let learn to put some respect to that name. We fans do not appreciate what we have. Playing under one of the best coach in the world is no yams!!
Ejaria plays in the championship,whearas Iwobi has exceled in the premiership,there is a huge difference between both besides Iwobi is a seasoned international.Ejaria has shown great potentials playing in the English championship however,he has to play in the first division of a top league and show the same character.
I am glad Ejaria is open for selection which increases our options.Another very good player in the midfield we never talk about mainly because he plays in an obscure league is Shehu Abdullahi.The Omonia of Cyprus midfielder is one of our best.I have always repeated this claim.He was wrongly deployed to play in the right back which he managed to a reasonable level but his best position is the midfield his natural suit.Go back to Chan eagles which Keshi managed our best home eagles ever,Shehu Abdullahi was the player who made the midfield thick and against Sierra Leone away when our top boys were struggling he came in and brought calm.
Stop this Shehu talk here’s a player who is neither an exceptional tackler in the frame of Ndidi nor is he a great ball handler like Iwobi Ejaria and co. Please for Nigeria to go far better in this 2021 we don’t need average foreign home based players like Shehu, Agu, Collins, Ajayi, Awaziem and all the three average garbage goalkeepers we have today in the national team. Signed Dr Simone Toto
Yes you have spoken and you think you know better than others right.
Unfortunately,we don’t have many options in the midfield so the likes of Shehu will be relevant.I look at performance on the pitch not where they ply their trade.Shehu is a dependable midfielder and should be vital to the course of the super eagles going forward not until a better player emerges,for now in my opinion as well judging by his last performance,because in football you are as good as your last match.
Greenturf my man, Dr Simone Toto’s comment is better than your own.
Faaaar better.
Hahaha @pompei
…”average foreign home based players”, Lwkmh
Wow. I can’t believe I can enjoy Dr. Simeone Toto’s submission like this. I thought it’ll just be the comical “far better than” song like your partner, Dr. Oderinde. Brilliant argument. I agree 100%.
Football is our joy and merriment but awon oleoushi continues to deprive us of our birthright to use the best legs in the country. This things started from the days of chief segun odegbami. Eran ko ni government from the day one.
LIST OF ESTABLISHED PLAYERS AVAILABLE FOR THE S.E….
GK:
OKOYE
AKPEYI
UZOHO
YAKUBU
ALAMPASU
CB:
BALOGUN
EKONG
AJAYI
AKPOGUMA
TOSIN
AWAZIEM
TORUNARIGHA
OMERUO
FULL BACKS:
AINA
EBUEHI
EHIZIBUE
ZAIDU
COLLINS
DM:
NDIDI
ARIBO
ETEBO
ONYEKA
AZEEZ
AMF:
IWOBI
EJARIA
IHEANACHO
WINGERS:
MUSA(C)
CHUKWUEZE
KALU
SIMON
DENNIS
HENRY
ADEMOLA
MADUEKE
FWD:
OSIMHEN
SODIQ
ONUACHU
UGBO
DESSERS
TOCHUKWU
MOFFI
AWONIYI
MAJA
KAYODE….
U have too much; problem….. U don’t have; problem…. Hmmmn
Nor be small wahala be dis o….
Even KLOPP or QUARDIOLA or ZIDANE would have selection problem. (especially here in 9JA were you’re expected to pls everyone).
Who are we inviting and who are we not inviting in this case????
Half of this teams are average players playing at relegation teams or bottom of Epl true or false. Nigerians are excited but still average compared to elite nations who have far better football structures in place. Let us say the truth awon omo Iyami.
If we have a better coach, this Average team as they call, can win us African nations cup and also qualify us to the World cup, and also take us to atlist quater final in the world cup. Our main problem now is we lack a good and experience Technical Adviser.
@Elico … Even with a better coach with sound and experience technical adviser you are not 100% certain of winning any tournament before kick-off . You can only be sure of your chances of winning a tournament , when the tournament kick off.
Don’t forget in every tournament , Luck matters alot . Does Senegal vs France read any meaning to you at 2002 Worldcup with France being the defending champions .
Does Germany and Spain being knocked out of the at group stage of the Worldcup mean anything to you .
So you are trying to say those teams don’t have Sound Technical advisers ?
Nigerians will hype everything to the extreme and that is why most of our youth players fails to reach their potentials because of OVERHYPE
The Whole Nigerian team is an AVERAGE TEAM compare to other nations . Infact Nigeria as a team doesn’t have Individual players than SENEGAL .
Most of the SENEGALESE players are plying their trade in the top 5 leagues in the world and that include their 1st and 2nd choice goalkeppers .
So enough of the hype and lets all allow the team grow rather than hype them into the sky , moon , stars and beyond .
God bless Nigeria
True Baba leave that UBFE of a guy always talking nonsense. Na me talk am is far better than UBFE and his quack commentary, Iheanacho that is very good you and Dr Drey have sent him to exit from SE with your mouth. Today e don answer una with one ogbonge goal to shut your big mouths.
Dr Simone Toto, you and your compatriot Dr Oderinde had really livened up this forum. Keep up the humor. I’m loving it.
But Dr Oderinde is still faaaar better than you though. Sorry 🙂 🙂 🙂
I am far better than Dr Koyemi and Dr Drey in all ramification.
No player currently in the Super Eagles or expected to join them can bench IWOBI, he is a very important player in midfield be it in the middle or on the wings. His ability to move the ball quickly from defence to attack is wonderful. His skill and passes are exquisite. Even if Eze joins the Super Eagles (which I doubt) he will either start on the bench or be moved to the wings. Iwobi starts every time.
Also, with all this news of players being cleared by fifa to play for Nigeria and the uncertainty of who has actually been cleared, we will have to wait for coach rohr to release his list of invited players to be sure of who and who are joining the team.
Right now , I will be satisfied with lookman and ejaria joining the team, others can follow later. My team list will look something like this:
OKOYE
AINA. EKONG. LEON. ZAIDU.
NDIDI
EJARIA. ARIBO.
IWOBI. LOOKMAN.
OSIMHEN/SADIQ
Chukwueze is out injured, he might not make the list, osimhen just got back from injury and isnt 100% fit yet. He will be invited but I hope sadiq will be invited as well.