Former Genk coach Jess Thorup has expressed surprise over Paul Onuachu’s snub ahead of this month’s friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.
The Super Eagles will play Saudi Arabia on October 13 before facing Mozambique on 16 October.
Peseiro released the list for the fixtures on Monday with strikers Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Terem Moffi and Taiwo Awoniyi preferred to Onuachu.
Premier League Southampton signed Onuachu from Belgian Pro League club Genk in February 2023. He joined Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor on loan in September 2023.
Thorup who previously coached Onuachu at Midtylland and Genk lauded the striker’s qualities and seemed shocked by the 29-year-old’s omission from the list.
“He has shown that he can perform at the international level,” hurriyet.com.tr quoted Thorup as saying.
“Onuachu is a player who is technically and physically strong, has good speed and has the ability to score goals.
“Paul Onuachu is a special player that we don’t see much in football. Onuachu has sharp skills that are really good but not easy to compare with others. I am surprised that Paul Onuachu is not in the Nigerian National team but I am sure he will be a permanent part of the team in the long run.”
Onuachu has scored three goals in 19 appearances for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11 2024.
Onuachu has netted three goals and notched one assist in four Turkish Super Lig games this term.
He made 11 appearances for Southampton in the 2022/23 season but didn’t score any goal.
The former Genk star also played one EFL Cup game for Southampton in the 2023/24 campaign before being loaned to Trabzonspor.
10 Comments
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Why is complete giving bullshit stories, is onuachu paying you guys, or you guys dont know what to report. If you dont know what to report just tell us abt the match between Nigeria and India
Believe it or not some player have these journalists in their pocket. There seems to be a concerted effort to force onuachu back into the team. This dude could not make the relegation battled Southampton but they feel he should be in the SE.
What makes it more disgusting is that there are obviously better players like boniface, awoniyi at the moment but Noooo , it is onuachu that should make us excited.
For me, it’s simple. At this time, Peseiro does not need him. Next time, Peseiro may or may not need him. It all depends on his form, and the form of other strikers. God forbid, if Osimhen and the others lose form, get injured or something else happens, we will have to look for alternatives, and Onuachu might then become important for us, if he is in form.
Who knows, Onuachu might keep getting better and it will get to the point where Peseiro can no longer ignore him. He may yet go back to England in future and do much better. Perhaps he failed at Southampton because the system does not suit him. Recall that Aribo is also struggling at the same Southampton.
That a player is not good enough today does not mean he should be badmouthed or condemned. Let’s refrain from burning bridges. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring.
Iwọ ọmọ arakunrin yi masotọkę @Pompei. Onuachu and Dessers have something in common, never say die in their hearts, and they don’t give up. That is why I never give up on both strikers. Onuachu should keep on fighting. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Hmmm… you want to win the afcon and you are encouraging onuachu’s return. The man can barely run. There are players that lose form but you know form is temporal but class is permanent e.g. Ndidi lost form but we all knew his class will return , same with iheanacho but these players you mentioned did well in farmers league but could cut it at the top flight league like the epl. Aribo was doing well, where? Scottish league. Where was onuachu scoring goals for fun? Belgian league!
Aribo was not even making the match day squad. We fans at times are just, we tend to give in to sentiments.I used to rate dessers but based on recent evidence, he is not good enough. He struggled in Italy and more recently struggling in scottland. I knew Onuachu would struggle because his skill set is limited. He does not have speed , can not dribble, technically below average, does not make runs behind the defense but rather wants the ball to feet, his touch leaves little to be desired. His major strength is aerially and at epl, you will not be given room to head tap ins.Besides, onuachu had many opportunities in the national team and hasn’t really grasped it with both hands. In my estimate, Osimhen, Boniface,Awoniyi, Moffi and even sadiq when fully fit are all ahead of him.
Football is harsh when you want to succeed, we must keep rebuilding the team. There was a time ebuehi was the stellar right back but then aina and now Osayi came in and ebuehi finds himself on the fringes. Once upon a time Collins held sway at left back but today he finds himself on the fringes.if tomorrow we find a better striker than Osimhen then by all means, Victor will find himself on the fringes. We can not say we desire to win afcon, possibly world cup and be this sentimental. We tend to forget that onuachu was back up to Ighalo when Rohr took us to the afcon and he was not impressive. Today most football lovers praise pep guardiolafor his successes but what they do not mention is the man’s ruthlessness.Jack grealish was instrumental to their treble winning season but finds himself on the bench to new boy doku.
It depends on the pattern he plays .. his pattern cannot survive in africa.effective No 9 Even now support the defense.. . Check oshimen check drogba.. for now he shud work on himself to get a permanent role in eagles team ..
Even if he go school to learn how to play free kick into the net will be an advantage .
Onuachu’s chances of staging a comeback to the Super Eagles is quite slim if certain pointers are to be taken into consideration.
Peseiro’s brand of football requires fluidity and flexible from his centre forwards which Onuachu can’t always deliver. Peseiro invited 5 centre forwards to prosecute October’s friendlies: Boniface, Awoniyi, Iheanacho, Osihmen and Moffi. If push comes to shove, any of these 5 strikers can be shunted to wings. But playing Onuachu on the flanks is almost like trying to fly with a motorcycle.
In fact it is not a stretch of imagination for any of the 5 centre forwards could function as a further forward midfielder, something that Onuachu could struggle with.
So, as it appears (based on recently selected players) that Peseiro expects versatile from his centre forwards, Onuachu’s chances are limited.
Limited but not entirely impossible. Onuachu remains a top quality center forward and support striker. If he taints the Turkish league with tantalising goals in the next 8 weeks, his chances of selection will be enhanced based on performance.
We already have ample wingers in the team and quite a number of centre forwards who can dovetail as wingers. So, Onuachu positioning himself as a ruthless out-and-out centre forward should not necessarily count against him if he comes to the team as a high achiever from club football.
According to owngoal.com, some Super Eagles fans should expect to be disappointed as he will be unable to tag all the strikers currently available to the Super Eagles along to the Afcon – there will inevitably be centre forward casualties.
Going to Ajax isn’t currently nursing Chuba Akpom’s Super Eagles chances to health. Josh Maja has been in the Super Eagles wilderness due to inclement club situation. Gift Orban is unsettled mentally whilst Dessers is not exactly lightening up Scottish League as expected. Umar is still trying to find his feet after recovering from long-term injury.If these 5 strikers continue to navigate stormy waters in the lead up to the Afcon and injury knocks out any of Awoniyi, Iheanacho, Boniface or Moffi, then Onuachu’s chances of selection will improve exponentially.
I am not worried, Onuachu is a decent striker with good service in a well grounded tactical formation. He has scored 3 goals in Super Eagles colours and these were all fantastic.
But his critics will always point to his lack of pace and limited trickery on the ball as his irredeemable shortcomings. They are well entitled to their views but Onuachu will get a look in if he performs in Turkey and other options for Nigeria become unavailable.
If this happens, the beanpole strikers will stop at nothing to serve his critics humble pie peppered with bitter leaf.
Don’t be shocked come and impose him on us Yeye man. Onuachu was never a super eagles material in the first place, Olayinka is a better player any day, but sentiments and corruption rules in Nigeria.
Let’s not blame the coach for saying such. It’s a blessing for Nigeria and also a testament that right now apart from France and maybe Argentina no other countries are blessed with the kind ,type, speed ,technique of the strikers we have . I think the coach knew if Onuachu is a Turkish he would have worked in straight in to their national team.