Former Nigerian striker, Jonathan Akpoborie has revealed that the Super Eagles duo of Victor Osimhen and Emmanuel Dennis have the potentials to sink the Black Stars of Ghana with goals in the fast-approaching 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff.
Nigeria will take on their perennial rivals in March, less than two months after they crashed out in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 against Tunisia.
Recall that Dennis missed the AFCON tournament due to club refusal to release him while Osimhen narrowly missed the party due to health ground.
However, with both players scoring and playing regularly for their respective clubs in Europe, the former Wolfsburg star told Completesports.com in an interview that they possess the firepower to down the Black Stars’ of qualifying for the world showpiece in Qatar.
“No doubt, we missed the services of Victor Osimehen and Emmanuel Dennis at the just concluded 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. One thing I love about them is the fact that they are determined and always hungry for goals, ” Akpoborie, a former member of the Golden Eaglets that won the first edition of the FIFA U-16 Championship in 1985 told Completesports.com.
“It will be a delight to see the two players team up against the Black Stars of Ghana in the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff. I am very optimistic that goals will flow and the Super Eagles will qualify ahead of their West African rival.”
36 Comments
Akpoborie why Dennis and Osimehn?? Isn’t supposed to be King Ighalo and Osimehn partnership???
@MONKEY POST MAN DID YOU KNOW IT IS WORLD CUP DO OR DIE WE ARE ATTEMPTING HERE.. MOREOVER WE HAVE KELECHI IHEANACHO IN THE BENCH. WE DON’T NEED IGHALO. REST JARE!!!!. WE ARE LOOKING UP NOT BACK
WE NEED IGHALO in capital letters
@Moses Inyang, do not worry, March is around the corner. Let the coaches do their work. If Ighalo can still deliver so be it but i am not holding my breath. Age is not on his side and football is a game of youth. Your head can tell you one thing and your body another thing.
Weldone CSN Commissioner of youth.we saw the way 19 years old VINCENT ABUBAKAR won the golden boot. LMFAO! and how your youthful Sadiq and Awoniyi gave us a R16 exit. LMFAO!
We also saw how your afcon 2019 Golden boot winner struggle against CV. We saw the Airball (Lago in local parlance) your top striker had against CV when the goal was begging.
Keep comparing Abubakar and Ighalo as if the former is not younger. Officially Abubakar is 30 which is an age where footballers are still active, Ighalo is 32 officially but we know he is older than that.
We all know how 19 year old Silas Nwankwo from NPFL sealed his deal. In 10 years time when he clocks 29, it is fans like you who would insist that he must still be in team because he is just 29.
This is why Africa will never move forward or develop because we embrace sentimental decisions rather than go for merit. At 32 (Even though i know he is older than that), he can not run at the same pace as 20 year olds, the law of diminishing return sets in, science proves this and this was made very evident when we played against CV.
You are criticizing Sadiq but he scored in his first ever start for the SE. Ighalo started the game against CV and failed to score(He was practically being carried by Osimhen). This same Sadiq was adjured to be the best SE player in the game against Tunisia regardless of the misses.
Also, Ighalo missed a sitter against Argentina at the WC so what is the unfairness regarding Sadiq?
I would say the list of players to execute the march games are:
Goal Keepers
1.Francis Uzoho
2. Adebayo Adeleye
3. Maduka Okoye
Right Back
1. Ola Aina
2. Tyrone Ebuehi
Left Back
1. Zaidu Sanusi
2. Jamilu Collins
Central Defense
1. William Troost Ekong
2. Balogun Leon (If fit)/ Kenneth Omeruo
3. Olisa Ndah
4. Chidozie Awaziem
Defensive Midfield
1. Wilf Ndidi
2. Innocent Bonke
Central Midfield
1. Joe Aribo
2. Kingsley Michael (If fit)/ Kelechi Nwakali
Right Wing
1. Emmanuel Dennis
2. Samuel Chukwueze
Left Wing
1. Moses Simon
2. Ademola Lookman
Center Forwards
1. Victor Osimhen
2. Sadiq Umar
3. Kelechi Iheanacho
Other Forwards.
1. Alex Iwobi
Auxiliary
1. Ahmed Musa for Inspiration
Is IGHALO older than Vincent Abubakar?what of Albert Roger Milla who presented the AFCON trophy who scored for Cameroon at 38?at the world cup.Never Again with this deceit!
@MONKEY POST you see how u are making me use Vex to make typing error up an dan
@Moses Inyang my humble apologies Typo
And we all know thar Vinceny Abubakar is 30 similar age to Victor Moses dont mind yeye @Monkey Post
Is IGHALO older than Gabaski,Vincent Abubakar,El shanarwy.In the past we had players like Roger milla.,Emmanuel kunde,Rabher madjer,Rigobert song,Gervinho,Rashidi yekini,Ben Iroha.which of these in their playing days is IGHALO older than?Enough of this deceit.I disagree
Rais Mbolhi,usman Bangura,Riyad marez,Islam slimani,serey Die and even our own Akpeyi are all older than Ighalo .All played the last AFCON.what is the problem with IGHALO.stop this unreasonable hate please.Quite unfounded
@Moses Inyang my comment was directed @Moses Simon not u. Mr Cameroon
The more reason why you need a tested, trusted, proven and rugged strikers like King Ighalo.
Outdated King, who can’t even do nothing against Chelsea abeg make we hear word. There is no place for him if we should take all our inform Arsenal.
For how long must we keep carrying players who are past their best let us see what Dennis and Osimhen Partnership can do. Ighalo did nothing in World Cup 2018 he cost us the game Against Argentina missing an open net or have you forgotten or you just like to run Mouth??
LMFAO!No I have not forgotten.why will I? I also remember Ighalo cost us the game against a depleted Tunisian side. LMFAO!!
I also Think you seemed to Forgot that Osimhen and Dennis was not there so it was a depleted side in Naija terms too, you also seem to casually forgot that the reason we were at AFCON in the first place was down to Nigeria’s top NO 9 in the World Victor Osimhen, and also Dennis Form prior to AFCON was aslo meant to be Key had it not been for Pinnick and Rohr Not including him initially in the first list. So please bro rest with Ighalo matter Abeg, stop this running mouth unnecessarily rubbish!.
WE NEED lGHALO in capital letters
WE NEED IGHALO in capital letters
WE NEED IGHALO for sure
This your Dennis when last did he scored? You just like overhyping shit like you did with Awoniyi and Sadiq prior to afcons then. That is how they will be mentioning players names around to convince the coach and later they will be the one to start crying endlessly mtchhheww.
This your Dennis when last did he scored? You just like overhyping shit like you did with Awoniyi and Sadiq prior to afcons then. That is how they will be mentioning players names around to convince the coach and later they will be the one to start crying endlessly mtchhheww.
LMFAO! I also think you seem to have forgotten that ighalo to was there. And besides Awoniyi and Sadiq should have done the job against a Covid 19 ravaged Tunisian team. Any need for Osimehn and Dennis?
LMFAO! And most of you on this forum are just hypocrites! Especially you @Ugo Iwunze When it was going all good in the group stage, y’all forgot about Osimehn and Dennis but after the lost against Tunisia, you come here to form fake love.. LMFAO!!
*Ighalo too was not there*
Journalists And all are sick.
Ighalo and Osimhen will form strong Super Eagles forward so they will be bogeymen against any team they meet; they have a strong allergy on goalscoring and have determination to realize thier goals.So I think they will add strong form for SE forward side.
I hope the Super Eagles coaches do not overload with strikers and forget the midfield. The first game at Cape Coast is the more crucial. Nigeria must blunt Ghana’s attsck and come away with a draw.
LMFAO! @Ugo Iwunze mehn that Vincent Abubakar could be dragging same age with Amaju pinick o. So forget that 30 years old bullshit! LMFAO!!
LMFAO!! And So imagine Amaju pinick winning the Golden boot amidst all your Awoniyi and Sadiq.. LMFAO!!
Mr. Akpoborie should know that we can’t force players on any coach. I don’t think Dennis is ready to play for Nigeria and when he is ready, he will definitely make himself available for Nigeria.
However, Amaju Pinnick should be warned. He is passing his boundary and as I said before, he have to vacate his position.
I read it on owngoal.com that he is forcing Ighalo and Dennis on our own.
If I see Ighalo name on the list, I promise you DESTAR, I won’t call coach Eguavoen Mr. No nonsense again. Let’s wait till the list comes out.
Coach Eguavoen and Amunike have to stand their ground this time around.
What is Ighalo got left to offer Super Eagles? Dessers is waiting and he’s ready to make Nigeria proud. If I don’t see Dessers against Ghana then, coach Eguavoen and Amunike are not ready to work.
Ighalo should stay retired jeje. We don’t need him. God bless Nigeria!!!
LMFAO! That was how y’all shouted that ighalo must not make the list against that last Afcon qualifiers. And we all advice that y’all should take otapiapia when he eventually the list.. But am surprised that y’all are still alive.. still giving empty threat.. LMFAO! Please don’t fail to take it this time.. Please!!
@omo 9ja you accused Picknic of going beyond his boundary and you just did the same by pointing that Egu should not invite Ighalo. You are not the head coach and who are we to tell the coach who to invite and who not to. It’s not our responsibility to think for him . Please let us allow the man to do his work we can only make suggestions to him
@Omo9ja , save yourself putting your trust in Eguafon standing on his own against imposition of players like Igahalo; if Rohr can’t make a bold stand ( we’re you not alive when Oga Rohr was shamelessly pleading on behalf of the ageing retired Igahalo in his last match where he was completely flopped with zero goal , zero assist, zero contributions and missed the only open goals that came his way to the embarrassment of Rohr himself, before he was yanked off.
Anyone that is advocating for 34 years old Igahalo that plays sunday sunday football, that was totally flopped in his only game after retirement, such fellow needs to go and compete with Ali baba of Nollywood .
I have warned you @Omo9ja , other than superior technical ability that Eguafon has over Oga Rohr ; trust me , there is no much differences between him and Rohr ; he is a local upgraded version of Oga Rohr.
Lastly, many of you that are speaking big grammar against recall of the flopped ageing Igahalo who is rich enough to buy corrupt Amaju Pinnick ; did anyone of you care when last Eguafon received salary and how much ?
Wasting one slot for Igahalo would not be headache for Eguafon because that is the one of few foreign based players that can help Eguafon out financially
Only desperation will make the coach field both victor Osimhen and ighalo at the same time on the pitch.
We saw what happened when the former coach tried it.
I cant speak for the NFF or coaches eguavoen and amuneke on who they invite for the next game but I can suggest that they use players who compliment each other.
Dennis can play as a winger on the right, he is very decent in ball possession, distribution and scoring so I put him ahead of chukwueze, onyekuru etc dennis is also good in the air and dribbles very well, he can also create opportunities. For me, he is the best choice on the right wing for the Super Eagles going forward.
He will support Victor Osimhen very well.
On the left, its a straight battle between Simon moses (the likely candidate) and Ademola lookman.
Like I said, moses is the first Choice for now, but if ademola lookman can settle quickly into the Super Eagles team, he will add a whole lot more than moses Simon.
He has accurate crossing with both feet, good shooting abilities, speed, dribbles, can cut in field with the ball and play like a number 10. He will be a big hit with the Super Eagles, if he can adjust to African football.
The team may not be ready to play this formation but I think it could be fruitful to the team:
UZOHO
AINA EKONG. LEON. ZAIDU
NDIDI. ETEBO(YUSUF)
DENNIS ARIBO. LOOKMAN
VICTOR.O
@Sportsfan this is the kind of Dynamism the Coach should be looking at. That is what we call Forward thinking this list Kudos!.
I feel however Bassey can be slotted in ahed of Aina. that calamity Aina Caused in the Build up to Tunisia goal Bassey will not let such happen. Den if we have Victor Moses to call upon of the Bench with Moses Simon , Chukwueze (Whose form is upping again as i expected) I really don’t see any breathing room for Ghana. Spartak Moscow Knocked out Leicester City and went Directly To the round of 16, while Victor Osimhen Napoli still has to play Barcelona in the Knock out phase of the new format of Europa League meaninig come the Round of 16 Victor Moses may be the only sole Nigerian in European football, as Rangers FC (calvin Bassey, Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun) have a tricky knock out game with Borussia Dortmund. this was mostly down to Victor Moses people really Underestimate what Victor Moses Achieved in the Group Stage of the Europa League as Spartak were not even the Favorites to come out of that group in the begining yet Vic Moses carried them to top the group. And we are here celebrating ahmed Musa, Really some Nigerians no sabi better thing really!!!1
*I mean Victor Moses may be the only Sole Nigerian in SE set up in Europa League Football as a certain Samuel Chukweze is still involved in Champions League with Villareal.
I concur with @Sportsfan, Osimhen and Dennis combo will be very productive.
Dennis is an all round striker with Pace, power, skill, accurate shooting, towering headers, passes and rugedity. He will be a very strong force with Osimhen or can comfortably substitute Osimhen or play from the right wing.
Did you see E.Dennis towering header goal vs Brentford???
However, the Coaches should watch their players closely and pick the best for SE. Cheers!
*I mean Victor Moses may be the only Sole Nigerian in SE set up in Europa League Football as a certain Samuel Chukweze is still involved in Champions League with Villareal.