Former Nigerian forward, Jonathan Akpoborie believes the duo of Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi will play a key role in Gernot Rohr’s success for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and Africa Cup of Nations.
Osimhen has been in a fantastic form scoring goals frequently for Napoli in the Serie A while Awonoyi has been banging the goals for Union Berlin in the German Bundesliga.
Recall that Osimhen came off the bench to score his ninth goal of the season when he helped Napoli beat Legia Warsaw 3-0 in their Europa League clash at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Awoniyi also netted a goal in Berlin 3-1 loss to Feyenoord in the Europa league.
Reacting to their impressing goal scoring form in Europe, the former Wolfsburg striker told Completesports.com in an interview that the two players have the goal scoring skills to help Rohr succeed in the World Cup qualifiers and AFCON proper.
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“If performance is anything to go by, then the duo of Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi have the potentials to make Gernot Rohr achieve his goal with the Super Eagles. In terms of consistency, these players have shown that they are born goal scorers in their respective clubs in Europe.
“As you know, Osimhen has been replicating that in the Super eagles while Awoniyi should be giving the chance to prove his worth in the team. They can play together in the team and will be handful for defenders to shut down. Their goals will be crucial for Rohr in the coming weeks.”
8 Comments
A very good analysis Mr. Akpoborie. Akpoborie himself a formidable forward during his playing days. Nigeria former players have a role to play by being objective in analysing and assisting our coaching crew in areas of advise and selection.
Team selection?
@Kenny I totally agree with you on the matter . Jonathan Akpoborire spoke in-depth on the consistency of Victor and Taiwo and I tell you he’s got a point . It won’t be a bad idea to play the two together should it be they try to adapt a 3_5_2 formation or a 4_4_2 depending on the coach’s technical ideas . Assuming Rohr wants to adapt the 4-3-3 formation , then both players won’t be able to play together . Each of these formations should be utilized according to the kind of players selected to the national team provided he doesn’t allow sentiments to cloud his judgements .
In a 3 5 2 or 4 4 2 formation….iheanacho plays it better…. because he has that ability to track back and play as a 10
They just played CAR and couldn’t score. There is more to it.
So this owing players flights tickets and allowances have been going on for long……. On April 13, 1991, an ‘Oyinbo’ player was spotted in the Super Eagles squad, it was an African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Ghana, a pleasant surprise for fans at the National Stadium in Surulere.
Born Reuben Omojola Folasanje Agboola on May 30, 1962, in Camden, London. Several months before the match coach Clemens Westerhof had written a letter of invitation to the Sunderland player but his avuncular manager, Lawrie Mcmenemy reportedly hid the letter. The NFA also attempted to reach him but to no avail, it took the intervention of Chief M.K.O Abiola: It so happened that Abiola’s first daughter, Chief Lola Abiola-Edewor lived in Lancaster gate, they personally contacted Sunderland about his availability for Nigeria, and his response was positive.
The elated defender in the company of Richard Edewor(Lola’s husband) quickly made their way to the Heathrow Airport. Initially, he was denied a boarding pass because he didn’t have a visa and holding a British passport. Agboola landed in Africa for the first time, he was a versatile defender who could play in the Left and Right back. He played in the 1991 qualifying matches including the 7-1 trashing of Burkina-Faso in which Rashidi Yekini scored 4 goals. He was also part of the team that finished 3rd place at the 1992 AFCON in Senegal.
Unfortunately, Nigeria ‘happened’ to Agboola, he made only 9 appearances for the Super Eagles, between 1991 & 1993, the player was owed several allowances including flight tickets and match bonuses.
For club sides – He made 268 league appearances in a 13-year career in the Football League, he began as an amateur at Southampton in 1978. He turned professional in April 1980, and helped the club to reach the FA Cup Semi-finals and a second-place finish in the First Division in 1983–84. He was sold to Sunderland in 1985 for £150,000, then loaned to Charlton Athletic in 1986. He returned to Sunderland and helped the club win back their top-flight status following promotions in 1987–88 and 1989–90. He was again loaned to Port Vale in 1991. He reportedly retired at Gosport Borough and ventured into bar business.
Credit: Yoruba Blog
Nice one, Femi.
Nigeria “happened” to Agboola! Hahahahaha!
NFF ONIGBESE have been at it for a long, long time.
They were called NFA back then – NO FUTURE AMBITION.
They changed their name to NFF – NIGERIA FOOTBALL FIASCO.
Different names, same rubbish!
I watched an interview Agboola gave on this issue of owed flight tickets and match bonuses, and I couldn’t make up my mind whether to laugh or cry!
Make I laugh jare! I laugh in Wolof.
Tomorrow, English born talents will hear about how Nigeria “happened” to Agboola. They may even contact him for advice on whether they should attempt to play for Nigeria. I wonder what Agboola would have to say!
I don’t think Super Eagles will qualify for the WorldCup. And maybe then all this torture will end. Rohr is a pretender. He is not a sound coach. He just makes it up as he goes.