By James Agberebi:
Former Nigeria striker Victor Ezeji has urged Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr to include Crotone striker Simeone Nwankwo amd Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) top scorer Junior Lokosa of Kano Pillars in his 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
Both Nwankwo, also known as Simy, and Lokosa made their debuts for the Super Eagles in their 1-1 draw against Democratic Republic of Congo in a friendly on Monday in Port Harcourt.
The two debutants gave a good account of themselves, especially Nwankwo who went close on several occasions and hit the post but was unlucky not to score.
Speaking as a pundit on SuperSport, Ezeji, who played for Sharks, Dolphins, Enyimba, Eagles Cement during his 20-year playing career, posited that Nwankwo would be a very good option to have in attack alongside Odion Ighalo.
“Simeone keeps the ball, attacks the ball and shows a lot of qualities. Odion Ighalo cannot do it all alone,” Ezeji said.
“I know a a good striker when I see one. So for me Simeon should be in Russia.
“For Junior, he can also make the squad to Russia although he is still growing. He is young and may not have the experience but with his performance against Congo, he can be considered.”
Up next for the Eagles is another friendly against 2018 World Cup-bound England in Wembley Stadium on Saturday, June 2.
COMMENTS
Na who be mikel obi REPLACEMENT incase of ANYTHING that could happen??? Lovren of Liverpool could be a sergio Ramos and take out obi mikel! Just asking if it ANYTHING HAPPENS who can play 10 for us??? Obviously Coach Rohr is planning to play Akpehi as mikel substitution abi?
why are u campaining for nwakali when is it clearly not his time.pls iwobi or ndidi can play the role.
Dis padi padi thing wil disappear by 2022 w cup. Wat happen ed in 2010 ayegbeni kanu and one other guy I think is yobo wer not good to go . So eagles played with 8 players and short 3 men .all is now history . World greatest MISS record was set. Tank God for simmy . Sadiq umar nwakali Usman see u in 2022 katar
That’s true, Ezeji. And these ones should be dropped ASAP:
OGHENEKARO ETEBO (He kept putting his feet wrong)
MIKEL AGU (He was practically invisible. No impact!)
OLA AINA (Mostly brawn and strength, but inadequate football & positioning sense)
JOHN OGU (Skills and flair level not up to scratch. Just a powerful left foot)
Oga abeg you watch this match at all?? Which Etebo keep putting his feet wrong? Where did you see John Ogu close to that game???
@Kel is obvious u didn’t watch d match because john ogu didn’t play
Ezeji an unherald hero, my type of striker any day, Ogu is a big game player, Etebor has done enough to merit a place to this world cup, Turkish league has turned Onazi to a passenger, if performance of Nigeria vs Congo is to be used as a yardstick to world, then Onazi and Joel Obi should forget it. See, the newbie, Sammy, is a good striker any day. I have watched him play serveral time. Agu has nothing to prove in SE. Ebuehi is enterprising. Aina and idowu should pray hard for luck bcos one of them should be dropped with Eze. Coaches hardly drops players who plays more than two roles, that’s why Ndidi, shehu, Etebor, Ambo and mikel Obi are almost on the plane but Agbo should prove himself with the England match.
@ Barth…Really?? Agbo should go to Russsia and Aina should be dropped? Ok o. Talking about players who can play in more than one position? do you even know that Aina’s favorite position is not left back? Rohr is playing hom as left back because of shortage of options in that position. If Aina is played as the right back he will definitely perform much better.
play iheanacho as a number 9 zero, play him as a right winger, zero play him as left winger, zero. Play him as number 10,zero.where will he play to get the beat out of him. The truth is that iheanacho is not a good player and should be dropped period.
Iheanacho is a big game player, he was just trying to avoid injury before the mundual proper.
iheanacho should be dropped, he seems not to be improving at all, he can’t even trap ball properly
Simmy(9), victor(7), Iwobi(11), Mikel(10),Otebo/Nwakali(8), NDIDI(4) ,Ogu(3), abdulahi/aina(2), Balogun(5), troost(6),Ozoho (1)
With the above 1st eleven, Nigeria will win WC 2018. Prophecy101. Onazi,Idowu,ebuehi,Agu, Echejile, Musa , Nacho, nikosa, Agbo, Omerous, Eze, Awazierem, are second choice if the chips are down. Nwakali was not invited. Please CS help tell NFF to call up Nwakali, K. We need to smile I this tournament.
dat boy called trynne ebuehi is a fantastic player.a new modern defender,samy is also a classic defender,if I was Rohr I will drop elderson and ogenyi onaza from d squad.
Simy a classic striker I mean