Gernot Rohr is without key players like Victor Osimhen, Joe Aribo, Leon Balogun and other stars for the international friendlies against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Their absence means opportunity for some of the fringe players to stake claim for regular berths in the team. Completesports.com’s ADEBOYE AMOSU in this piece, discusses about a quintet of players who must take the opportunity to impress the German tactician in Austria
TEREM MOFFI
Virtually unknown to soccer loving Nigerians before the start of the 2020/21 season, Terem Moffi gradually gained attention with his impressive displays for modest Ligue 1 club Lorient. The 22-year-old scored 14 goals for Lorient during the campaign and has been linked with a move to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.
With established forwards like Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, and Kelechi Iheanacho clearly ahead of him in the pecking order, Moffi will do well to impress against the Cameroonians.
PETER OLAYINKA
Peter Olayinka has been capped once by Nigeria. The versatile midfielder earned plaudits for his impressive showing for Czech Republic outfit Slavia Prague in the UEFA Europa League in the 2020/21 season. The 25-year-old won the double with Slavia Prague.
SAMSON TIJANI
The former Golden Eaglets captain made his senior debut in a friendly 1-0 loss to Algeria in October 2020. He now has another chance to impress head coach Gernot Rohr especially with the absence of some key players for the friendlies
VALENTINE OZORWANFOR
Many have criticised Valentine Ozorwanfor’s invitation due to his inactivity at club level. The centre-back played for just eight minutes for Turkish club Galatasaray last season.
The tall defender caught the attention of Gernot Rohr during his time with Nigeria’s U-20 side. The upcoming friendlies offers him the chance to show he has it takes compete at senior level.
ANTHONY IZUCHUKWU
Got a late invitation following the unavailability of some of the regular defenders for the friendlies. He has three caps for the U-23 Eagles. The tough tackling defender will look to stake claim for a regular berth in the Super Eagles.
3 Comments
I dont see any new defender braking into the afcon team apart from akpoguma, i expect marcus and moffi to brake into the afcon team, marcus will serve as backup for chuks, and moffi for osihmen, Simy and sadiq may found it difficult to come into this team for now. In the midfield i dont see any newname braking into afcon team ecept for oliseh, if he doesnt change his mind, i doubt if ejiara nwakali nwobodo can brake into the afcon team at the moment, bcos rohr is nt given a look at them at all though he have interest in ejiara, but oliseh seems to have taking over that interest, however the inclusion of both midfielders will be good for eagles. Lookman can brake into the afcon if the national switch finalises before the afcon, the left wing still needs to be re enforced.
Possible formation for cameroun game
Okoye
Awaziem ekong val collins
Marcus ndidi etebo moses
Iheanacho moffi
THE SUPER EAGLES MIDFIELD STILL NEEDS MORE PLAYERS. ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF CM AND DM ALHASSAN YUSUF IS GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY IN THE SUPER EAGLES MIDFIELD. HE HAS BOTH CM AND DM ABILITIES. IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY HE MAY CAUSE SOME PLAYERS TO UP THEIR GAME OR BE DROPPED.
THE SUPER EAGLES ALSO NEEDS DEPENDABLE CENTRE DEFENDERS. AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED, EKONG IS THE ONLY CAPABLE CENTRE DEFENDER WE HAVE. AKPOGUMA HAS NOT PLAYED IN THAT POSITION FOR THE SUPER EAGLES, AJAYI IS NOT DEPENDABLE, LEON IS INJURY PRONE, OMERUA’S HASN’T REACHED THAT 2013 FORM IN A LONG WHILE. SO THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND IT CAN COME IN THE FORM OF A NEW PLAYER.
I support Sportfan in his comnentry and hus suggestion that Super Eagles need more midfielders espcially defensive one like Al Hassan Yusuf, Nwobodo, Billing, Nwankwo Obiora; also the thing which SE need is a defensive style of play with orginzed,depth espcially in midfield and centre back ;thoes players we mentioned above have potentials,strength, pace, good tackling,interception,proper coverange,following and cotrolling over rival’s key players…