Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo is unperturbed with the emergence of Semi Ajayi as a strong competitor for his position in the team, reports Completesports.com.
Omeruo missed the Super Eagles’ last two matches against Ukraine and Brazil due to visa hitches and injury respectively.
In his absence, West Bromwich Albion centre-back, Ajayi paired William Troost-Ekong in the heart of the defence and put a solid performance in both games.
Head coach of the team, Gernot Rohr has a big decision to make on whether to continue with the pairing in Wednesday’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash against the Squirrels of Benin or make a change.
Omeruo believes that having more quality players in the team important for squad development.
“It is good for the team – to have more quality players in the squad. Competition is good and I welcome that,” Omeruo told reporters at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference in Uyo.
“He [Ajayi] is doing well in his club side, so playing against Ukraine and Brazil does not mean he is a threat to me. It shows that every player is important in the team and a replacement is always available
.I think it is a good development to have more than one or two players in a position.”
By Adeboye Amosu
8 Comments
Omeruo is a good defender. But personally, I would prefer Ajayi to pair Troost-Ekong in the heart of the Eagles defense. My reason being that Omeruo is a defender that seems to have a mistake or two in him. There are players like that, very good but once in a while make mistakes that cist their team. Not saying that Ajayi dies not make mistakes, but he seems an assured and confident player. Just my opinion.
Without a doubt the three central defenders are on the same level. Ekong is great in the air, tackling and leadership but he needs to improve his positioning and passing skills. Omeruo is great in tackles and playing skills, okay in positioning and passing but he needs to improve his level of concentration. Ajayi is a goal scoring defender with tremendous passing skills, great aerial control and positioning. Ajayi needs time to make a formidable partnership. We have watched SE conceded cheeky goals when Ekong paired Omeruo, we have witnessed panicking modes when Ekong paired Ajayi, pairing Omeruo with Ajayi is not a bad idea in the absence of highly influential Balogun. Most of our recent clean sheets in recent times were achieved with Balogun in team.
Stephen Eze is another option for SE central defence.
Akpeyi, Aina, Collins, Omeruo, Ajayi, Ndidi, Aribo, Azeez/ Iwobi, Moses/Kalu, Chukwueze/Kalu, Osimhen
@Larry
I like every bit of your comment, you accessed those defenders quite well and a good predicted lineup.
Ekong in my opinion is overrated, if you watch him closely atimes when under pressure, he seems to lost ideas but then I wouldn’t throw away his fine abilities.
Collins is another shaky defender if you as well watch him closely but there’s hardly a player with such things.
I do not see this Benin game as an easy one but I really do hope our boys secure msximum points.
***without
Troost-Ekong has to be in the starting 11. I would take him over Omeruo for his leadership and aerial ability. Omeruo does not dominate in the air and, as I have noted already, he usually has a mistake or two in him in every match which can be costly. A clear example is against South Africa during the failed 2017 AFCON qualifiers and against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup.
Without wasting your time on frivolities, I wana go straight to the point. I think super Eagles weakness is attack. I’m worried about who replaces Osimhen wen injuries set in. I have noticed that paul anuchu does not fit into S.E present style of play because he is very slow and does dovetail with the counter attacking style of Chukwu Eze, Kalu and other attacking outlet. I therefore took something to watch available options on YouTube. From the avalanche of Nigerian strikers I have watched I believe with out doubt that Chidera Ejuke, and cyriel dessers are the most outstanding,in that order because they fit into the S.E present attacking style. Rohr over to you
we need to see players like chidera ejuke and cyriel desser at least be given a chance in the super eagles, maybe in a friendly game. chidera can rival musa, simon, kalu on the left wing becos he scores goals more frequently than them from there. players like dennis bonaventure should be moved to center forward positions and played as strikers becos he has it in him and we have too many wingers in the team already. finally, cyriel should be given a chance in the team. paul onuachu has been tried but hasnt impressed so others should be given equal opportunity.
eagles line-up for todays match (my prediction): Akpeyi, awaziem, semi, troost-ekong (c), collins, ndidi, iwobi, aribo, chukwueze, oshimeh, kalu
Ekong is not good as they rate him he is overated. A good coach will prefer omeruo and ajayi. I dont know why GR allways pick ekong ahead of omeruo. We need a world class coach to blend these guys nigeria has the money to hire a good coach GR is trying but he cant do more than what he has been doing sine 3 year he took over as se coach.