Former Nigeria international John Ogu has clamoured for the inclusion of Paul Onuachu into the Super Eagles squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Onuachu continued his impressive scoring form for Trabzonspor after bagging a brace in their 3-1 home win against Konyaspor, in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday.
After Konyaspor took the lead following an own goal by a Trabzonspor player, Onuachu level the score after converting a 43rd minute penalty.
The Nigeria international then put Trabzonspor 2-1 ahead five minutes into the second half.
His brace means he has now scored 11 goals and has onw assist in 14 league appearances in the Turkish topflight this campaign.
Reacting after Onuachu’s double strikes Ogu, a bronze medal winner at the AFCON 2019, posited that the striker’s club form should be enough reason for him to make the Super Eagles squad for next month’s AFCON.
“Let’s discuss Onuachu’s club Form. For me I think he deserves a spot for the AFCON !!” Ogu wrote on his X handle.
Also Read: 8 Super Eagles’ Memorable Moments In AFCON History
Onuachu was not part of the Super Eagles squad that featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs in Morocco.
However, he featured in some of the matches during the group stage of the World Cup quaiifiers but did not score any goal.
He was a member of the Super Eagles team to the 2019 and 2023 AFCONs in Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire respectively.
By James Agberebi
5 Comments
I don’t think the optics will look good for Nigeria if a high-flying centre forward like Onuachu is excluded from the Afcon parties.
The worst-kept secret in the world of Super Eagles fan community is, wait for this, that Onuachu is not regarded as good enough to represent the Super Eagles in spite of his exploits in club football. And I get it. I have been known to refer to Onuachu as a high-maintenance striker who needs a massive adjustment in tactics and formation to accommodate his languid brand of centre forward play.
But the lad is keen and always plays with his heart on his sleeve, which I think has to count for something.
Onuachu has been scoring a variety of goals in Turkey this season: headers, bicycle kicks, low shots, high shots and even penalties. Imagine if he had been the one to play the first penalty against Congo or the one positioned to head the ball that Arokodare wasted in the extra time of the same match.
My point? I don’t think Paul Onuachu is a total waste of space. I also think that perhaps only minimal adjustments need be made to accomodate him, after all, Jose Peseiro manufactured a function for Onuachu in the last Afcon.
But, something tells me Onuachu is not Eric Chelle’s type of player. Based on the profile of the centre forwards he has used, I think the Malian manager wants pace, movement, versatility, unpredictability, neat touches, take-on abilities, and dependable aerial prowess, some of which Onuachu provides, several of which he doesn’t.
Nothing personal against Onuachu, but Chelle appears to also be going for relatively unknown quantities in certain cases. The Malian also has a measure of “loyalty” about him, so I won’t be surprised to see an underfiring Arokodare selected ahead of Onuachu.
But, if selected, I think Onuachu knows he has something to prove, and he will only be too eager to prove it with goals!
No, he doesn’t deserve any dot/spot in Nigerian SE squad. Paul Onuachu is one of the strikers who wrecked Nigerian chances of making it to FIFA world cup in couldn’t score even against lowly Lesotho at home turf in Uyo under coach Paseiro- but for a defender (Semi Ajayi ) who scored the equalising goal Nigeria would have suffered the ignominy of losing at home to lowly Lesotho.
Onuachu is a lazy, languid and unproductive striker. Take Akor, or even Terem Moffi instead as support strikers to Osimhen, never Onuachu!
When will Chelle make public his 55 man list when we know it’s most of the 2026 world cup qualifiers failures that will be in the final squad?
Teams with largely home based players will be adequately prepared for this month’s AFCON.
South African league will take a break this Wednesday to focus on preparations.
Hugo broos has just named his FINAL squad list.
Nigeria will play Egypt friendly on the 14th with not our main team players whose teams will be playing league matches the same weekend, which means fewer days for afcon preparation with full house.
Should I still be hopeful the eagles can compensate for the world cup miss with afcon 2025 win again?
I seriously doubt it even if football is not mathematics.
Who says other teams we’d face won’t have off-day when we play them all the way to the championship match?
Cautious optimism first because I may see an unrecognizable list from Chelle in this his “reach afcon final or go home” redemption tourney
ERIC CHELLE SHOULD NOT BE CARRIED AWAY WITH THE PRESENT GOALSCORING FORM OF PAUL ONUACHU.. HE IS EUROPEAN CLUB GOALSCORING DECIEVER.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAS BEEN BECOMING TOP SCORER IN DIFFERENT CLUB SIDES.
HIS LAST PAST TEN MATCHES PERFORMANCE PLAYED IN SUPER EAGLE IS ZERO, IT IS NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT. HIS STYLE OF PLAY DOESN’T SUIT SUPER EAGLE SETTING, AS IT WAS COMPLAINED BY FORMER SUPER EAGLE COACH GERNOT ROHR.
If Chelle goes to the Nations Cup with the aim of playing attacking football am sure you won’t go past quarter finals. Let him humble himself by playing defensively because we don’t have the midfielders and most of these countries in Africa know once they bully our midfielders they succumb easily .
We don’t need to play attractive football for now all we need is to just keep winning