Paul Onuachu has revealed that the sensational goal he netted against the Pharaohs of Egypt in an international friendly match in Asaba on March 26 was a product of coach Gernot Rohr’s tactics, Completesports.com reports.
The FC Midtjylland forward scored a sublime goal, on his full international debut, in the Super Eagles’ 1-0 win against the Pharaohs at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba, and he is now determined to work harder and merit a place in the Super Eagles’ squad to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt
The goal was his first for the three-time African champions following his debut for the side in their dead rubber AFCON qualifier against Seychelles last Friday in Asaba.
Aside from the goal, the 24-year-old endeared himself to the fans with his all round display in the game. Fans have already tipped him to make more impact for the team in future.
But Onuachu is prepared to keep working hard and win the trust of Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr who believes there is still need for him to improve.
“It was nice scoring a goal on my full debut. I have received a lot of congratulatory messages since then. People congratulating, writing and sending messages to me,” Onuachu stated in a video interview posted on FC Midtjylland’s Twitter handle.
Also Read: Ighalo: Why I Turned Down Barcelona Offer
” I just have to keep focus, not to let it get over me and try to get more chances in the national team.
“I am determined to be among the squad (for the AFCON). I’m back to my club and it is important to continue the good work. Hopefully, the coach will see that I am putting more effort to play and be among the squad.
Onuachu also explains the making of that stunning goal he scored against Egypt which came eight seconds after kickoff.
“It was a great goal, the coach’s tactics worked. The pass was supposed to come to my head but it came to my feet. I had to think fast, unleashed a shot and it went in
“It was a very good goal for my debut in the national team. I am happy and proud.”
By Adeboye Amosu
10 Comments
Yes bro, there is a chip of yekini in you. Almost same height, long powerful legs, ferocious shots from distance and headers. Your goal was a reminiscent of yekinis’ in Senegal 92 against Gabon ,I think.keep it up.
I noticed that you have a problem with pace and that means you are not good on counter attack, you have to work on it.
Great goal great revelation, that the goal was a fall out of the Coaches tactics is a show of what the Coach is made up of.Glad to know that such a tactics can be planned by the Coach and above all much more sublime to know that we have the players to put such tactics into action.
I hope coach Rohr tactics would continue to yields goals. As long as you keep scoring goals the more Nigerians keeps loving you.
I don’t believe in too much bla bla bla. I will advise you Paul to do the talk on the pitch.
I’m using this opportunity to reaching out to Oga Rohr to start working on his tactics. I will support you if you keep listening to we Nigerian fans.
We told you that Super Eagles needed the service of Paul Onuachu and our voices has been heard, you invited him to camp and he responded well by scoring a lone goal against Egypt. Good job coach. Please continue listening to us because we won’t betray you.
Now, the work haven’t finished there.
Your bench must be strong as your first eleven. The goalkeeping department is very weak. I know you can do more, God will help and Nigerian fans are behind you.
But if you changed your attitude again chai, kasala go burst be thati o. It shall be well with us all. God bless Nigeria
He is average to me. If you can’t attract interest from top clubs, then there something wrong with your game. Not a Super Eagles material to me.
CJ ur question was correct.. Why didn’t the coach give or tell Ighalo his tactics.. Na bcos the new boy score now and he wana talk bla bla to impressed the coach.. Oh boi Paul u scored goal on ur own nothing concern the goal with the coach ok..no every striker can score that counter attack goal
I dont know what Ighalo is doing in that team. The kind of pass that led to Onuachu’s goal would never have been converted by Ighalo. Rhor should give young hungry players the chance.
Na wa for Nija fans, that can never support our own. This Ighalo you guys are blasting was the highest goal scorer in the qualifiers, with 7 goals ahead of Salah, Mane, Abumayang or Zara. And he achieved it in only 4games out of the 6games played.
So CJ, you are wrong, the coach tactics is also showing on Ighalo too.
I know many of us have not forgiven him for world cup misses. But he has done enough to prove his worth. Second highest goal scorer last season in China and even this season with 2goals in 3 appearances. Let’s not forget that he turned down offers from top clubs like Tothenham and even Barcelona in the last January window. So his stay in China is not because of lack of opportunity in Europe.
So we need to show both coach Rohr and Ighalo some respect because they deserve it at least for now. Fly Super Eagles.
The coaches tactics converted Ighalo from a misfiring centre forward for the Super Eagles, to one that couldn’t stop scoring.Between Musa and Ighalo (they worked together) developed a fantastic partnership, scoring and providing assists for each other.
Ighalo was for a long time stuck on 8 goals in 22 games for the SE and found his range after the world cup. You have to have the personnel before tactic will work. Since the world cup, we have had 8 players out (Joel Obi, Simy, Echejile, Iheanacho, Bruan Idowu, Victor Moses, Mikel and Ebuehi – last Two unavailable). They have been relaced by 8 players in (Onuachu, Onyekuru, Ola Aina, Samuel Kalu, Semi Ajayi, Jamilu Collins, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze – Last two on the fringes).
With the gradual change of personnel over the past 9 months comes a change in tactics. Hopefully now we will see the Super Eagles working on attacking from set pieces (throwins, corners and free kicks) as well as partnerships on the pitch. Apparently Chukwueze and Osimhen have a great working relationship, Musa and Ighalo have done well in the past six games, Collins and Onyekuru as well (Collins assist for Onyekuru’s goal) and now Ogu and Onuachu?
Little partnerships of two and hopefully eventually three players working together to create chances for each other in order to make things happen on the pitch
One of the drawbacks of having a tall striker like Paul Onuachu on the pitch is that irritating temptation to always play high balls because of their height.
Indeed, players like Onuachu would themselves tell you that, not only do the fans find it annoying, they also find it annoying.
They are quick to remind people that there are as good on the ground as they are on the air; even better.
“The pass was supposed to come to my head”: the 6 feet 7 inches striker said in the article above; “but it came to my feet, “: he said going on to explain how he exercised quick thinking to score the goal.
It may have been a move conceived by coach Rohr, but the implementation and improvisation of it by Onuachu was simply and utterly brilliant.
Expecting a high ball upon impact, the Skyscraper striker adjusted his thought process to meet this now lower ball, left a defender for dead with a powerful drive before unleashing a fearsome shot powerful enough to beat any goalkeeper on the planet!
What that tells me is that this kid has got technique, speed of thought and presence of mind to be flexible and adaptable in the face of changing circumstances to devastating effect.
It is a powerful way to introduce oneself to international football.
My only worry is that players like Onuachu are not necessarily super-subs. They need to start from the beginning to make the sort of impact he made versus Egypt.
That said, his impact as a Sub may be enhanced if he is introduced early enough after the coach has elected to change a formation that is not working.
All these bearing in mind that Ighalo will be the de facto number 9.
Whichever the case, this 1 goal per 2 games in the Scandinavian league striker will be an interesting addition to the Super Eagles should he make the cut for the Afcon in June.