Super Eagles forward Henry Onyekuru scored a hat-trick in his first league start in 2019 for Galatasaray who spanked Ankaragucu 6-0 on Saturday, reports Completesports.com.
The treble took Onyekuru’s tally to nine in 17 league appearances.
The 21-year-old doubled his side’s lead in the 21st minute after Sinan Gumus had shot Galatasaray into an early lead after 60 seconds.
Gumus made it 3-0 five minutes later.
At the start of the second half, the Nigeria forward made it 4-0 on the hour mark before completing his hat-trick three minutes later.
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Badou Ndiaye completed the rout with a sixth in the 86th minute.
Onyekuru has been capped seven times by the Super Eagles.
The former KAS Eupen and RSC Anderlecht player is on loan from English Premier League club, Everton.
By Johnny Edward
25 Comments
You have to be consistent bro, keep firing !your place in the squad to AFCON is under threat.
He can play as a striker or as a winger. Six matches as a striker this season he scored 4 goals in four games. Now today as a winger he has a hat trick.
9 goals in 21 games all competitions (all in the league) is not a bad Turin for a left winger.
He should be an automatic pick, but unfortunately he plays the same position as the captain (Musa) who will be first choice for left wing. Moses Simon also gives options defensively.
He (Henry) should make the AFCON squad based on a one goal every two games strike rate
Oh yes. I watched closely Levante’s Copa Del Rey’s matches across both legs against Barcelona and I must say that I was very impressed to see the defensive side of Moses Simon’s game.
In the second leg, he was reported to have won 9 duels, made one clearance, 3 interceptions and also completed two of his three tackles.
Developing a defensive edge to his game can only make Moses Simon, who is said to be a favourite of Rohr, more attractive as an option to the German tactician who has 3-5-2 as one of his preferred formations.
Just look at this line up:
Goalkeeper: Uzoho
Defenders: Ekong, Omeruo, Balogun,
Wingbacks: Kalu (right), M.Simon(left)
Holding midfield: Ndidi, Etebo
Attacking midfield: Iwobi (or Mikel**)
Support striker: Iheanacho (or Musa)
Arrow head: Ighalo (or Junior Lokosa**).
Notes:
– I will be comfortable playing Mikel in an offensive role against African oppositions because the pace of the game should be manageable for him.
– Lokosa is a pragmatic centre forward who should fancy his chances against African defences is “some” matches. If Lokosa should start, I would always substitute him for any of Isaac Success/Onyekuru/Osimhen after 60 minutes.
Moses Simon’s defensive and all round display against Barcelona :
https://youtu.be/mbt58JZjHtE
Please remove iheanacho from your list.
l concord. The National coach will agree with you too.
Good list, only for me its missing a crucial player and I’d make a further change in the striking dept.
crucial missing for me is Samuel Chukwueze and I’d pick him ahead of Iheanacho to strike from the right side of the pitch.
Also I’d pick Stephen Odey ahead of Junior Lokosa purely on match fitness, sharpness and consistency. Odey has not stopped playing or scoring since his days at MFM FC and continues to be the most inform out and out striker that we have alongside Osimhen. Lokosa has been “relatively inactive” owing to the league beeing defunct for 7 months. Hopefully his move to Tunisia will see him getting much needed playing time in order for him to find his shooting and playing boots again
Ah! You have sacrificed Rohr’s regular starter at right-wing back, Jamiliu Collins for Simon Moses. Would Rohr consider this option? I like S.Moses a lot too, but I hope he can combine his intelligent wing plays in the SE well with a new defensive role.
Omeruo? I never really get comfortable with him in the center back as it seems opposing strikers see him as the weak link in the defence line. He’s often the guy beaten to get into SE 18 yard box. Messi at Russia 2018 and Tau at the last game in Russia comes to mind. But granted, he’s a workaholic.
For the midfield, I’ll play Mikel in Holding position, and try Iwobi and Ndidi in the offensive midfield role (both can score). Etebo drops to the bench.
Yes, a glut of options everywhere. Another golden era may be on the horizon. Except that options are still very limited for the goalkeeping and top striker position. The first choices are ok, but certainly not at the level of Ikeme, Enyeama, Rashidi Yekini, maybe even Aghahowa and Emenike.
I agree with you on Junior Lokosa. Althoughopped him for the World Cup, the glimpses of potentials he showed in the DRC friendly is something to be excited about. It’s great he’s playing pro in Tunisia now, I read Rohr recommended him to the club. I hope he’s brought in to offer more options to Ighalo.
Iheanacho? Lol. You have so much faith in this guy when fans are fast losing confidence in him. But I think along with Onazi, Echiejile and Awaziem, Iheanacho may be one of the big name drops for the final Afcon 2019 squad, except he steps up his game as Onyekuru is currently doing.
Chai!!!. Don’t let Chima E. Samuel catch you with this list, else he will skin you alive. How on earth could you propose a winning team without including Igbekeme, Emmanuel Daniel, Musa Muhammed et al? U no try oh.
Very decent formation with depth of quLity players however, I felt vastly improved player Mikel Agu should be on the list given his physical attributes of strong physicality and ability to break up play like Ndidi. He offers alot of option in the midfield with his impressive football sense having been around in Portugal for quite a while. I hope he finds the consistency to earn him a place aboard AFCON 2019. The last Eagles friendlies showed what he could offer the team in Ndidi’s absence, and subsequently hope he gets a chance in the proposed Egypt match, perhaps with Ndidi together in the middle dovetailing Mikel obi.
My friend iheanacho have lost his redeem due to money i guess, we only need serious players in our team,players who will keep fit and not go big because he his getting paid,oyekuru,kalu,simon moses and few more are kinda better than him now,i X Victor Moses long time ago cos we don’t think we even need him anymore
@Charles
Is it right to gloat at someone’s misfortune? I don’t think money has got anything to do with Ihaenacho’s current rough patch. He should believe in himself and work harder. Let’s hope he turns the corner before AFCON. Once upon a time, we begged players to don the national colours. With the current glut of quality players, that era has passed.
He his too big and his movement is not that good again, you should try train and slim down
A lot of players depend on confidence to “ginger” them. When the going is good, they will be unbeatable, but when they hit a barren patch, they rely on mental motivation from teammates or the manager.
Look for example at the last three matches of Man United under Mourinho and the first seven under Ole.
I wouldn’t put Kelechi’s problem down to money, he just needs an arm around his shoulder, to be told he’s not turned into a bad player over night and the team instructed to play him in on goal. A bit like how Musa carried Ighalo and gave assists galore to enable him find his shooting range.
Another example is Vincent Enyeama, who said his neglect by the new coach when he was ill and being banished from the first team upon his return contributed to his career stagnating.
He didn’t become a bad goal keeper over night, it was a fall in confidence and it right and I’m happy that he is motivated again to get back into a club to prove himself
@BigD, thanks – knowing Rohr, he tends to keep faith with players he has worked with so on that premise, I think a Lokosa (if he gets game time in Tunisia) still has my opportunity than a Stephen Odey.
@Kel, thanks – it will take more than one poor season for me to give up on a player with potentials as promising as Iheanacho. He has had a poor season by his standard and even his club had to recall Harvey Barnes – who was lively again yesterday – from his loan to further dim the chances of first team for Iheanacho.
But, at the age of 22, it is better for him to face such challenges at this stage of his career so that, hopefully, lessons learnt will make him a far better player in seasons to come.
@Akin, don’t be dramatic. Please leave Chima alone. This platform is like a motorway (express road) that can accommodate diverse views regardless of the make, model or driver of the vehicle transmitting such views.
We can’t all sleep and face the same direction; in fact, different directions can often lead to the same market….
How come CSN hasn’t posted about super falcons beating Romania 4-1. Lazy journalism.
@Deo, i saw the video of moses game against Barca, I think he is still a bit short of match fitness.
Alternatively Rohr can also adopt this formation depending on the strenghtS and weaknesses of our opponent. 4-3-1-2
Goakeeper- Francis Usoho
DEFENDERS- Ebuehi/Aina/odubanjo, Balogun, EKong, Collins
MIDFIELDERS- ETEBO/kalu, Mike/Agu, Ndidi
ATTACKING MIDFIELDER/ NO 10- iWOBI/SAMUEL CHUKWU
FRONT TWO- Ahmed Musa, Odion Ighalo
@Dotun, Moses Simon is being reserved for the Copa Del Rey matches. If I remember correctly he only has one or two la Liga matches this season, but has appeared in all Copa del Rey matches. Its left to be seen how he will be utilized by the club now that Levante have been knocked out of the cup.
He appeared 90 minutes in both matches against Barcelona last week, the first match he played very well (the video above). The second match he was not so effective
Little Henry is a big man for any occasion. The quick feet winger cum striker has shown himself to be a proven goal scorer with his recent goal conversion ratio in the Turkish league that features alot of African players.
With style of play similar to Neymar, Henry has a skill set that leaves many admirers filled with awe.
With his current form, his chances of breaking into Eagles first team looks brighter with competition for place with Samu Chukweze, Samuel Kalu, Simon Moses, and Ahmed Musa.
It wouldn’t be easy for him, if you looked at Rohr’s last team list the guy is on standby list. He can only break in if he continues with this form he is now. I noticed that Rohr don’t like his playing style, he don’t like players who hold the ball the more he prefers one touch football. But let’s watch and see.
l agreed with your view on Henry. He ahead of his peers.
Moses was hot shot for clubs around Europe,the idea of him going to Levante and still seat down on the bench gives me headache.He his a very good player but with stupid coach intact no way he his going to have lots of matches in his card.Oyekuru should just keep playing that way i like that guy, Simon kalu that one in another level with his game,wonderful player and he his not scared to attack.I watched ola aina yesterday against Roma wow that guy need to in super eagles first team by now.Well done Nigeria well done super eagles 🙂
Just watching dele alampasu in goal for his club,i hope he keeps the first team shirt.as for simon he is no playing enough games in la liga,i think he may loose his spot in d national team.
Just watching dele alampasu in goal for his club,i hope he keeps the first team shirt.as for simon he is not playing enough games in la liga,i think he may loose his spot in d national team.
Yes, I watched the last 30 minutes of the match as Alampasu saved what was surely a goal-bound effort in like 90 minutes.
Is this the start of something good? I sure hope so.
We are not taking about division 2 or 3 here; this is Portugal Primera liga.
He still appears elastic and agile. With more games under his belt in that league, a recall to his place in the national team shouldn’t raise eyebrows.
Alampasu, having kept a clean-sheet in his team’s 0:0 draw, was rated an impressive 7.04 by whoscored.com in today’s match.
Fantastic, talk about timing!! He’s picked the first team shirt in time to force a call.
I hope he keeps it. Here is me running to find out how he was called up from the under 23 squad to the senior team