Representing the senior national team is a rare opportunity that every football player always craves for in life regardless of where they play their football in the world.
This rare moment could either make or mar a player’s life if not well utilized because there are a thousand and one players waiting in the wings to grab such opportunity if extended to them.
However, Enyimba winger, Anayo Emmanuel Iwuala showed why such a chance must not be wasted after he was invited by Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr as a replacement for Sadiq Umar at the just concluded 2021 Africa cup of Nations qualifiers.
Iwuala dazzled and showed a glimpse of skills in the few minutes that he played for the Super Eagles against the Squirrels of Benin in Porto-Novo and the Crocodile of Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
His lightning speed and aggressive display could have been well appreciated if he had set up his teammate in the 18-yard box rather than going for glory to cap his debut appearance. Yet to be a finished product, Iwuala’s performance is a testament to the array of talents in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) that are yet to be unearthed.
He’s a player that can be worked on by Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr in order to reach the level expected by him. He may not be as experienced as the foreign-based players, however, there is always room for improvement.
With the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers over and the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers scheduled to begin in May, Iwuala could become Rohr’s joker if only he could help him achieve his best. The Enyimba star can be injected into the team gradually during international friendly matches where some of his raw talents could be dusted by Rohr.
Recall that he was also brilliant in Enyimba’s victory over Entente Setif in the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday. A brilliant dribble and perfect pass by Iwuala allowed Tosin Omoyele to score and earn Enyimba’s victory.
Without a doubt, Iwuala may offer Rohr a better option not as a training material but as a utility player that will add more value to the Super Eagles.
By Augustine Akhilomen
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COMMENTS
Shhhhh don’t say nothing……some evil people that don’t want others to grow will say he is miles behind the standard to make it in Europe cuz he is a local lad. Bro I see you progressing. All I can do is wish another man good. Keep working hard bro working extra hard has hardly failed anyone and the people that claimed you were a flash in the pan or are hopping you fizzle out will retract their statements in future.
On point My Guy… The boy is a baller
Oga this your comment truth no dey inside ataaaaaaal….
If u really want the growth of another man, then why must u join the ban wagon in blaming a foreigner in everything he does that are right?
Why must u fault him even when u know deep down your heart that this team is progressing considering where we were, who we were and how we were ridicule in the soccer world by fellow african countries?
If u actually want the growth of others then u must always appreciate our SE for whatever they does right…
My candid opinion though….
:::SHALOM:::
I am a fan of Rohr….I don’t understand what you are saying. Constructive criticism even as a fan is still allowed.
I laughed when I saw worked on by Rohr..Rohr never understand tactics na to work on a player.lol make una leave meoo
Morinho once told his players to score dirty goals that he’s not interested in fancy or beautiful goals.
To him, result is most preferred.
Let’s come home now…
Is it not better to have a coach that knows nothing next to tactics, formation or game plan & game management but keep producing visible, tangible and mouth-watering result and even turn qualifiers to major tournament that use to look like somebody climbing KILMANJARO MOUNTAIN to ordinary “inter house sport” than to have a group of quardiolas(african) that knows all football tactics, formation, game management & game plan and even have good portfolio but struggle against EQUATORIAL GUINEA, TANZANIA and even make MINOs like SUDAN, CONGO(not Congo DR that has quality players… Just common Congo), GARBON et all look as if we’re playing against BRAZIL, GERMANY, NERTHALAND, FRANCE and at the end of it all we see ourselve in 70th position in the world and start wondering how we manage to desend low to the point of occupying 16th position in africa???
Which one is better biko??
Answers need fast pls.
Anayo is a talented street footballer, his football talent na follow come
Our Ajegunle and Agege players are making us proud.
Coach Westerhof made his strong team through our Ajegunle and Agege league and he rules the the whole world.
They claimed that our league is very bad but they discovered Iwuala.
No matter what, we still have talents in Nigeria.
NFF should put Yobo in charge of the home based players so that he can build us a solid team for the Chan tournament.
Since our our world class coach says home based players not good enough then, Yobo should step in and build a rock team for us and wow his critics.
NFF and Oga Rohr are making life difficult for our home based players because, they believe home based players are not good enough.
Time will tell in Afcon when the service of our home based players will be needed.
Fingers crossed. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Omo9ja sometimes you surprise me with your comments. Westerhof used ajegunle boys during his time. It shows you don’t even know the strategy westerhof used then. Westerhof used predominantly foreign based players and occasionally inject exceptional players who do very well from the local scene. Finidi and iroha and Moses’ kpakor were good examples.
In those days westerhof used an A team comprising mostly establishedforeign based players. The second team comprised players who are based abroad but who are just establishing themselves in europe. Oliseh and amuneke were examples. The third team comprised local players when our league bwas still active.
A team played world cup qualifiers. B team played majorly the nations cup qualifiers. C team were used in the wafu cup and ecowas cup.
That was the organization in place then by westerhof.
On rohr working on iwuala. I think bee need to understand the work of rohr very well. Yes he should help him but in a situation when there are so many options a coach has to choose from especially in iwuala position.
Iwuala needs to work on himself and make himself fit for national team. I think he did that during the qualifiers.
Omo9ja stop criticising just for the sake criticising.
Truth be told, this young man cannever miss the next flight that either take him to MALTA, LITHUANIA, LATVIA or GIORGIA…
Just mark my words….
With just 2 caps for SE, Enyimba is already asking for €1m….
Bhuahahahahahahaha….
Mediocre league; behold he comes….
Buahahahahaha…..
We knew their intention from onset….
Put the coach under intensed pressure and force in your local player in the disguise of “QUOTO”, send him to one of the mediocre league where the player will vanish like vapour and collect your cool mamon case close….
Is this not the same old path they want to toe with this their so call talent???
I’ll remind this forum later….
:::SHALOM:::
The young man is already for sale during this summer. Bidders are coming in from India, Sudan, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia. Source closed to his ex-international player Agent is said to be hoping and wishing that bidding Clubs could come from Germany even if it is from their third or fourth Division. His present club is extremely and anxiously waiting for any club willing to pay half a million dollars on the basis of “cash and carry” only. In the meanwhile, the young man is very happy for the attention that is following him about. He just told his girl friend that he hated being referred to as “Home-based Player” for God sake. Hahahaha.
And tomorrow their advocates would pour in from north, south east and west begging, weeping, wailing and even gnarshing and grinding their teeth for Rohr to invite another homebase just to distract the team while they’re busy making their useless money.
If this young man venture leaves this country to any mediocre league and i see anybody blaming Rohr for not giving room for homebase, i’ll personnaly place “CURSE” for such individual….
For peace to reign, his agent must sought out contract that would take him to any of the top 5 leagues or take him to {BELGIUM, NERTHALAND, TURKEY(AND MUST BE FIRST DIVISION} else…
I’ve said it… And i’ll do it….
U can’t come and distract us just to make your money then fizzle out to oblivion…
Enough is enough….
This yeye must stop….
:::: I come in WAR::::
I am with you UBFE on this. God bless. My eyes on Iwuala. Just watching.
And tomorrow their advocates would pour in from north, south east and west begging, weeping, wailing and even gnarshing and grinding their teeth for Rohr to invite another homebase just to distract the team while they’re busy making their useless money.
If this young man venture leaves this country to any mediocre league and i see anybody blaming Rohr for not giving room for homebase, i’ll personnaly place “CURSE” for such individual….
For peace to reign, his agent must sought out contract that would take him to any of the top 5 leagues or take him to {BELGIUM, NERTHALAND, TURKEY(AND MUST BE FIRST DIVISION} else…
I’ve said it… And i’ll do it….
U can’t come and distract us just to make your money then fizzle out to oblivion…
Enough is enough….
This yeye must stop….
:::: I come in WAR::::
Anayo Iwuala is one amongst many talented players in the home league who would give some foreign players a run for their money. The only issue is Gernot Rohr . He may not want to give anyone of them a chance . And yet again again I question his tactics as a coach .
There’s even a player in Kwara United , a Brazilian who wants to play for the Super Eagles. I watched his game and I tell you , he’s really good .
There’s a lot to be done with our players . Esp the home based ones . Why don’t they revive the CHAN team . First step
Next give these guys more chance to blend with the foreign ones. And see whether one will not have multiple options .
If the Brazilian is so good, he should get a call to play for his home country Brazil. Abeg bros shift,
Anayo Iwuala must go overseas as soon as possible !!! It is good for him, his family, but also financially good for Enyimba. On the longer term playing professional soccer overseas is good for the Super Eagles. Football is more busineas than sports.
It is a given that he MUST go overseas. I was not joking when I wrote earlier that if he didn’t go overseas, a head shrink should be summoned for him.
Our engineers have stints overseas.
Our journalists have stints overseas.
Our doctors have stints overseas.
Our. . . . .
It is no crime to polish yourself overseas, get yourself up to world standard.
Most Nigerians never heard of Anayo Iwuala until he was called up to join the Super Eagles. He must not hsng around here much longer This is his opportunity to grow up.