Stock is Up, Down For These Super Eagles Players...
With Nigeria headed back to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), after being absent for two consecutive tournaments, it will be one of the most anticipated participation at a tournament for the national team. Of course, most of the focus will be on the team's performance and results considering that Nigeria won the AFCON at its last participation back in 2013 under the late Stephen Keshi. However, with so many new players emerging during the qualifying games for this tournament, there will be a major fight for spots. Then there is the prospect of a few returning veterans who did not play a game at the qualifying stage. This sets the stage for a focus on playing personnel.
Based on the above situation, it is time to begin periodic evaluation of players and continue this assessment until the matches begin in the summer in Egypt. This first evaluative piece will look at some selected players and determine who has, at this time, made a case to be in the squad if it is picked today (Stock Up). Also, the piece will look at a few who are on the outside looking in because they have declined, at this moment, and face a likelihood of missing the cut if the squad is to be selected today (Stock Down). Here we go:
Stock Up (é)
Samuel Chukwueze: Chukwueze, still under 20 years old, is the emerging star for Nigeria. In the past year, he has risen from reserve football to starter for his club at Villarreal in the Spanish elite tier. He has already earned an appearance for Nigeria. His performances for his club has definitely improved his stock and with a few more games for Nigeria, he is surely looking up to a place in the squad headed for Egypt.
Samuel Kalu: If any player benefitted from the retirement of Victor Moses, that player is Samuel Kalu. He has replaced Victor Moses seamlessly and very few Nigerians miss Victor. Kalu has not only replaced Moses but he has demonstrated versatility by playing very well when asked to feature at wingback in Nigeria's 3-5-1-1 formation against South Africa late last year. He is looking up to easily making the squad if the team is picked today.
Kenneth Omeruo: Kenneth Omeruo has not quite fulfilled the promises that some believe he showed at the 2013 AFCON. However, his current performance is pointing his arrow towards being one of the AFCON veterans returning to the tournament with Nigeria next June in Egypt. Kenneth is playing solidly with his Spanish club at Leganes, just outside Madrid. If he continues with this level of play, then he may not only be assured a spot in the squad but he is likely to be fighting for a starting spot after a year when he started off as the fourth option at central defense.
Odion Ighalo: After the 2018 World Cup, many Nigerians screamed for Ighalo to be banned from the national team after being fingered as one of the reasons Nigeria failed to go beyond the group phase. However, the coach stood with Ighalo. Instead of replacing him, Coach Rohr started him in the first game after the World Cup. Ighalo responded with an explosion of goals that has foisted him into one of the first to be on the list to Egypt if the team is selected today. At his club, he also exploded with goals to mark a remarkable resurrection of a fallen star.
Stock Down (ê)
Onazi Ogenyi: Onazi, for long Nigeria's deputy captain, has been a solid starter at defensive midfield. However, he is one of those who lost their position due to poor play just before the World Cup. Onazi has struggled to regain that position and a major injury at his club by the end of the year has put him into a position where several other competitors moved past him. He now faces the prospect of missing out of the squad for the AFCON with a steep hill to climb to recover.
Ola Aina: Ola Aina is a controversial pick here given that he is one of few Nigerian players doing quite well at his club AC Torino. However, Aina has been an enigma since his debut for Nigeria at a World Cup qualifier against Zambia two years ago. He has been remarkable for his club but it is a different story when in Nigeria's colors. He was handed a start, on account of Shehu Abdullahi's injury, in one of Nigeria's most recent games (v Libya) but did not exact authority. With increasing competition at both wide back positions and Tyronne Ebuehi's return from injury, Aina may find himself on the outside looking in when the AFCON list emerges.
Kelechi Iheanacho: Kelechi was supposed to be Nigeria's prince of soccer following the U17 FIFA World Cup back in 2013. He showed the promise early with goals at both his club then (Manchester City) and Nigeria. However, that seems ancient history. In the last year, Iheanacho's stock has plummeted. His play has been poor for Nigeria and it will not be a surprise if he does not make the list to the AFCON in Egypt. This situation could worsen if the likes of Victor Osimhen get more deserved test runs with the national team.
Daniel Akpeyi: Daniel Akpeyi has been jittery when given the opportunity by Nigeria. Yet, he has remained Nigeria's No. 3. With Nigeria's No. 2, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, moving to Katsina United in order to assure himself more games and with the national Manager Gernot Rohr steadfastly scouting goalkeepers at foreign clubs, it is likely that Akpeyi may face the axe before the AFCON in Egypt. The fact that Akpeyi was not given a start in the South Africa game when Uzoho was unavailable due to injury and that Ezenwa, clubless and failing to play games, was used instead tells the story.
Moses Simon: Moses Simon has gone from starter to reserve in a space of two years or so. But even then, he was used for a change of pace off the bench until he sustained an injury before the World Cup. After the World Cup and the retirement of Victor Moses, analysts believed Simon would regain a starting position. It did NOT happen. Instead, he was not named in match day squads in a couple of AFCON qualifiers. This means that a deluge of competitors at the wings have moved past him and that spells doom for Moses Simon as the AFCON approaches.
Moses Simon: Moses Simon has gone from starter to reserve in a space of two years or so. But even then, he was used for a change of pace off the bench until he sustained an injury before the World Cup. After the World Cup and the retirement of Victor Moses, analysts believed Simon would regain a starting position. It did NOT happen. Instead, he was not named in match day squads in a couple of AFCON qualifiers. This means that a deluge of competitors at the wings have moved past him and that spells doom for Moses Simon as the AFCON approaches.
Comments
Post a Comment