After three years away from the National Team, Gernot Rohr announced last week that former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo will be named in the squad for upcoming international games.
The striker, currently playing in the Saudi Arabia for Al Shabab announced his retirement from international games in 2019 after the African Cup of Nations where he helped the country to a third place finish, scoring five goals.
Ighalo, now 32, won a total of 35 caps for the Eagles, scoring 16 times between 2015 to 2019, has now been named in the squad for the world cup qualifying games against Liberia and Cape Verde later this month.
In the wake of his return, we take a look at the impact on the structure, selection and future of the team.
Current Options
Victor Osimhen
Presently, Nigeria are blessed with strikers who are absolutely bossing it in Europe. Victor Osimhen, 22, is the first choice in the attack and very deserving. Probably Nigeria’s best player presently.
The Napoli man has been in an astonishing form for both club and country this season. Young and hungry, he has all it takes to become a world beater. And in Europe, many have taken cognizance of his potentials.
16 caps for the Eagles since his debut in 2017 has produced eight goals and six assists. A very impressive figure from the former Lille player. Osimhen is also the most expensive African player in history and the future looks very bright for the striker, who has scored nine goals in 12 club games this term.
Kelechi Iheanacho
Even if he has no issues being deployed in the same eleven with another striker, Iheanacho is one of Nigeria’s best attacker and 11 goals have been produced from his 36 caps.
Currently playing in the best league in Europe moreso a player that gives manager Brendan Rodgers the extra factor. He has become an inevitable starter in a Leicester City side that is blessed with lots of options in attack.
No question to his talent and what he is capable of doing with his left foot. At 25, he is one of the best the country possess, and surely among the focal point of the future of the National Team.
Paul Onoachu
Another option is Paul Onoachu. The striker produced an outrageous 40 goal contribution in 41 games for Genk last season. He scored 35 goals and registered five assists on his way to winning the top scorer and the best player in the Belgian top division. He has also hit the ground running this season with impressive numbers in the league.
His 15 caps for the National Team so far have come mostly as a substitute and produced three goals. Chances have been hard to come by for the striker due to the presence of Victor Osimhen but he is also a very talented striker and any country will be proud having such as their main man. Luckily for the country, he is only good enough to be back up.
Now 27, surely he will have the feeling he is getting less than deserved due to his performances at club level but Osimhen, for playing in a top five league and being a first comer, moreso a younger option that can serve longer will always have the edge over Onoachu.
Taiwo Awoniyi
One of the best performing Nigerian players in Europe this season. Having spent the last season on loan at the club from Liverpool, Taiwo Awoniyi joined Union Berlin on a permanent this summer as he has already hit the ground running, scoring seven goals in 10 Bundesliga games and 12 goals in 17 games across all competitions.
The 24 year old is an achiever with the country as he was a part of the Under-17 and Under-20 teams that won the FIFA Under-17 world cup and the African Under-20 Championship in 2013 and 2015 respectively.
He received his first call-up to the National Team last month and appeared once as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Central African Republic in Nigeria.
The player is evolving into a high-profile name and will be looking to be more established internationally as he moves forward in his career.
Terem Moffi
The 22year old striker scored 14 goals in 26 Ligue un starts last season and was called up to the National Team earlier in the year. Already has three caps and with age on his side, he should be expected to have more to his name in the course of his career.
Emmanuel Dennis
The Watford striker has earned just three caps, all as a substitute amounting to only 25 minutes. He has been in a good form since moving to the Premier League to join Watford at the start of ongoing season. He has scored three goals and as many assist in eight league starts.
He was last involved with National Team in the November international break last year and for a striker fit and firing, he deserves more from the National Team manager.
Impact on the team
The current options for the country are much younger and standout performers in their respective leagues and clubs. It is evidence that Nigeria have the right players to select from, moving on from the aged striker.
While confirming the return of the striker, Rohr said; “We miss his leadership, experience and goals. He was the best goal scorer at the last AFCON and World Cup Qualifiers.”
“We have so many young players and they could learn a lot. Ighalo is a very important man, I hope he can comeback. I have put him in the provisional list for the next games. We still keep in touch and he has ambition to help his country.”
“We have some many good strikers like Awoniyi, Moffi, Osimhen and Onuachu. Osimhen is our number one striker. Ighalo is different, he is a special player. With Ighalo’s maturity and experience, he could help us.”
As much as the experience added by Odion Ighalo can never be underappreciated, it is a no brainer to think he could add more than the current options Nigeria have put together.
His presence in the squad means less game time for the regular strikers and even no chance at all for those lurking and patiently waiting for opportunities. If to be candid, his presence could be summed as to upset the structure of the group.
Gernot Rohr has been criticized for the poor performances of the team but bringing back Odion Ighalo is not the right solution to the problem. The team struggle to play together moreso difficult for them to create chances. It is not for a striker to solve these crisis.
The inability of Gernot Rohr to perform his duty as the manager to distinction should not cost the players their future and position with their country. And even if it is deserving, Nigeria has surely move on from Ighalo. This (his recall) is a step in the wrong direction.
The likes of Taiwo Awoniyi, Henry Onyekuru, Peter Olayinka, Samuel Kalu and Terem Moffi have been called up recently but are missing in the latest squad for the international games, the inability to keep and work with a certain group of players will also have it’s toll on the poor showings.
Bringing back a player who will not be here on the long run is surely not a good decision and might not be a quick fix after all. A lot of young strikers, who should have time to work and gel with the National Team will be casted out with the return of Ighalo, which is not healthy for the future.
Nigeria is blessed with young and talented squad, arguably more than any other country in Africa and though the experience of a veteran might be needed, however, what is the use when the veteran will be coming in, in the same position as your best player. To whom do you afford more playing time ?
How many teams will choose Odion Ighalo over the current Victor Osimhen ? It will be interesting to see what Rohr makes of his starting XI when he has brought in a veteran whilst in possession of a young genius.
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
1 Comment
I think bringing in Ighalo is the best option we we've depth in Attack already…. But looking at them right dey lack experience that's the need for Ighalo rite now, he can't actually play the games but is experience is needed in the front line during training on and off the pitch it's a good call i must say.