Did Eguavoen Invite The Best Legs For Benin and Rwanda Clashes?

Between now and March’s World Cup qualifiers, some of Eguavoen’s foot-soldiers should start firing on all cylinders in club football. Although he can afford to tag struggling-weights along to these afcon qualifier rumpus, sharp-as-nails players are a must to resurrect our world cup hopes next year.

Sadiq Umar and Kelechi Iheanacho have providence to thank for their invitations this time around. Objectively, they haven’t done near enough to be called upon. Between them, they have 0 goals and 0 assists in 24 league games in Spain this season having made match day squads – no greater indication of their struggles need be sought.

Although Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a firm fan-favourite,being rooted to the bench in 7 out of his last 9 league matches doesn’t bode well in the long run.

For these games against Benin and Rwanda, the list is manageable considering we only need 1 point to sail through.

But, for next year’s assignments, Eguavoen will do well to eschew freeloaders. I do not mean to be harsh on these wonderful players but being starved of game-time in club football and not doing the business in front of goal for our strikers are likely to affect their sharpness for national team assignments.

And sharpness is non-negotiable should we habour realistic ambitions to turning around our fortunes in crucial world cup qualifiers.