With competition for places heating up in the Super Eagles, 7 potential debutants will be hoping to post powerful performances if selected in any of the upcoming friendlies in October.
Coach Gernot Rohr has been slowly and methodically moulding the Super Eagles into an outfit capable of causing seismic shock in world football in the coming 2 seasons.
The following 7 invitees would be hoping to be part of the history makers. But what are the chances of each of them cementing a place in the emerging star-studded Super Eagles squad?
Let’s examine this.
1)Cyriel Dessers: he will hope his club fortunes improve in coming weeks if he is to attract future Super Eagles invitation. On this occasion, the form he showed last season suggests that he can post a convincing performance if selected to strut his stuff against Ivory Coast or Tunisia.
Verdict: As a centre forward, Dessers faces stiff competition to cement a place in the Super Eagles squad moving forward.
But, as already noted, his goals and assists stats will need to pick up in Belgium and fast to continue to attract future invitations.
2)Chidera Ejuke: having already hit the ground running in Russia, Ejuke will be hoping to replicate the same output for Nigeria if selected for any of the matches.
The winger is an exciting prospect who adds dribbling abilities with incisive wing play which allows him to slice through defences with near-relative ease.
Verdict: the Super Eagles rarely lacks speedsters however strong showings for Ejuke in these friendlies with consistency in club football might well make him a constant feature in Super Eagles lists moving forward.
3)Matthew Yakubu: fans have been raving about this young net-minder on social media leading up to his shock invitation to the Super Eagles.
Having already shown in Slovakia that he can step up to the plate in senior football, he might yet get the opportunity to show his Super Eagles supporters what he is made of in national colours if selected for any of the friendlies.
Verdict: Football’s capacity to suprise never diminishes however Yakubu might just see his Super Eagles chances shrink once the trio of Uzoho, Akpeyi and Ezenwa return to active club duties.
4) Zaidu Sanusi: from obscurity to imminent stardom, very many pundits are banking of Sanusi to take the Super Eagles by storm with a maiden performance that could see him usurp the left fullback position.
Clips of his blistering pace and all round play in the Portuguese Primera Liga have left fans yearning to see him bring stability and bite to the Super Eagles left back position.
Verdict: Sanusi has a very high possibility of being a regular Super Eagle in next 2 seasons. He plays in a position that still needs viable options.
5) Frank Onyeka: this young bright precocious prospect is seen as one for the distant future. As a Centre/Defensive midfielder, he is in a department of some truly ‘heavyweights’. Ndidi, Aribo, Etebo, Azeez and Agu aren’t going anywhere soon. Meaning, he is here for the experience.
Verdict: it is hard to see Onyeka displace any options ahead of him in the midfield at the moment. However, a strong showing in any of the friendlies will keep him within range of future invitations.
6) Samson Tijani: the youngster will look back at this time in years to come with gratitude to those who gave him the opportunity to mingle with Superstar Super Eagles players at this stage of his development.
Verdict: Sampson is here for the ride. However, so was Osimhen not so long ago; see where Osimhen is now!
7) Dele Alampasu: Having conceded 5 goals in his team’s awful Europa League defeat recently, Alampasu would have been relieved that his Super Eagles invitation was already signed, sealed and delivered before that calamity.
He would have gone to the world cup instead of his compatriot in 2018 but limited game-time in Spain at the time was his undoing.
Now back playing regularly in Latvia, Alampasu will hope to re-take the shirt that was once almost his, starting with credible and flamboyant showings if selected in the October friendlies.
Verdict: the goalkeeping department of the Super Eagles appears established if the regulars play active club football. Alampasu still has it all to do to stake a claim as one of the three Super Eagles goalkeepers into the next 2 seasons.
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