With many players hoping to play a part
on football’ s biggest stage , heart breaks, disappointment and a fair
bit of tantrum follows the announcement of the list of players heading
to the World Cup. For the Super Eagles Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr
worked his list from 30 players , trimming five players before he
dropped another two before he named the final 23 players . But are they
the best selection of players to Russia? Here are five players who
should have made the list .
Junior Lokosa The Kano Pillars
forward earned an invite to the Super Eagles after he had scored 18
goals in 20 games in the Nigeria Professional Football League . Lokosa
was dropped after Gernot Rohr trimmed the 30 -man list to an initial 25
players before the final 23 - man list . Lokosa got very little in the
way of proving his mettle in the Super Eagles setup before he was cut -
off. He made his debut on the bumpy Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium against
DR Congo in an unfamiliar role on the right side of attack and lasted
only 73 minutes . Lokosa is currently the highest scoring Nigerian
player in the World and he could have offered his goal -scoring touch to
a misfiring attack.
Kelechi Nwakali Nwakali showed in the
match against Atletico Madrid , he will not be out of place in the Super
Eagles at the World Cup. The Arsenal midfielder played with a maturity
that belied his years and curled an unstoppable strike past Jan Oblak
for good measure . With dissatisfaction with the Super Eagles midfield
distribution , the intelligent Nwakali would have ensured that feeling
was eased if he was invited to the initial 30 -man list. Asides his
impact on the field , the youngster touted to play a key part in the
next generation of Super Eagles , would have gained valuable experience
being at the World Cup rubbing shoulders and learning from John Mikel
Obi . Rohr missed a trick .
Ola Aina Ola Aina didn ’t get a
fair run in the Super Eagles stuck out on the left side of the defence.
Predominantly a right back but also comfortable on the left , Rohr
should have taken the player to the World Cup as his versatility could
prove useful . Though he didn ’t do enough to convince and his tugging
of Issama Mpeko probably sealed his exclusion . Still , Aina , who was
dropped as part of the final two players to be excluded would have
properly contested with Bryan Idowu for a place in the starting line- up
.
Mikel Agu First perceived as a Rohr favourite all to be let
go at the final juncture , Agu ’s disappointment would have been
immeasurable. The midfielder would be particularly miffed after he was
dropped In place of Joel Obi . Joel Obi was deplorable in the game
against England before the final list was announced and has gotten far
more chance to prove himself than Agu. Agu has been limited to cameos
off the bench , which wasn ’t enough time to showcase his talents .
Henry Onyekuru Onyekuru
’s case has a bit of misfortune about it, his long term injury
scuppered his chances for the World Cup but there was a sliver of hope
to be had . Onyekuru worked himself back to fitness to be in contention
for a World Cup spot but didn ’t feature for Anderlecht with the coach
Hein Vanhaezebrouck claiming he wasn’ t ready to play from what he had
seen in Onyekuru ’s stints in the reserve games . Onyekuru ’s pace and
dynamism on the wings would have infused much needed creativity to the
Super Eagles front line. His goal scoring threat threat would have also
been an addition to Nigeria at the World Cup.
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