I guess the German tactician in-charge of
Nigeria national team, Gernot Rohr, has tried all the promising strikers the
country has both home and in the diaspora.
Now is time to make decision on which of them will be eventually
selected to do the job in the upcoming African cup of nations - AFCON 2019.
The competition is in June, Rohr has said
himself, he has stop experimenting and now ready to build his team for the
African prime competition.
In this post, we try to look at the center
forward position, that's the striker primarily saddled with putting the ball
inside the net. This position is crucial, because the Super Eagles will need
lot of goals, they will need to outscore their opponents to progress in the
competition. So team require sharpe shooters, strikers in the best form at the
moment.
Well, I am not the coach. But I feel as a
citizen of Nigeria, I have a stake and
would like to contribute any information or knowledge that can help Super
Eagles to become the next African champions. However, don't take my choice here
hard and stinkers, they are just my recommendations.
1. Odion
Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China) Ighalo is Nigeria national team first
choice striker, just signed for Shanghai Shenhua in February and made three
appearances with no goal yet.
Ighalo
was the scored highest goal scorer in Chinese Super League with 36 goals in 55
appearances for Changchun Yatai, but the team suffered relegation in 2018
season.
Ighalo also scored eight goals to emerge
highest goal scorer in the AFCON qualifiers. Only player like Ighalo can play
as sole striker up front and still score more goals. Rohr like to play one
striker upfront and uses the winger to support him in the run of play.
Ighalo's box-to-box finishing isn't in doubt as
a very lethal striker, especially during his time in Watford, where he scored
33 times in 82 appearances in thr English Premier League. I recommend Ighalo
for Afcon 2019 assignment.
2. Henry
Onyekuru (Galatasaray S.K): Onyekuru is on loan from Everton, but has hit an incredible form
playing for Galatasaray this season. Undoubtedly the best Nigerian striker
today. Has scored 11 goals in 23 appearances in the Turkish Super lig this
season...and has attracted top flight clubs like PSG and Everton is looking at
recalling him back during the summer.
Onyekuru has again and again proved that he is
a world class striker after finishing joint highest in the Belgian first
division with 22 goals for his team Eupen, has moved to Andercht where he
scored 9 goals in 19 appearances.
Onyekuru hasn't been able to establish himself
in the Super Eagles team. He was kept as one of the two alternate player during
2018 world cup in Russia. But 2019 Afcon may just be the opportunity for
Onyekuru to prove himself and show the world the class he is made of.
Recommended!
3. Paul
Onuachu (FC Midtjylland of Denmark) striker has scored 14 goals for his
club this season Onuachu has extremely
good height, tall, he is more than two meters high, good with the head.and
towering speed.
Onuachu showed some clips of what he can do in
the friendly between Nigeria Vs Egypt, scoring fastest goal in less than 20
seconds and displayed some mesmerising skills.
If you are thinking Onuachu is a flash in pan,
then peep into his stats. He scored 28 goals last season for Midtjylland, 4
hat-tricks, 2 brace, 12 assists...very imposing to defenders. Recommended!
4.
Victor Osimhen (Charleroi SC, Belgium) : Osimhen join the Belgium club on loan from
VfL Wolfburg after failing to score in his debut 2017 German Bundesliga season.
However, scored 10 goals in 23 appearances for Charleroi in 2018 and has scored
four times this season.
Osimhen a very prolific striker, has a very
robust international honours: Won Fifa U17 world cup scored 10 goals, won fifa
U17 world cup goldenboot as most valuble player, silverball as second highest
goalscorer in the 2015 edition, he also won Caf young player of the year award
the same year.
Recently, Osimhen was called up to rescue
Nigeria U23 team, who lost 0 - 2 to Libya in their first leg AFCON U23
qualifiers. And did he deliver? Yeah, scored hat trick and ensured Nigeria
progressed.
Osimhen can be a thorn in the flesh of defender
and very lethal too. Recommended!
5. We leave that to you to choose.
