African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 1994 winner and former Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain, Peter Rufai, has stated that Leicester City star, Kelechi Iheanacho, could be the player to destabilise Cameroonian defence when the three-time African champions take on their counterpart in the quarter finals of the ongoing AFCON in Ivory Coast.
According to Rufai who was popularly referred to as ‘Dodo Mayana’ in his hey days, said the U17 World Cup winner (Iheanacho) could turn the table for Nigeria against the Indomitable Lions just like Emmanuel Amuneke did during their (Rufai’s) time when he (Amuneke) decided the final game of the 1994 AFCON finals against the Kalusha Bwalya-led team.
He said although the Super Eagles have felt the void left by the likes of former captains Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo and Mutiu Adepoju, he stated that the trio of Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze and Joe Aribo can make the difference if they can step up their game especially in the middle of the pack.
“I agree with you with what you just said concerning the time of Amuneke. I recall how Amuneke was having fun in the camp and how Clemens Westerhof was making jokes. Amuneke was even telling us saying “Hey guys, go and do the job, go and get the job done. Amuneke never knew he was being prepped up for the final stage and finally when it did happen, Amuneke came in, he caused the damage and gave us the victory needed. I still believe similar thing could be running in the minds of the technical department resting Iheanacho and make sure that by the time he (Iheanacho) comes in, he would be very hungry and ready to go for it. I’m still believing in that,” the former Go Ahead Eagles of Holland advised during a television program monitored by Sporting Tribune in Abuja on Thursday.
“And again for the midfield, (Alex) Iwobi coming in and with the support of what we are seeing with (Joe) Aribo and if someone like (Samuel) Chukwueze could come in and be drafted into the midfield a bit. I’m concerned about the midfield because since the departure of players like Jay Jay, Kanu Nwankwo or Mutiu Adepoju and the rest of them. We have not gotten a strong, confident joker, a playmaker. Somebody who can ‘chop’ the space, gives the passes at the right time, locate the dangerous players and give them beautiful passes.
“For Iheanacho, I believe he could be the joker and I know when he comes in, he will perform. He is a desperado as well alongside Victor Osimhen. I’m quite sure that Iheanacho will be coming in and I will like the coach to make sure he starts Iwobi. Because Iwobi for now is the key player we know that can create space offensively and move. When you see Iwobi play in his club and he comes back to play for the Super Eagles, you wonder what is happening,” Rufai who also has a stint with Deportivo La Coruna of Spain added.
Sporting Tribune recall that Emmanuel Amuneke was the joker during the 1994 AFCON final against the Chipolopolo of Zambia at the El Menzah Stadium, Tunis as his two goals in the final handed the Super Eagles their second continental triumph about 30 years ago.