On the way to qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, a total of 40 players were invited by the technical head of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr. Out of this number, only 25 players prosecuted Nigeria’s six matches in the African qualifying Group B. Here, WALE EMOSU brings an overview of how the players fared. This submission is, however, not final – for those who fared well and those who were unable to live up, they still have access to the room for improvement – well ahead of the 2018 World Cup which is seven months away.
IKECHUKWU EZENWA: The revelation of the World Cup qualifiers. And that was by default. But for the injury to goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi before Nigeria’s third match against Cameroon, he probably would not have seen action throughout Nigeria’s qualifying campaign. Gernot Rohr had decided to keep the faith with Akpeyi in Nigeria’s second match against Algeria after first choice Carl Ikeme had copped an injury. When the campaign started, Ezenwa was second in the pecking order but Rohr would not hand it over to Ezenwa in the absence of Ikeme because he was not even being regularly featured by club, FC IfeanyiUbah. With injury to Wolverhampton Wanderers shot stopper and his subsequent diagnosis with leukaemia, Ezenwa remained the second choice. It was after the injury to Akpeyi that the home-based goalkeeper ‘accidentally’ became the number one choice. And he turned out to be the only home-based player that featured in the Super Eagles for a place in the Russia 2018 World Cup out of the total six invited during the qualifiers. The two goals he conceded in the four matches played came from the penalty spot. Ezenwa might just have made a statement that with a chance given to home-based players, one or two others could make it to next year’s mundial. But he needs to be more composed and calculating. MINUTES PLAYED: 360
SHEHU ABDULLAHI: From the one-minute cameo appearance he made in Nigeria’s first match against Zambia in Ndola, the Anorthosis FC of Cyprus player stabilised and established himself in the right back as he got more opportunities. By the end of the campaign, he had become an integral member of the main Super Eagles. His beautiful display even earned him the Man of the Match award in the game against Zambia in Uyo. MINUTES PLAYED: 386
ELDERSON ECHIEJILE: A key figure during Nigeria’s campaign for the 2018 World Cup ticket. He played five matches and was substituted once. Injury forced him out of the last match. Echiejile held his own in the left back, though that does not mean he can’t get better. MINUTES PLAYED: 439
WILFRED NDIDI: Despite his frail figure, he was a fighter in the midfield. Particularly he stood out for his long looping throw ins during the campaign. He also demonstrated that with good supply of high balls, he could be deadly with his head. The technical crew may explore this at the World Cup. MINUTES PLAYED: 458
WILLIAM TROOST-EKONG: The only player that did not miss a minute out of the 25 players that prosecuted the qualifiers for Nigeria, Ekong was one player that executed his job with finesse and precision in a manner very unlikely to incur the wrath of the referee. And his interceptions were always timely too. MINUTES PLAYED: 540
LEON BALOGUN: Just like his half caste ‘brother’ Ekong, Leon Balogun would rather focus only on getting the ball off the opponents rather going dirty. Little wonder they easily gelled to form the now popular ‘oyinbo’ wall. Balogun was adventurous too, making incursions into the opponents vital areas on occasions. He was at his best all through the five matches he played during the campaign, except for the early minutes of the Algeria-Nigeria match, due perhaps, to the mask on his face. MINUTES PLAYED: 450
VICTOR MOSES: Aside from his three goals for Nigeria out of the four matches he played during the campaign, the Super Eagles dead ball taker also provided assists for other goals. Victor Moses was named three times in the CAF Best XI team during the qualifiers and a member of CAF’s overall Best XI team for the entire campaign. An eclectic player, Moses was the lifeblood of the Super Eagles – the fulcrum and axis of the three-time African champions – and will be central to his country’s outing in Russia. MINUTES PLAYED: 352
OGENYI ONAZI: He displayed a good sense of anticipation – even as he joined the attack from his midfield position. His initiative paid off when he supplied the ball to Kelechi Iheanacho for the Super Eagles’ fourth goal against Cameroon. He is however susceptible to injury, though he tried to brave them sometimes. MINUTES PLAYED: 385
ODION IGHALO: Announced his return to the Super Eagles a more purposeful striker with his goal against Cameroon in Uyo, but soon fizzled out with misses in front of goal. He should complain less as he could incur the referee’s wrath. MINUTES PLAYED: 230
MIKEL OBI: He lived up to his status as the captain and marshal of the team’s midfield hub, with the presence of mind to push forward and join the attack. His efforts consequently yielded two goals to his name. MINUTES PLAYED: 395
MOSES SIMON: Strong and pacy, Moses Simon made most of his runnings down the wing, wearing out his opponents and cutting into the vital area. Wing swapping also counted in his favour during the campaign. MINUTES PLAYED: 327
DAN AKPEYI: An outsider, South Africa-based Akpeyi was called up only after Carl Ikeme had sustained injury at his club in the run-up to the Nigeria-Algeria fixture, in Uyo. Though Nigeria won the match 3-1, he never saw action until the end of the qualifiers and this, probably, was not helped by his poor positioning in goal, captalised on by Algeria’s Nabil Bentaleb, whose eyes were opened to Akpeyi’s weak spot by his coach. But he was still seen as the number one choice until his injury before the next match against Cameroon. However, the last straw for him might just have been a hitherto ‘doubted’ Ezenwa’s performance against Indomitable Lions, in the next match, wherein he didn’t concede a goal. MINUTES PLAYED: 90
KENNETH OMERUO: An error by a defender could be costly for his side and so was Omeruo’s wrong handling of the ball against Zambia’s Collins Mbesuma in Ndola. The error gifted the Chipolopolo their only goal in Nigeria’s 2-1 win. Having been tried out in the central defence with Troost-Ekong in that match, Omeruo was drafted to the right back in the next match against Algeria, which turned out to be last match in the qualifiers. MINUTES PLAYED: 155
OLAOLUWA AINA: Though little was seen of him when he was introduced in Nigeria’s match against Zambia in Uyo, he showed the traits of an attack-minded defender, who, however, should not forget to fall back quickly. In the next match against Algeria in Constantine, the stylish player showed improvement and better input. MINUTES PLAYED: 101
OGHENEKARO ETEBO: He played the match of his life against on match day two against Algeria in Uyo, but in the reverse fixture in Constantine, the midfielder didn’t seem to be at his best. MINUTES PLAYED: 183
MIKEL AGU: He came on as a substitute in the three qualifiers he played and perhaps, with the pressure to quickly settle in mounting on him, Agu, in most cases, put the wrong foot to the ball. Fives minutes after he had replaced Onazi in the Nigeria-Zambia match in Uyo, he was booked for a foul. He needs to be more calculating in subsequent matches to avoid being beaten easily to the ball. He should also try to place the ball on the ground. MINUTES PLAYED: 108
JOHN OGU: With the presence of the two Mikels – Mikel Obi and Mikel Agu in camp – John Ogu was always the unlikely player to be featured. But with Rohr deciding not field his captain in the Constantine match and Agu out of the the match following an injury, luck smiled on Ogu – called up for five of the six qualifiers – to start. Incidentally he scored the Super Eagles’ only goal on that night. With his display in Constantine, definitely he is not the worst among Rohr’s army of midfielders and the implication is, competition among the midfielders will be stiffer as they prepare for Russia 2018. MINUTES PLAYED: 90
AHMED MUSA: While it is cheery that Nigeria are having a number of options for the outside right, it is not particularly exciting for the career of Ahmed Musa, the only Nigerian player to date who has scored two goals in a World Cup match for his country. Musa is now featured less – both for club and country and this persisted throughout the World Cup qualifiers, making it difficult to accurately rate him. MINUTES PLAYED: 41
ALEX IWOBI: Mercurial, fast and businesslike, Iwobi loved to get the job done without ceremony. These explain why, with one touch, he smashed the ball into Zambia’s net in Ndola and in the return leg in Uyo, he slotted it past goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene. MINUTES PLAYED: 270
BROWN IDEYE: Brown Ideye played only the first match for Nigeria in the qualifiers but he was not particularly impressive. For instance, in the 14th minute of the match (Zambia vs Nigeria) in Ndola, he came close to scoring, but his chip of an effort went across the goal line. And that was even before the same move was ruled offside by the centre referee. MINUTES PLAYED: 72
KELECHI IHEANACHO:Â His goal against Zambia in Ndola was a result of resilience and always combined well Iwobi. But whenever he was cut off, the ambitious Iheanacho always looked frustrated. MINUTES PLAYED: 310
ANTHONY NWAKAEME: He started for Nigeria in his only World Cup qualifier (against Algeria in Constantine), but the forward could not really get to express himself in the match. Almost a lone ranger upfront, the athletic player could also not get to take those powerful shots, which are his strong points. MINUTES PLAYED: 70
HENRY ONYEKURU: The Everton player on loan to Anderlecht was introduced as a replacement for Nwakaeme and though did not have enough playing time, he showed flashes of a fast and dexterous player. MINUTES PLAYED: 20
ANDERSON ESITI: The KAA Gent of Belgium midfielder took the place of Brown Ideye against Zambia in Ndola and after his early exchanges with Ndidi, Esiti’s other moves, more often than not, were fraught with inaccuracies. In particular, his passes to Iwobi were always wide his target. MINUTES PLAYED: 18
SPECIAL MENTION: CARL IKEME
The foundation of Nigeria’s relatively easy passage to Russia was laid in Ndola, Zambia, where the Super Eagles shocked their hosts 2-1. But things could have gone awry too; the Chipolopolo could have beaten Nigeria or at worst, they could have gotten a draw. However, one player stood between Zambia and their ambition. That player was goalkeeper Carl Ikeme. On many occasions, Ikeme kept Nigeria in the game with his point blank saves. On at least three occasions, Ikeme denied Rainford Kalaba (38, 59) and Kondwani Mtonga (68). Unfortunately, Ikeme is currently down with leukaemia and won’t be part of the Super Eagles party to Russia.
MINUTES PLAYED: 90
UNUSED PLAYERS
Kayode Olanrewaju
Chidiebere Nwakali
Francis Uzoho
Chigozie Awaziem
Dele Ajiboye
Dele Alampasu
Uche Agbo
Tyronne Ebuehi
Emma Daniel
Jamiu Alimi
Musa Muhammed
Kingsley Madu
Nosa Igiebor
