By Francis Ajuonuma
Ex-international, Henry Nwosu (MON), has backed the recall of Odion Ighalo to the Super Eagles ahead of this month’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde. The Super Eagles will play guests to the Lone Stars of Liberia at Stade Ibn Batouta in Morocco on November 13 and three days later will host the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde in Lagos.
With two rounds of matches left to round off the group stage, the Super Eagles lead in Group C with nine points from four matches and are closely followed by Cape Verde, who have seven points from the same number of matches and anything shot of amassing at least four points in their next two remaining matches could spell doom for Super Eagles 2022 FIFA World Cup dream.
Speaking exclusively to TNSports, Nwosu argued that the return of Ighalo to the Super Eagles will create healthy competition among the strikers.
The former midfield maestro believes that with the return of Ighalo the likes of Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi and Paul Onuachu will be challenged to up their game to be considered for a place in the Super Eagles starting 11.
“We all know that Odion Ighalo is a fantastic player for the Super Eagles. His return to the team, for sure, will boost Gernot Rohr’s attacking options. So I’m happy to hear of his invitation to the team.
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“Certainly, Ighalo’sreturn to the Super Eagles is good for the team. it’ll create healthy competition among the strikers, which to me I see as very good for the team. The likes of Osimhen, Onuachu and Awoniyi will be challenged to up their games so that they can be considered in the starting 11,” he said.
Commenting on the Super Eagles coming world cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde, Nwosu urged the 2013 African champions to avoid complacency in the game as any team playing against Nigeria often put in an extra effort aimed at recording an upset against the country.
I think Super Eagles should learn from their first leg experience with the Central African Republic, that in modern football no team is a pushover. And every team playing against the Eagles want to record victory against them. Also, they should have it at the back of their mind that dropping points at this crucial stage of the qualifiers could spell doom for their 2022 World Cup dream,” he concluded.
