The Super Eagles are through to their 19th Africa Cup of Nations and the players have been celebrating the feat as Nigeria will be hoping for a fourth win at the tournament proper in Cameroun..
Henry ONYEKURU
Monaco winger on loan at Galatasaray is one of Nigeria’s talented players who is still looking to fulfill his full potentials in the Super Eagles.
Onyekuru struggled in the French Lique 1 following his big money move to Monaco last season forcing him to return on loan to the Turkish Super Lig with Galatasaray which suits his football.
His recent surge of form in Turkey scoring five goals and recording two assists in 10 appearances earned him a stand-by spot in Gernot Rohr’s 24 man team. Luck was however on his side as he was drafted into the main team after Moses Simon was not released by his French club Nantes.
Onyekuru luck further saw him earned a rare starting shirt against Benin Republic after Alex Iwobi was ruled out of the game after reportedly failing a Covid-19 test.
And following the win and qualification, the pacy winger took to the social media to celebrate thus: “#Afcon2021Qualification”.
With the Eagles set for the formality tie against Lesotho in Lagos on Tuesday, the Lagos-born star will hope to further his luck by posting a good outing in front of his fans against the Crocodiles.
Ahmed MUSA
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa is a happy man after the Eagles secured qualification for AFCON 2022 with a game to spare.
‘Skippo Alhaji’ as Musa is fondly called had to watch from the bench as his teammates battled to a 1-0 win away against Republic in Porto Novo.
Eagles coach Gernot Rohr kept faith in Musa who is currently club-less by naming him in the squad as ‘his non-playing captain’ which surprised Musa himself.
Musa is being rewarded for his long and committed service to the national team and the appreciative captain took to Twitter to express his joy @Ahmedmusa718:
“Teamwork sure makes the dream work. Fantastic result today & together we can even achieve better in the next games Mates. Thanks to all our fans for your unwavering support.”
Musa could feature when the Eagles play host to Lesotho in the dead rubber last qualifying game in Lagos on Tuesday.
Maduka OKOYE
Becoming the Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper at just 21-years of age is no mean feat.
Maduka Okoye’s rise to prominence in the Eagles is laced with luck. First, former first choice Carl Ikeme had his career suddenly cut short after he was diagnosed with Leukaemia.
Then Daniel Akpeyi’s unconvincing displays between the sticks saw Francis Uzoho become the preferred choice but he suffered a long term injury while on duty for Nigeria which cost him his starting shirt.
Okoye then had the Eagles number one shirt thrust on his shoulder and he seems to be holding tight unto it having posted two clean sheet outings in six games while conceding six goals.
And having won Rohr’s confidence despite conceding four goals in the 4-4 home draw against Sierra Leone in at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin on Matchday 3 of the qualifiers, Okoye’s two clean sheets came in subsequent two outings to help the Eagles book their place in Cameroon.
The excited Sparta Rotterdam of Netherlands goalie took to social media to share his feelings: “Africa Cup 2022 here we come This is for you Nigeria! We go one more time on Tuesday home in Lagos. ”
Okoye will be eyeing his debut AFCON outing when the Eagles file out in Cameroon next year.
William TROOST-EKONG
Super Eagles assistant captain William Troost-Ekong was not left out in posting celebration messages on the social media after leading the Eagles to a 1-0 win against Benin Republic in Porto Novo at the weekend.
The Watford of England defender posted a solid performance in the heart of the Eagles defence to keep the Squirrels attacker at bay at the Charles De Ghaulle Stadium.
The 27-year old took to the social media in celebration with a short post which reads: “AFCON 2022 QUALIFICATION”.
Troost-Ekong will be gunning for his 40th international cap for Nigeria against Lesotho in the inconsequential last qualifying game in Lagos on Tuesday.
Wilfred NDIDI
Leicester City of England midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi is not a man of many words, mostly letting his game speak for him on the pitch.
Ndidi’s absence due to injury, was greatly felt in the previous double-header outing against Sierra Leone that saw the Eagles surrendered a four goal lead to draw 4-4 in Benin City and then played a goalless draw away in the reverse fixture.
The 24-year old player’s return to the squad helped solidify the team’s midfield, providing good cover for the defence as well as boosting the attacking play of the Eagles enroute to the 1-0 win against Benin Republic in Porto Novo.
The player who is currently valued at €50m,making him Nigeria’s joint most valuable player alongside Victor Osimhen simply posted a crisp message of celebration on his Twitter: “Naija way E choke”.
Ndidi will return to action in Lagos in the formality tie against the Crocodiles of Lesotho on Tuesday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Paul ONUACHU
Nothing is sweeter than coming off the bench to score your country’s winning goal in a dramatic fashion, especially when most people including your coach seem to have written you off.
That was what happened to Paul Onuachu who despite being Nigeria’s most prolific striker in Europe in the on-going season, did not command the respect he deserves in the national team.
The RC Genk forward had struggled to replicate his club form in the Eagles, prompting coach Gernot Rohr to consider him good for a stand-by place after selecting 24 players for Eagles two remaining AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho.
Onuachu’s one goal tally in seven appearances for Nigeria is way down in comparison to his club form that has seen him netted 27 goals in 34 games for Genk across all competitions.
Providence set in for Onuachu as Rohr had to draft him into the main squad after Bordeaux star Samuel Kalu was ruled out due to injury and could not honour his invitation.
He was not considered good enough for the starting line-up with Kelechi Iheanacho and Victor Osimhen the preferred choices to start.
Onuachu patiently bide his time and would eventually become the match winner after coming off the bench with 20 minutes to go to score the deciding goal in the 90+ minute and got voted as match of the match.
Speaking after the game, Onuchu confessed he has been ‘pushed’ to the limit by Nigerians which helped him to deliver.
“I’m just going to say, thanks to the nation for the push because they have really pushed me to show what I have to show in the national team. And now I am happy for the team and for the country. It is a lot of confidence for a striker to score, and I’m very happy.”
Onuachu later took to social media with a crisp message: “AFCON 2022 QUALIFICATION”
Onuachu will be looking to further cement his place in the Eagles by posting another good outing against the Crocodiles of Lesotho on Tuesday.
By Sulaimon Alao