Super Eagles defensive midfielder,
Ogenyi Onazi has been part of a Lazio side that has enjoyed a renaissance in
the last couple of months. The Rome based side
currently lies second in the Italian Seria A and they face Atlanta on Sunday as they seek to consolidate
their position in the league. The capital side are pushing hard to secure the second
automatic Champions League spot reserved for Italian sides. Lazio have enjoyed
an upturn in form in recent months, and they were not in the running for a
Champions League spot at the turn of the year, but a resurgence have seen them
overtake eternal rivals, Roma to second place with just four matches left in
the Italian top flight albeit with some weeks still to run on that front. The
Biancocelesti have just a point cushion over rivals Roma who are third
which brings little room for error as they look to secure an automatic Champions
League spot.
Ogenyi Onazi, who played a pivotal
role in the Super Eagles AFCON triumph in South Africa in 2013, signed a
contract extension in 2014 that ties him to Lazio until 2018. Although he was not part of
the Lazio squad that posted a 4-0 win over relegated Parma on Wednesday at the Stadio Olimpico.
However, he has 15 league appearances to his name this season, with a further
three appearances in the Coppa Italia. The tough tackling midfielder played 86
minutes last weekend in the 1-1 home draw against Chievo.
With the battle for the automatic
Champions League spot entering the home stretch, head coach of Lazio, Stefano
Pioli would be relying on his squad to deliver, and Ogenyi Onazi will be
amongst the players he would call on in the remaining weeks of the campaign.
Finishing in the top two would be a great improvement on last season for Lazio where they
finished in 9th position in the Italian top flight. With so few Super Eagles players
playing in the Champions League in recent years, Lazio securing a place for
next season’s Champions League will be a good one for Ogenyi Onazi and the
Super Eagles.
He could also add a silverware at
the end of the season with the Coppa Italia final against Juventus coming up in
June.
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